Former Seattle City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck endorsed state Sen. Ed Murray for mayor today.
During a news conference at Cloud City Coffee in Seattle’s Maple Leaf neighborhood, Steinbrueck said he was won over by Murray’s commitment to the city’s industrial sector, gender pay equity and his pledge to involve neighborhoods more in growth planning.
“I have only respect for Mayor [Mike] McGinn. He has led with passion and conviction, but he has left many of us disappointed,” Steinbrueck said.
Repeating a constant refrain of McGinn critics, Steinbrueck said Murray could bring together broader coalitions “rather than polarization and divisiveness.”
The atmosphere at the news conference was celebratory, with Murray leading in the polls and piling up big endorsements. One political operative asked whether a reporter had heard any news about who would serve on Murray’s transition team and administration. But Murray cautioned he was taking nothing for granted in the final weeks of the election.
Steinbrueck, who served on the City Council between 1997 and 2007, placed third in the August primary, taking 16 percent of the vote. City Councilmember Bruce Harrell, who finished fourth just behind Steinbrueck, endorsed Murray last month.
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