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Greg Nickels concedes Seattle mayor's race
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In a room packed with supporters, city workers, and media, at 10:00 AM this morning Mayor Greg Nickels strode to the podium to deliver what some had already guessed would be his election concession speech. Although consistently placing first in polls done during the primary, he acknowledged that the only poll which counts is the actual vote. He finished in 3rd place and therefore will be knocked out of the general election November 3rd. In his concession speech he acknowledged the peril of choosing a path of accomplishment rather than more closely paying attention to the political costs of every decision by relating a story:
"When I became mayor in 2002, I decided to conduct myself in office in a certain way. That I would rather be an effective mayor and get things done, than a politician who left nothing more significant behind than footprints in the sand. That I would make decisions for the future of the city, rather than ones that would preserve my personal popularity. Based on Tuesday's election results I have succeeded beyond my wildest dreams."
Many laughed at his self-mocking sense of humor.
In a speech that must have been painful for the two-term mayor to deliver, Nickels demonstrated a remarkable sense of acceptance at the verdict the voters had delivered.
When asked during the question and answer period why the voters had rejected his try for a 3rd term, he simply explained that in his view, "the voters wanted a new generation of leadership."
But tacitly acknowledging the attacks leveled on his administration during the primary campaign he said:
"Seattle today is stronger, better, and kinder than the Seattle of yesterday. Those who are running for office, they should not denigrate what we have done. We have done these things together and we are not a broken city. Do not distort the true picture of Seattle. We are an amazing place in an amazing time."
He pledged that during the 131 days he had left to serve as mayor that "I will work hard each and every one of those days.Being mayor has been the honor of my life."
Joe Mallahan, who is currently in first place,said: "I want to publicly thank Mayor NIckels for his years of service to the City of Seattle. He may have made decisions that we don't agree with, but public service is never easy and he's been a committed public servant. I appreciate everything he's done for the city. . . the mayor called me this morning and offered me his congratulations. . . I told him I was very, very honored to run with him."
Mike McGinn, currently in second place, said: "This morning I received a gracious call from Mayor NIckels, in which he conceded that I will be moving on to the general election. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the mayor for his twenty-two years of public service to the city and county."
The mayor went on to say,
"Serving as mayor of this fine city has been the greatest honor of my public life, and I humbly thank the voters for bestowing that honor in 2001 and again in 2005. Having made wise decisions in both those instances, I am in no position to second guess their decision on Tuesday!"
"When the history of this decade is written, it will be seen as a time of tremendous, positve change in our city. We built and opened our first light rail line, began construction of a second, and successfully passed a ballot proposition to extend the system North, South and East. We built a modern streetcar line in 18 months from groundbreaking to opening, and now have funding for a second line."
"Working with the state, King Country, neighborhood groups, labor unions and others, we achieved a breakthrough agreement on replacing the dangerous elevated highway on our waterfront. Together, we built sidewalks, bike trails, firestations, libraries and parks. We created a better understanding of how race and social justice play into our decisions as a city, and we led the nation in protecting our climate from greenhouse gas emissions. We created vibrant, dynamic, 24/7 communities where people live in close proximity to work and each other. We housed those most in need, and directed a city-wide effort to make sure kids grow up without falling victim to street violence.
"In short, we have made a positive difference in people's lives each and every day. And that's the goal that guided my every decision."
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