3 City Council members head toward ouster in early results

By Bob Young
Seattle Times staff reporter

	HARLEY SOLTES / THE SEATTLE TIMES Heidi Wills and Seattle Fire Chief G.P. Morris watch televised election results in her race against opponent David Della for City Council last night.
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Disgruntled Seattle voters appeared on the verge of ousting three incumbent City Council members, according to partial election results last night, setting the stage for a dramatic overhaul of city politics.

Challengers David Della, Jean Godden and Tom Rasmussen held narrow leads over incumbents Heidi Wills, Judy Nicastro and Margaret Pageler, respectively. Challengers tapped into an electorate frustrated by some council members' ethics violations and time spent on issues perceived as extraneous, such as the war in Iraq and treatment of circus animals.

King County elections officials estimate that about 25 percent of the votes remained uncounted today, all absentees. It would take a stunning turnaround in voting trends for incumbents to come from behind and win.

Wills confirmed today that she has conceded defeat, acknowledging that "the numbers aren't trending" in her favor. She thanked the people of Seattle for the opportunity to serve them for four years.

The last time more than one incumbent lost was 1989, when Jeanette Williams and Virginia Galle were unseated.

"This is a major sea change for Seattle. I think we're going to see a city government that's a lot more concerned with the basics and a lot less enthralled with big projects," said Councilman Nick Licata, who was not up for re-election.

David Olson, a University of Washington political science professor, said last night's results suggested "an unprecedented expression of distrust in officialdom."

Council President Peter Steinbrueck and Councilman Jim Compton were winning their races, in early returns.

Pre-election polls showed that most Seattle voters thought the council was not doing a good job. Incumbents also had the worst primary showing in four decades, with none of the incumbents topping 45 percent.

Still, incumbents maintained a fund-raising advantage, collecting tens of thousands of dollars more than their challengers in the most expensive election in council history. Nicastro was the only incumbent publicly opposed by Mayor Greg Nickels. The one-term incumbent admitted to an ethics violation that involved a zoning change for a Lake City strip club. People connected to the club contributed $36,000 to three council members' campaigns, including Nicastro's. All three later returned the money.

Trading on the name recognition she gained as a longtime Seattle Times columnist, Godden entered the race against Nicastro on the last possible day.

Speaking to a jubilant crowd last night at a brew pub, Godden said she was "pleased as punch" and vowed to improve ethical standards in city government.

Nicastro was not conceding defeat last night. She wasn't declared a winner in 1999 until a week after the election, she noted, and told her subdued supporters that thousands of additional ballots would be counted Friday and next Wednesday.

One of the more rancorous contests was between 12-year incumbent Pageler and Rasmussen, an advocate for senior citizens.

Using $84,000 of his own money, Rasmussen almost matched Pageler in spending. Both candidates used hard-hitting — and arguably inaccurate — radio and mail pieces in the last week to blast one another.

Rasmussen criticized Pageler for her oversight of City Light when some decisions were made that contributed to the utility's financial crisis in 2000-2001.

Rasmussen, who runs the city's office for senior citizens, was backed by labor, environmental, Democratic Party and social-service groups frustrated by what they saw as Pageler's aloof attitude and fiscal conservatism.

"There is a strong anti-incumbent sentiment," Pageler acknowledged last night. "Change might be a logical solution to a lot of people."

Wills, another council freshman, was attacked as "Rate-Hike Heidi" by her opponent, Della, a United Way official. Wills chaired the council's City Light oversight committee during a period in which the utility raised rates 58 percent.

Wills collected $257, 743 in contributions, more than any council candidate in history .

Della credited his apparent victory to the "relentlessness of his strong message."

Wills seemed closest to accepting defeat. She thanked the citizens of Seattle "for the opportunity to serve them the last four years" and said there were other ways to serve the city than by being on the council.

Compton had a huge spending advantage over John Manning. Manning, who resigned from the council in 1996 after being convicted of domestic abuse, was attempting a political comeback.

Steinbrueck had the easiest race and was winning big last night. Belltown neighborhood activist Zander Batchelder refused to raise any campaign money and ran mainly to promote district elections.

Bob Young: 206-464-2174 or byoung@seattletimes.com

Staff reporters Suan Gilmore and Rachel Tuinstra contributed to this report.

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