Pro-business group bets on Velázquez in Seattle City Council race

A pro-business political-action committee called Forward Seattle has thrown its support in favor of Seattle City Council candidate Venus Velázquez, spending more than $56,000 for a poll and campaign mailers to support her campaign.

The group intends to spend $45,000 more on mailers.

Velázquez, a public-affairs consultant, is running for Position 3 against attorney Bruce Harrell, who many viewed as the business community's candidate after he won an endorsement from the Alki Foundation, the political arm of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

"Most people in the business community assumed we would be supporting Mr. Harrell in this campaign," said Joe Quintana, spokesman for Forward Seattle. "Our support was his to lose, and essentially, he failed the job interview because of his inconsistent responses on key issues." Quintana cited development issues coming before the council.

The election is Nov. 6.

Forward Seattle has raised $111,000 from businesses and developers to improve the city's business climate. Major donors include Paul Allen's development firm Vulcan, development group Touchstone and Clise Properties, which is selling 13 acres in the Denny Triangle.

"This is unprecedented in Seattle politics that a special-interest group will hijack a local election," said Harrell, who insists his positions have been consistent.

"These are lobbyists and land developers. They will be spending $100,000 or so to the person who wants to be chair of the land-use committee."

Harrell's campaign has raised $204,100, according to his most recent campaign filing, and he has $46,100 in cash to pay for $62,600 in liabilities.

Velázquez said the business community is looking for "someone they can trust, someone they can work with, someone who will bring them to the table to get results. I believe that's what voters want." Her most recent campaign filing shows that while she has raised $172,400, she has $24,300 in cash to pay for $67,600 in liabilities.

While candidates can accept a maximum of $700 from donors, political-action committees can accept contributions of any amount. In the last 21 days of a campaign, donations to committees are limited to $5,000. The committees can make independent expenditures in support of a candidate's campaign, as long as they do not consult with the campaign.

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com