Mallahan, McGinn sound familiar themes in final forum

The candidates for Seattle mayor have spent hours sharing podiums and microphones over the past six months.

At their last candidates forum of the season Wednesday night, Joe Mallahan, who's been off the campaign trail with a cold, joked he hoped not to infect anyone, "except, perhaps, my opponent."

But it didn't take long for the vitriol that has leaked into the mayor's race over the past couple of weeks to cut through the pleasantries at the Maple Leaf Community Council forum at Olympic View Elementary in North Seattle.

With recent polls showing up to 20 percent of Seattle voters are undecided, Mallahan and his opponent, Mike McGinn, could expect that some attendees were still making up their minds. This was a chance to seal the deal.

Running for mayor, McGinn said, "has given me more resolve than ever to work with the community ... to build the city we want."

Mallahan said: "It takes more than driving a Prius or riding a bike. ... We have big things to accomplish."

That's nice. But then he took a swing at McGinn. "I have not flip-flopped on the one issue that has defined my campaign, as my opponent has."

He was referring to McGinn's announcement a week and a half ago that he would not try to stop a tunnel along the central waterfront. Up to that point, McGinn had vowed to do everything he could to stop it.

Mallahan tried to anticipate McGinn's arguments. "My opponent likes to talk about a $4.2 billion tunnel," Mallahan said, before going on to say the tunnel itself costs only $1.9 billion.

After McGinn answered a question about Seattle's gun ban in parks by saying Mallahan is aligned with the National Rifle Association, Mallahan accused McGinn of trying to make him look like a conservative by using "code words."

"He likes to paint me as a Republican even though my Democratic credentials are unassailable," Mallahan said.

Their toughest exchanges came when McGinn criticized Mallahan for agreeing to go ahead with the tunnel even if Seattle residents were held responsible for cost overruns on the project, as the bill passed by the Legislature states.

"You really have to question the management and negotiation style of a mayor who says it's OK for more and more costs to be put on us," McGinn said.

Mallahan maintains that it's time to move forward on the tunnel, and he believes the state will have to pay cost overruns.

The race is close, so both candidates planned to hit the streets this week to win over voters.

Then Mallahan came down with a cold and had to sit out two of his scheduled neighborhood tours. McGinn planned more "town hall" meetings in neighborhoods.

"I think that we recognize there are a lot of undecided voters," McGinn said.

Mallahan spokeswoman Charla Neuman said her candidate's neighborhood tours are seeking undecided voters, as well.

"If there's anyone that's undecided, yes, hopefully this is persuasive," she said, "But in addition it ... helps Joe, should he win, to be a better advocate for the neighborhoods."

Mallahan toured Beacon Hill Sunday afternoon with about a dozen community members, stopping at shops, restaurants and the library branch.

The tour began at the neighborhood's Sound Transit station, where two men openly carrying pistols handed Mallahan fliers opposing the gun ban, which they said was unconstitutional.

It ended with a lengthy rap session over coffee and rolls at a Filipino restaurant with a McGinn For Mayor sign in the window.

Staff reporter Jim Brunner contributed to this report.

Emily Heffter: 206-464-8246 or eheffter@seattletimes.com