Seattle City Council: Conlin, Licata, Bagshaw, O'Brien have commanding leads

Seattle City Council incumbents Richard Conlin and Nick Licata are headed back to the council, joined by newcomers Sally Bagshaw and Mike O'Brien.

Election returns Tuesday showed all four candidates with commanding leads.

Bagshaw, 58, said she plans on "working closely with the mayor's office to really move the city forward" and "stop the bickering we've seen between the council and the mayor."

O'Brien, 41, said, "I am excited to work on challenges around transportation and housing, so that we can make Seattle work better for all people."

Conlin, 61, was easily winning a fourth term, beating David Ginsberg, 45. Ginsberg, a former Washington Mutual employee, often agreed with Conlin but criticized the slow pace of city government.

Licata, 62, defeated newcomer Jessie Israel.

First elected in 1997, Licata has a reputation as the council's most persistent questioner. He's been the council's main critic of the Mercer Street expansion plan.

Israel, 35, a King County parks manager, said Licata's style has delayed crucial decisions.

In the race to replace Jan Drago, Bagshaw, a former government lawyer, pushed for job creation and supported replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a tunnel.

Her opponent, David Bloom, 67, a social-justice advocate, called for more affordable housing.

In the race to succeed Richard McIver, O'Brien, formerly chief financial officer for a law firm and former head of the local Sierra Club chapter, opposed the tunnel, and aligned himself with mayoral candidate Mike McGinn.

Robert Rosencrantz, 54, an apartment-building owner, was making his third bid for the council.

Steve Miletich: 206-464-3302 or smiletich@seattletimes.com