Jan Drago sure sounded like she was running for mayor at this morning's Alki Foundation candidate forum, though Drago maintains she's still undecided.

Drago, a Seattle City Council member since 1994, faces a couple big problems if she takes on Greg Nickels: how to distinguish herself from the mayor who she's agreed with on most issues; and how to raise money from the same business contributors she and Nickels have tapped so successfully, albeit while running for different offices.

At the Alki event, Drago gave a strong preview of what her campaign strategy might look like. (The Alki Foundation is the political arm of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce.) Drago was the first in the audience to stand and pose a question to the mayoral and council candidates. She asked if they would revisit the city's contentious policy to protect industrial lands that was pushed by Nickels in 2007 and supported by a majority of the council.

That issue pitted big business against big labor in a battle that packed council chambers for several hearings leading up to a 6-3 vote. Drago dissented along with Richard Conlin and Tom Rasmussen.

The Nickels proposal curtailed office and retail development on industrial lands throughout the city, which land owners, developers and some businesses said was too restrictive.

Drago noted after this morning's event that every candidate at the Alki forum, including Nickels, agreed that the policy should be revisited.

"That is certainly an issue that distinguishes me from the mayor," Drago said. "Your analysis is correct. I'm clearly thinking about issues that differentiate me from the mayor."

Drago ticked off a few: the mayor's proposed fee on plastic and paper grocery bags, the mayor's proposal to annex the North Highline area, which includes White Center. (Drago has opposed both initiatives.)

She said the mayor's bag fee "hits people over the head with a bat" while she favors a voluntary approach -- with lots of education and advocacy before resorting to a fee. "I'm much more a carrots-than-stick kind of person."

Drago said, however, that she's still 10 days or so from making a decision. She commissioned a poll to assess her possible candidacy for mayor, but declined to discuss its findings. "I'm not going to comment on that. I haven't sat down with my pollster."

Drago concluded an interview with this close-to-taking the plunge quote: "Sometimes for me, the greater the challenge, the more passionate and energized I am."