Campaign News - April 2007
Activity Picking Up with Primary Less Then 6 Months Away
This is the first of what the campaign hopes will be periodic updates with noteworthy campaign news. We promise they won't come too often, but with the primary moved up to August 21, the election is rapidly approaching.
--Alec
CAMPAIGN KICK OFF
Tuesday, May 9, in Pioneer Square
The campaign kickoff will be held on Tuesday, May 9, 5:30-7:30 PM at the Flury & Co. Gallery, located at 322 First Ave S, in Pioneer Square. We need a big crowd, so make sure to put it on your calendar, and bring your friends! Contributions are encouraged.
Ron Sims & Lawrence Molloy Sponsor Campaign Event
Environmental Leaders Rally to Fisken
County Executive Ron Sims and former Port Commissioner Lawrence Molloy will host a fundraising reception on Wednesday, May 23, 5:30-7:30 PM, at Lawrence's home, located at 3233 Hunter Boulevard South, in the Mt Baker neighborhood. Contributions of any size are welcome.
Press Clips
Local Press Focuses Attention on the Port and Alec
Seattle PI writer Joel Connelly, in his March 21 column "Giving a 'heads-up' welcome to port's new CEO" wrote, "he (Fisken) dared to ask why, with 'a lot more money coming in,' that the Port of Seattle lost $24 million last year while the Port of Vancouver turned a $28 million profit. ...The old-boy network of port-subsidized businesses wants to take Fisken out. One well-placed consultant hears talk of a $300,000 campaign."
Washington CEO Magazine includes a nice profile in its March issue, "Maverick Alec Fisken Takes on the Port."
A longer, related piece in the same issue is entitled "Finding Safe Harbor: The port's new pilot confronts a legacy of inefficiency and pollution," The article comments, "Alec Fisken, an acknowledged maverick on the five-member commission, calls Seattle 'the worst-managed seaport in North America.' Says Fisken, 'There was never any focus on financial performance during Dinsmore's tenure.' ...Today the port faces an array of challenges, including poor financial performance, competition, money-losing real estate ventures, the gentrification of the waterfront and, perhaps most challenging of all, a looming air pollution crisis."
Endorsements
The King County Democratic Central Committee voted unanimously to endorse Alec's candidacy at their March meeting. In addition, the 30th, 32nd, and 33rd Legislative District Democrats have also endorsed Alec!
Carpenters Union Local 1797 gave Alec his first labor endorsement of the year, with more expected to follow soon. (The Carpenters also made a generous contribution to the campaign!)
Campaign Website Operational
The campaign website is operational and can be found at www.alecfisken.com. Kudos and thanks to Chad Lupkes and Mike Fong for their efforts in getting it up and running.
Opponent Bill Bryant is a BIG Republican Donor
Our challenger, Bill Bryant, has been calling labor and environmental leaders seeking support for his candidacy. Apparently, he hasn't been telling them of his active participation in Republican Party politics, but the record speaks for itself.
Just last week, Bryant sent an email to many Democratic Precinct Committee Officers around King County. In a cynical move, he included a lengthy quote from Barack Obama - apparently trying to give the impression that he, too, is a Democrat.
Bryant has a lengthy history of making very generous political contributions to conservative Republican candidates, including $2,000 to Bush/Cheney reelection, $4,200 to Mike McGavick, $1,500 to Dino Rossi, $1,000 to Doc Hastings, $500 to Rob McKenna, $500 to Dave Reichert, $1,000 to Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, $500 to John Carlson, and $5,000 to the Washington State Republican Party.
email: paulcelliott@msn.com
phone: 206/528-8174
web: http://alecfisken.com