Former Sierra Club Leader To Succeed Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels

November 10, 2009 8:00 a.m. EST

Seattle, WA (AHN) - Seattle's mayoral race came a close Monday night after Joe Mallahan, a T-Mobile executive who headed into last week's general election with nearly all major establishment and political endorsements, conceded to Mike McGinn, a community activist and former leader of the local Sierra Club.

According to the King County Elections, McGinnn received 50 percent, or 96,514 votes, while Mallahan accounted for 48 percent, or 91,575 votes. The two relative unknowns finished first and second, respectively, during the primary elections in August among a crowded field of contenders, including incumbent Mayor Greg Nickels.

Nickels, who won his first term in 2001, could not take part in the November ballot because of Washington State's nonpartisan blanket primary system. His campaign had faced criticisms over a December 2008 snowstorm that forced him to reverse a longtime policy of not using salt for snow because of environmental concerns.

McGinn, a lawyer who chaired the Sierra Club's local chapter and served as aide to former U.S. Rep. Jim Weaver (D-OR), was trailing by a wide margin in the weeks before the general election, trailing Mallahan 36 percent to 43 percent in a SurveyUSA poll.

Much of the race was devoted to a $4.2 billion project to replace the Alaskan Viaduct, that McGinn vigorously opposed during the primary but later said he would execute if he is elected mayor since the city council last month unanimously approved of an agreement committing to the tunnel plan.

Despite also being a Democrat, Mallahan's career as a T-mobile executive, his endorsement from business interests such as the former local chamber leaders, and his previous work as an aide to former Sen. Slade Gorton, a Republican, all contributed to give voters a contrasting view of him compared to McGinn, who touted his grassroots-based campaign.