by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer

In what could be an ominous portent for incumbent Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, the city's Democratic legislative district organizations are splitting their endorsements among several of the leading mayoral candidates.

Endorsements from the district organizations are considered important for two reasons: first, because they indicate the preferences of local political activists, and second, because they come with resources. PCOs (precinct committee officers) in each district are responsible for circulating campaign literature for the group's endorsed candidates and making sure ballots are in the mail by Election Day.

McGINN WIDELY SHUNNED
As the incumbent mayor running for re-election, McGinn should - in theory - enjoy an advantage in picking up these key endorsements, but that theoretical edge has not materialized. In fact, with few exceptions, the party groups seem to prefer anyone but McGinn.

The King County Democrats, for example, made a rare triple endorsement - for Ed Murray, Bruce Harrell, and Peter Steinbrueck - leaving out the mayor.

The 11th District, which includes Georgetown and South Park, endorsed Harrell and Steinbrueck, likewise snubbing the incumbent.

The 36th District, comprising Queen Anne, Magnolia, and Ballard, could not make an endorsement because no single candidate or proposed combination of candidates got the necessary 60% support.

In the 37th District, which includes Rainer Valley and the Central District, McGinn had to share the endorsement with Harrell.

MURRAY WINS AT HOME
The strongly progressive 43rd District, comprising Capitol Hill and the University District, endorsed Murray, as widely expected. Murray has represented the district in the state legislature since 1995 - first as a representative, and since 2005 as a senator.

In Steinbrueck's home district, the 46th, which takes in northeast Seattle, Murray also got an endorsement, which he shared with Steinbrueck.

The 36th District, in West Seattle, will make its endorsement in June.

LABOR WEIGHS IN
Labor unions have also begun issuing their endorsements.

McGinn picked up the endorsement of the hospitality workers, UNITE HERE Local 8, as he did four years ago.

The city's maritime unions - two Longshore locals and the Sailor's Union of the Pacific - endorsed Steinbrueck, mainly because he was an early opponent of the proposed SoDo basketball arena. Maritime unions were concerned that increased traffic generated by the arena might reduce freight mobility and cost the waterfront unions jobs.

Murray won the endorsement of the Sheet Metal Workers, and shared the endorsement of the Seattle Building Trades Council with Harrell. McGinn alienated the building trades unions early on in his first term, with his strident opposition to a deep-bore tunnel replacing the Alaska Way viaduct. Voters have since approved the tunnel.

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