The race for Seattle City Attorney just might epitomize what many conservatives believe is behind the decay and lawlessness in all-too-many American cities, while liberals see things far differently.
One candidate, described by KOMO News as “a former Democrat who ran for the state’s lieutenant governor post as a Republican,” thinks it is time for people in the city to feel safe again, and to hold criminals accountable.
The office of City Attorney is non-partisan.
The other candidate is currently under fire for some controversial social media posts that reportedly included such gems as “cops are so dumb. Put up your window, pig.” As reported by KOMO, candidate Nicole Thomas-Kennedy, a former public defender and self-described abolitionist of policing, has also posted that “cops are serial killers.” There was another message reportedly suggesting police officers should “eat Covid-laced s#!t” that has apparently been taken down.
Another KOMO report, by a different reporter, quoted Shasti Conrad, chair of the King County Democrats, which has endorsed Thomas-Kennedy over opponent Ann Davison.
“We need someone who knows how to lead, who can run the office and who is going to carry out our progressive values and Ann does not do that,” Conrad explained.
Critics of Thomas-Kennedy could argue that if “NTK,” as she calls herself, represents “progressive values,” then Seattle’s self-anointed progressives may have no values.
Perhaps not surprisingly, NTK has quite a following in Seattle. She could become the next City Attorney, with a goal of abolishing the police department. In recent days, since her posts became an issue, she apparently has erased them. She has been endorsed by several organizations including the 37th District Democrats.
The KOMO piece on NTK has gotten lots of attention. The video contains flashing images of her controversial tweets, but not really long enough for viewers to get the full weight of what was in those messages.
Candidate Davison just received a couple of heavyweight endorsements, from two former Democrat governors—Gary Locke and Christine Gregoire—raising the stakes a little higher and perhaps signaling that mainstream Democrats are getting tired of the far left tilt of Seattle’s liberal establishment.
In a recent survey by KOMO and Strategies 360, only 19 percent of survey respondents plan to vote for Davison, but only 16 percent said they would vote for Thomas-Kennedy.
With the election looming Nov. 2, the candidates have just over one month remaining in which they can spar over the issues and try to paint each other into a corner. Their supporters will likely burn midnight oil trying to demonize the opposition.
In the end, Seattle residents may find this contest to be more lively than the race for mayor, which is also in progress.
