Updated Mar 24, 2009 - 1:46 pm
Dan Savage announces campaign for Mayor
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MyNorthwest.com
Stranger editorial director and contributor Dan Savage best known for his syndicated sex column "Savage Love" announced Tuesday that he will be entering the race for Seattle Mayor.
"I guess I'm in unless somebody else jumps in," Savage announced on KIRO's Dave Ross Show.
There are currently no challengers likely to unseat two-time incumbent Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. Nickels' effective fundraising and strong support among the business communities have been pointed to in the lack of opposition.
Rumors of Savage's run began circulating last week after Savage made a post to the Stranger's blog, "I've had it with Peter [Steinbrueck] and Tim [Burgess] and Nick [Licata] and Richard [Conlin] pansy[ing] around about running for mayor."
Savage's reasoning in entering the race stems from his belief in the conditions required for democracy to function properly. "I have a love for democracy and it doesn't flourish in places where people aren't challenged by legit candidates at the ballot box."
Savage clearly outlined his platform on the Dave Ross Show, "My whole platform was somebody ought to to run against this guy and if nobody has the guts to run against this guy I will...I know I'm not qualified so you can vote for me confident that I will resign twenty-four hours after I've been sworn in, and then it will throw the mayor's office to the city council to fill."
Savage confirms he has no intention of holding the mayoral seat if elected, and the highly outspoken Stranger editor is not shy in elaborating his lack of qualifications. "I know that I would be a terrible mayor. I can't sit through a meeting without rolling my eyes. I couldn't do what a lot of the people on the city council have to do, what I've watched them do at community meetings, where somebody who's clearly a lunatic stands up and talks and they nod patiently."
When pressed by Ross on the whether his campaign is genuine, Savage responds, "I've already announced officially on SLOG...Right now I'm running for Mayor," says Savage. He has not officially filed with King County elections, but says he fully plans to officially enter the race if no other challengers present themselves.
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