Wednesday, June 03, 2009

WTF, Rob Holland?

When Port Commissioner Lloyd Hara decided to switch over to the special election to replace disgraced King County Assessor Scott Noble, progressives throughout the county were thrilled when Alec Fisken, defeated by a corporate apologist two years ago, announced that he would run for Hara’s seat, Position 3 on the Commission.  With another progressive, Rob Holland, already running for Position 4—the place long sullied by Pat Davis, the prospects looked solid for building a more responsive, responsible Port Commission.

Then I looked at the updated list of candidate filings on the King County Elections website this evening…

I was shocked to see that Holland has withdrawn his Position 4 filing, and refiled for Position 3.  Which means that he’s competing for the same position on the Port Commission that Fisken filed for!

WTF, Rob???

What possible value is there in having the two progressives fighting for a single place on the Commission?  As the situation developed, it had begun to look as though we could fill both of those positions on the five-member Port Commission with solid reformers and progressives.  With Holland’s move to a battle against Fisken, leaving the other seat with a solitary candidate, about whom I know little if anything.

This switch is extremely odd, if you ask me.  Rob Holland had already received an early endorsement (on February 24!) from the King County Democrats ... for Position 4, not Position 3.  Alec Fisken is well known, and very well respected, by the progressive side of the Democrats in King County.  Yet now we have the two of them in the same damn race.

There’s something fishy here, and I’m not talking about the Terminal between Magnolia and Ballard.

Note:  in case the KC Elections site changes at some future point, I’ve saved a PDF image of its current contents.