I would like to announce my candidacy for mayor

man at podium

Dear current resident,

So, you’re thinking of running for mayor! Our sincere congratulations! Running for political office is both a sacrifice and a commitment, and we’re pleased to see that so very many of our fellow citizens are interested in public service. So very, very many.

That said, the overworked (and underpaid) political journalists of this fine city have other things to cover besides your mayoral announcement. Really, there is a lot going on. And so, in order to save us all a little bit of time, please fill out the following survey:

Name:

Age:

Party Affiliation (circle one):

Democrat

Republican (kidding!)

Socialist

People’s Party

Green

Cascadian Separatist

MAGA (kidding again!)

Occupation (circle one):

Current Seattle Mayor

Former Seattle Mayor

Attorney

Activist

Attorney/Activist

State Senator

Former State Senator (disgraced)

Blogger

Jeff Bezos

Your top three priorities (circle three):

Homelessness

Cost of living

Transportation

Climate change

Equity and justice

Infrastructure

Tax reform

Noise pollution

Helmet law reform

Rainbow crosswalks

Affordable lunch options

Public vaping

Moving to Tacoma

Your Seattle roots are so deep that your ancestors (circle one):

Were in the Denny party.

Were killed by the Denny party.

How do you feel about Amazon? (Circle one.)

Love it! The UPS driver got a hernia delivering cases of La Croix to my house.

Hate it! I do use my in-laws' Prime but only to watch Transparent.

Fill in the blank:

I stand _______(adverb) here before you with _______ (spouse’s name), my husband/wife/partner/lover of _______ years, to announce my candidacy for mayor of Seattle. I chose here, _______ (location), because as a _____ (adjective) child in Seattle, I first _______ (formative experience) right here. It was here where I first fell in love with Seattle’s land and its people.

This is the _______ (superlative) city in the world! Where else can you see _______ (water feature), _______ (mountain range) and world-class _______ (cultural event) all in a day? Plus, the _______ (weather condition) keeps us _______ (adjective). And we have to be _______ (adjective) these days. Because, with the rising cost of _______ (noun), the terrible problem with _______ (noun), and the fight for _______ (noun), we do have problems in this _______ (adjective) city.

But with me as your mayor, with my years of experience as a _______ (occupation), we are going to fight for this city’s most _______ (adjective) citizens, and we are going to do it together.

"Go ________ (sports team)!"

Thank you for filling out this brief survey. Please attach any campaign material and a photograph of you and your family standing in front of a Craftsman bungalow. Remember, this is a sign that democracy is alive and well — at least in this Washington.

  

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About the Authors & Contributors

Katie Herzog

Katie Herzog

Katie Herzog is the world’s best Solowheel rider. She is a news writer at Grist.org, and her interests include public radio, natural disasters, and cults. She was born and raised in the mountains of North Carolina.