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Crosscut articles of the past 10 days with the most clicks.

King County

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Election 09: All-mail ballots drain elections of their majesty

Posted Wed, Nov 4, 6 a.m.

By Steven J. Buri

Vote-by-mail may be more convenient, but it comes at the expense of the symbolism and grand drama of election nights.

Have Republicans found a path to reclaim some high state offices?

Posted Tue, Nov 3, 6 a.m.

By Floyd McKay

Those stepping stones are King County executive and Attorney General. New election rules make the King County post within reach for Susan Hutchison, running as an independent.

A once-in-a-generation chance for regionalism

Posted Mon, Nov 2, 6 a.m.

By Fred Jarrett

The idea gets lip service each election, but this year could be different, especially for King County. A veteran advocate lays out some guidelines and examples.

What I liked about this election

Posted Mon, Nov 2, 6 a.m.

By David Brewster

Ten encouraging developments, plus four little worries. It only seemed like an inconsequential election season, but the omens were quite good for life after Nickels.

Ending homelessness: How are we doing?

Posted Thu, Oct 29, 6 a.m.

By Judy Lightfoot

Those vaunted 10-year plans to solve the problem are halfway in, or more, and yet homelessness persists. Even so, we're making progress and on the right track.

My picks for the general election ballot

Posted Thu, Oct 22, 6 a.m.

By Ted Van Dyk

In a year of change, the choices are getting easier as Election Day approaches.

King County's running out of cuts

Posted Tue, Oct 6, 6 a.m.

By Chris Vance

A tax-averse lawmaker comes to a surprising conclusion: time to find new revenue for King County. Will Olympia listen?

The pinch of reality is producing a new kind of leadership

Posted Thu, Oct 1, 6 a.m.

By Anthony B. Robinson

King County Executive Kurt Triplett, not worrying about getting elected, is "giving the work back" by telling hard truths. Ouch! We needed that.

Bigger lessons in the Green River floodplain

Posted Wed, Sep 30, 6 a.m.

By Daniel Jack Chasan

'Flood control is an oxymoron,' one expert says. Maybe, instead of spending so much money trying to control our rivers, we should buy out property owners and let the water run free.

History has a near-death experience

Posted Thu, Sep 24, 6 a.m.

By Joe Follansbee

Funding squeezes in Oregon put much of the history of Jacksonville behind closed doors. It could happen in King County next.

The coming Metro Transit cuts are a rare opportunity

Posted Thu, Sep 24, 6 a.m.

By Fred Jarrett

Instead of following arbitrary political allocations, let's shift to a philosophy of putting bus service where it's already working and where we want density to go.

The bully of Puget Sound

Posted Fri, Sep 18, 6 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Seattle has a great international brand, but locally, the Emerald City image is tarnished. New leadership could give us a fresh start.

A critical election for King County

Posted Tue, Sep 8, 6 a.m.

By Fred Jarrett

The county is in financial crisis, and there's a rare no-incumbent contest for Executive. A candidate who missed the cut lays out the issues for a serious debate about re-engineering county government and Metro.

Our region is losing the race against sprawl

Posted Thu, Aug 27, 6 a.m.

By Douglas B. MacDonald

New figures show that people are not moving to the regional growth centers anywhere near the rate that our 40-year growth plan predicts. It's time to craft some new approaches.

Very stormy weather

Posted Wed, Aug 26, 6 a.m.

By Chris Vance

In politics this Fall: wide-open battles for high stakes. For the public: a swine flu scare and possibly extensive flooding in the Green River Valley. For the politicians: defining moments.

Everett: God's gift to Seattle politics

Posted Wed, Aug 12, 6 a.m.

By Pete Jackson

It's understandable that Joe Mallahan, a son of Everett (the Athens of Puget Sound), will be shy about lording it over his Seattle fellow-candidates. And that Dow Constantine would drip Everett-envy.

Who gets my vote, and why

Posted Tue, Aug 4, 6 a.m.

By Ted Van Dyk

Our public budgets have been overstretched and too tilted toward powerful special interests. That calls for change at the top (that means you, Mayor Nickels), and for more legislators who avoid the go-along style.

What's so great about 'outsiders' in government?

Posted Wed, Jul 29, noon

By T.M. Sell

First problem: most who claim to be outsiders aren't. Second problem: outsiders who win probably can't get much done. So let's hear it for insiders!

Is White Center really part of Seattle?

Posted Thu, Jul 23, 6 a.m.

By Daniel Jack Chasan

Legislative tinkering is making annexation of the North Highline/White Center area slightly more attractive, but the City Council is not buying Mayor Nickels' numbers. If Seattle helps thy neighbor might it also beggar thy neighborhoods?

Heritage institutions get shorted on stimulus funds

Posted Wed, Jul 15, 6 a.m.

By Joe Follansbee

Locally, $500,000 is being passed around as part of Obama's $50 million bonus for culture. As usual, small heritage organizations get very little.

Other media

Next close election: Replacing Dow Constantine on King County Council The "non-partisan" council is now split along party lines, 4-4. Replacing Constantine could be another drawn-out brawl.

SEATTLE TIMES

Constantine's King County transition team is stacked with political allies Among the notables: Seattle Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis; three public employee union leaders; Eastside rivals Ross Hunter of Bellevue and Fred Jarrett of Mercer Island.

WEST SEATTLE BLOG

Joni Balter: Why Susan Hutchison's campaign backfired, big time "Hutchison's sizable loss proves county voters will not abide either a stealth Republican or someone who consistently dodges direct answers to reasonable questions. Hutchison never said she was pro choice, which is not a major issue in county politics unless an individual is squirrelly about the answer. Then voters become wary."

SEATTLE TIMES

Emergency repairs to dam make major Green River flood this winter much less likely The Army Corps of Engineers now puts odds of a serious flood in the Kent Valley at 25 to 1. Before the summer repairs, the flood odds were 4 to 1.

SEATTLE TIMES

Flip-flop poll now shows Constantine with big King County Exec lead The KING5 News poll that three weeks ago had Susan Hutchison with a significant lead in the race now shows her rival winning by double digits.

KING5.COM

Blog posts

Waiting, statue-like, for the next count

Posted Thu, Nov 5, 10:22 a.m.

by Chuck Wolfe

In the mayor's race, the slow process of counting mail-in ballots has left the candidates frozen.

Another slow day at election central

Posted Wed, Nov 4, 10:17 p.m.

by Matt Fikse

Maddeningly, Wednesday's mayoral results mean exactly nothing.

Ready to get real yet?

Posted Thu, Oct 8, 9:44 p.m.

by David Brewster

We're still in the denial stage over local hard times, dining on our acres of clams.

Heritage groups get stimulated

Posted Wed, Oct 7, 2:30 p.m.

by Joe Follansbee

King County is still ignoring heritage groups, but Seattle has come through with economic stimulus money for three heritage organizations.

It's a Susan Hutchison kind of year

Posted Mon, Jul 13, 10:07 p.m.

by David Brewster

How could a Republican novice be doing so well in overwhelmingly Democratic King County? Read on.

Early poll shows strength for Susan Hutchison

Posted Tue, May 5, 3:35 p.m.

by David Brewster

There are four male Democrats in a clump and a far-better-known Republican woman in the race for King County Executive. But Hutchison's support may not hold up once her conservative politics become an issue.

Saving the old New Deal

Posted Mon, Feb 9, 12:30 p.m.

by Knute Berger

The historic legacy of the original New Deal is endangered while we debate the the benefits of a new New Deal.

After Sims: no apostolic succession

Posted Wed, Feb 4, 6 a.m.

by David Brewster

The Democrats might trip over themselves in the scramble for a political plum, available after all these years. And keep your eye on the candidate who promises real change.