From Stark
Steve Moore, a Bellingham commercial real estate broker, is the fourth candidate in the Bellingham mayor’s race. He filed his candidacy this morning, joining incumbent Dan Pike, former state representative Kelli Linville, and consultant Clayton Petree in what promises to be a lively primary election battle.
Moore, head of Moore and Co. commercial real estate, received the 2010 “Most Valuable Political Player Award” from the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County.
Hey Kelli, Better get out and run for the council.
An award from the BIAWC naming you an outstanding player?
I think I’d hide that distinction and not advertise it.
It should be good for about 25% of the votes for anybody else.
With all due respect,
the agent is simply a salesman for the efforts of others
and then only for the cut they get to take off the top.
Think it’s a perfect background for civic service?
I think not.
Citizen all i am saying is that the support Kelli was hoping for is now gone. This really dooms her chances. She will be lucky to get out of the primary. If he gets 25% she is history. Pike is dancing
right now.
Mr Moore is also listed on the Executive Committee of BIAW.
I don’t think so Floyd and here’s why.
The BIAWC doesn’t directly represent votes,
just as they don’t directly represent their membership – sorta like Oplinger and the Chamber of Horrors he pretends to head.
These organizations say what they want and some assume they’re speaking in an official capacity for their donors,
but they’re not and their say-so endorsement for any individual candidate isn’t a guarantee of support.
Especially for a real estate agent, a coal dump or a bag-ban.
Citizen, A little politics lesson here. The BIA, Real Estate, GOP have a good block of votes here in Bellingham believe it or not, 25 percent may be a little low. Kelli and Pike will split the democratic vote
and now there is nothing left for her at all. Pike will win the Primary and who knows who will come in
second place. This has to be a nightmare for her. She is finding out nothing is handed to you in politics here in Bellingham.
I strongly disagree Floyd, I think Kelli has a strong following among moderate business folks, as well as engaged local Democrats. I would be very surprised if Pike wins the primary. I see him coming in second place. A close second, but second place.
I would have agreed with you before Moore got into this. The Democrats are very split right down the middle on Pike and Kelli. Her path was always the BIA,GOP,Real Estate.
I don’t think Moore makes any difference. The people who would have voted for Petree vote for Moore instead. I think that is the only part of the equation that changed.
The realor/BIA/GOP voters can do one of two things :
1. Vote for a guy like Steve Moore, edge Linville out of the primary, and get Pike no matter what.
or
2. Decide that between Pike and Linville, that Linville is a little closer to their liking, skip the charade, vote for Linville, and ensure that she is on the November ballot at all.
Moore will not be mayor. The non-Democrats of Bellingham can help influence which Democrat wins, or they can make a symbolic voter for Moore in the primary, and have no real choices in November.
Richard my boy you are so right. Vote Moore edge out Kelli and get Pike. Lamont he does make a difference. he has been around this community a long time and very active to brush aside his chances
is not smart.
The ingratitude of political partisans never ceases to amaze me. Here’s the BIAWC putting up Moore for mayor when Linville has, for years, done their bidding while ignoring her parties platform in order to stay in office.
And then there’s the Democrats who will throw Pike under the bus after he has spent his time in office largely honoring their agenda, to, unthinking, support some old political hack.
It’s hard to say who is dumber. Linville for her years of service to the BIAW, or Pike for his faith in the Democrats after what they did to him in the last race.
And now, here comes Riley telling us what a great moderate Linville is; making my point perfectly.
Wooo hooo political discourse !
Exciting post GHK.
Greg:
You hit it on the head. I could not have said it better. The conventional wisdom on this race has been shot to he^%!!!!!!!
This is good news for Pike, especially with those who will believe that because he is a “commercial realtor” he has some sort of gravitas …. But he is not in the same class of any of the present candidates and will only muddy the waters at best, though I would bet he will only draw a few votes…..it is the silly season for sure when hacks like this have happy hour dreams far beyond their abilities…..
Shaun:
It is good news for Pike, But do not under estimate the block of votes that the BIA,GOP, Real Estate have in this city. In 1999 Brett Bonner got 48 percent of the vote with that block against Mayor Mark.
They must have looked at this field and said no so here comes Moore. He will be there favorite son
and they stick together. Not a good day for Kelli.
Perhaps Lisa didn’t learn her lesson in the last go round. Lest we forget, she threw in with the BIAWC to get their support for her husband, even getting friends, like Mitch Friedman, to endorse Bill Geyer over obviously loyal Democrat, Terry Borneman. She went so far as to lobby the conservation voters to endorse Geyer. But, nonetheless, the builders and developers didn’t buy in, even with Syre in the McShane camp.
Now she seems to be positioning Linville for a similar disappointment. Didn’t Kelli learn her lesson running against that boy scout from Lynden? Ah, the feckless efforts at political compromise!
More interesting than how the right wingers will split between Moore and Linville; how will the Democrats split between Linville and Pike.
Maybe Lisa’s got it figured this time. Maybe, the finale will be a race between the two BIAWC candidates. And Clayton ain’t one of ‘em!
Frankly, Pike’s Developer campaign donation support in 2007 made up 54% of his total campaign contributions. Of course this story is not covered by local reporters. It was determined via a PDC complaint by a WWU Prof. of Poli Sci. Check it out if you don’t believe it.
If the developer / Realtor types are now running Moore, Pike’s campaign cash flow may take a big hit. Spin it how you will, but it appears he is being abandoned by his developer “base”.
Pike’s performance on Red Light Cameras, Waterfront Clean up, Chuckanut Ridge and Lake Whatcom are all big Goose Eggs. On Coal trains he is all talk and no cattle. I don’t think he is going to fool all the voters this time around. Who still believes any campaign promise he makes?
As we reported in this blog some time ago, developer Ted Mischaikov was a big Pike contributor four years ago. He is backing Kelli Linville this time around.
The MOORE the better in this race.
Certainly some candidates are more popular with real estate agents and developers than others. But it seems to me that most serious candidates for city office generally get some real estate agent and developer support. Real estate agents, in particular, are (or were) a large group and there is a lot of political diversity among those who hold real estate licenses in this county.
John has it right, This voting block sticks together and the votes he piles up in this primary will surprise all. Oh what a turn this race has taken.
Pike just lost his developer friends and their money with this announcement.
No, the developers realized Pike wasn’t working for them when he took on them and their’s over CAITAC, development on Squalicum Mtn and (the coup de gras) when he petitioned Ecology to shut off water to new development threatening Lake Whatcom.
Seems money don’t really buy friends!
Well an elected should try to work with the County would be nice instead of Pike.
Oh, yes. Cooperation above all else. That’s why history has so embraced Vichy France, I guess. In politics there’s no such thing as collaboration with the enemy!
But Floyd, just because someone pretends to be of a certain profession doesn’t mean they are successful or respected by either others in the business or supposed clients. I can call myself a pundit, set up a business purporting to be a political consultant and call myself one, but that does not make me successful, respected by other consultants or knowledgeable about running a business and making a payroll. Especially if I only got paid because I got someone to sign a contract and didn’t do anything but once they were elected by their own doorbelling, I asked for my contract percentage.
Realtors are the closest thing to film flam we have, other than red light camera salesmen and insurance agents. People go to them because they feel they lack the knowledge or time to go out on their own and sell or buy. I quit using them because I found I can do the same thing they do and not pay for a charade. I can’t see how being a realtor qualifies anyone to administer a city or be elected just because they are a sales person. Sure they took a class, drew the picture on the back of the matchbook, passed a simple test, and voila they’re a realtor, but that qualifies them as a leader and executive of a city? I don’t think so.
I agree with blogger anyone but Pike.
Gee entertaining, I was so concerned about your agreeing….so glad to know….not….
Wasn’t the Mischaikov/Pike split because he thought he could work Pike and the city to make him a bundle on a land deal? Then when Pike made the correct decision, suddenly the glow was off Pike for conniver Ted? So he now thinks he has a soft mark in Linville. What a pair of flip flops who’s prime characteristics seem to be opportunism for personal gratification over real concern for the voter’s issues.
Astonishing, because I used to have some respect for certain activists in this town, is how the McShaneites and their cohorts are now apparently backing Linville –even though she cares for their issues about as much as Petree does. But then here again, it is just more sour grapes over the last mayoral election. When Linville actually finally states her real position on say the coal terminal, they will drop her like a hot rock, since it is all about old notions about who said what about whom and payback rather than substantive positions. One more reason it is constantly apparent Pike was the most reasoned choice last time around.
The new guy is an also ran, Linville is an opportunistic player masquerading for votes and support, so Pike and Petree are really the only two reasonable and sincere candidates. Are the voters smart enough to see beyond Linville’s costume party is the question.
Short pants needs some seasoning in my opinion, but I respect that he, like Pike, are running the two most credible campaigns.
Here’s an interesting side note not scientific but first hand, I’s been getting signatures on the RLC petitions, and the funny thing is, I keep coming across these city employees who can’t stand Pike (I am sure there are some who like him but the ones who don’t are very very vocal).
I’s been getting some very negative comments about him, but here’s my question for all, the mayor is supposed to be a manager. If a large segment of the people he manages can’t stand him, what does that say about his management abilities and then the question remains can we do better?
Many of us know city employees, why don’t each of us ask them on what they think about Dan? It might be enlightening!
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
Don’t forget Glenn or Sarah!
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!