Last month we posted about a bizarre WSDOT video that simulated a collapse of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, controversial because it was released a week before the Seattle Mayoral election. Now, as we first heard from slog, an ethics complaint has been filed against Gov. Gregoire and nine state employees for trying to sway the race, hoping to prevent Mike McGinn from getting elected. (He won.)


(Photo of the WSDOT video in question.)

It all comes down to the tunnel option which Gregoire, Mayor Greg Nickels, candidate Joe Mallahan favored. Ron Judd, the governor’s external affairs director, sent an email with the subject line “Mayor’s Race.” This occurred the day after the primary election results which indicated Nickels falling behind McGinn, who opposed the tunnel. In Judd’s email: "As you all know the Mayor is in big trouble and I am not sure he can pull it out even if he is in the run off. That brings me to the big issue that will be front and center between now and the election......our tunnel. I think we need to pull together a discussion about messaging and other strategies for the tunnel over the next 2+ months. It will not be helpful if this election turns out to be a referendum on the tunnel. So we need to work on ensuring as much as possible that does not happen. Thought's??"

Pretty strong stuff. It seems the state didn’t want McGinn to win by advocating for the tunnel. You can read the email correspondence between Gregoire's office and WSDOT staff in a pdf, courtesy of The Stranger.)

Props to Elizabeth Campbell for filing the complaint. She’s no saint; The Stranger says she has fought against homeless housing in the Magnolia neighborhood. But, in the end, Gregoire's actions leading to McGinn’s improbable victory make it all the more sweeter. Stay tuned.

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