‘For Sale’ Sign Down For Month M’S Give State Second Try After Close Defeat At Polls

A move to sell the Seattle Mariners was deferred for a month Thursday, with politicians scrambling to devise a new way to pay for a $325 million retractable-roof stadium.

All-but-final vote totals compiled Thursday showed a King County sales-tax increase to provide most of the funds failing 246,500 to 245,418. The 1,082-vote margin was about a fifth of 1 percent.

County elections chief John Charles said it was unlikely any more ballots from the election Sept. 19 would arrive before the results are certified Friday, or that there would be a recount.

Gov. Mike Lowry already had called a meeting for today with Mayor Norm Rice, County Executive Gary Locke, County Council chairman Kent Pullen and all four state legislative caucus leaders to consider other financing options, such as a lottery or revised tax plan.

Legislative leaders say there is little support for spending state tax revenue on a new ballpark.

The Mariners say the 19-year-old, concrete-roofed Kingdome is ill-suited for major league baseball and lacks enough good seats, luxury boxes and expensive club seats to generate a profit.

They expect $30 million in losses this season, bringing the total to $67 million in 3-1/2 years. Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi of Japan is the majority owner.

“This gratifying outpouring of support and the requests of fans to allow time for a new legislative solution are significant factors in the decision we are announcing today,” Mariners president John Ellis said in a letter to Locke.Mariners president John Ellis granted a request made Tuesday by County Executive Gary Locke for at least 30 days to prepare a plan for action in a special session of the Legislature. The new deadline is Oct. 30.

“If by that time a final, acceptable solution is not in place, the team will be offered for sale,” Ellis wrote to Locke. “We are giving notice to this effect to major league baseball today.”

Locke’s chief of staff, Kevin Raymond, said a “modified sales tax proposal” with costs shared between the state and county might have the best chance.