City Council member Tim Burgess, one of several officials who has long been rumored to be considering a run for mayor, made it official this afternoon, filing his first campaign-finance compliance report at 5:00.
Burgess says he's filing in time to comply with city rules, which mandate that candidates must file official papers no more than two weeks after they start raising or spending money on their campaigns; Burgess launched a new web site two weeks ago.
In a brief conversation, Burgess declined to name specific issues he would focus on or specific deficiencies he sees in Mayor Mike McGinn's leadership over the past three-plus years. "I would say that it’s leadership and the ability to get things done, rather than grade or evalauate Mike McGinn. I think I'd rather talk about what I would bring to that office and leave it up to you pundits to decide the differences," Burgess said.
In a statement, however, he focused on his advocacy for the Families and Education Levy; his work on behalf of children sold into sex slavery; and his advocacy for programs like the Nurse Family Partnership, an early-intervention program for low-income moms.
Burgess' campaign manager is Emily Walters, the field director for Democrat Jay Inslee's successful campaign for governor, which, at last count, was winning by 92,000 votes. Campaign insiders credit Inslee's win, in part, to its massive GOTV and door-knocking effort (the Inslee camp reportedly knocked on millions of doors) that dwarfed his Republican opponent, Rob McKenna's, field operation.
Burgess also announced several endorsements, including one from firefighters' union leader Kenny Stuart and one from former Seattle housing department director Adrienne Quinn, who left the McGinn administration shortly after his election in 2009.