Seattle Gay News
Issue 25, Volume 42, June 20, 2014
LEADERSHIP & PRIDE Last November Seattle elected its first openly Gay mayor. Then-state Senator Ed Murray, who had recently married his longtime partner Michael Shiosaki, campaigned on a strong track record of reaching across the aisle to pass landmark legislation (such as the state’s historic marriage equality bill) and defeated Mike McGinn to become Seattle’s 53rd mayor. Murray’s supporters packed Neumos, a venue located in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood that normally showcases live music acts from around the country, and when Murray and his soon-to-be “First Gentleman” of Seattle, Shiosaki, arrived they received a cheerful and minutes-long sustained applause from a crowd that included many long-time Murray supporters. I was one of them. For Murray the moment must have been one of great appreciation and pride in a job well done. For me, his win signified much more than the election of a man that holds progressive values, asks for the best out of the people who work with him, and champions the rights of LGBTQ people. There’s nothing new about that and, although he arguably does all of those things remarkably well, the truth is that what his being elected by popular vote to run the City of Seattle for four years reflected was the fact that times have changed – and much more than just a neighborhood of drag queens, Gay college boys, and artsy-types who thought it might be a good idea to “give the Gay guy a chance.” And then I came to the realization, just as many of Murray’s supporters and, no doubt, Murray himself at some point, began to think. Could he get the job done? Would Ed Murray go down in history as just the “Gay Mayor” or would he actually bring change to Seattle politics and get this city on track to actually be the city it already claims to be and become one of the greats? All signs would point to a favorable outcome. Until his election as Mayor, Ed Murray represented Seattle’s 43rd Legislative District in the legislature since 1995, serving as the Democratic Leader in the State Senate. He was the prime sponsor of Washington state’s historic marriage equality law as well as the 2002 Safe Schools bill, which protects sexual minority youth in schools. Murray was also the prime sponsor of a landmark bill banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation signed into law in 2006. He got high marks for negotiating an end to gridlock on transportation reforms. Murray also sponsored landmark legislation matching Washington’s car emission standards to the highest in the nation. His honors include the 2002 Human Rights Campaign Leadership Equality Award,
AP
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
Jane Abbott Lighty, left, looks on as her partner of 35 years, Pete-e Petersen, hugs then Senator Ed Murray
the 2009 Legislator of the Year Award from the Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs, among many, many other accolades, awards and chiefly the endorsements from just about anyone you could think of. While campaigning for mayor in 2013, Murray captured the lion’s share of endorsements compared to the incumbent. Murray received the unlikely pair of endorsements from Washington Conservation Voters and the political arm of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. Former King County Executive Ron Sims appeared at Murray’s headquarters to announce his endorsement of Murray and City Attorney Pete Holmes and City Councilmember Tim Burgess, too, as well as immigration activist Pramila Jayapal. Seattle Gay News endorsed Murray the very same day he announced his candidacy. The one thing, however, that Murray seemed to lack (or so it seemed, anyway) was executive leadership. There was never any doubt that he was one of the most respected and accomplished elected officials in Washington state while serving in the state House and Senate; but that was Olympia, and Olympia is far from Seattle in both miles and familiarity. Seattle is a city all its own, with problems of its own. History, however, does show that betting against Ed Mursee MURRAY page 24
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