The race for King County Executive is supposed to be non-partisan, but it has clearly become a contest between both parties, underscored by Susan Hutchison’s ardent denials of her affiliation with the Republican camp.

There is nothing wrong with Hutchison’s embracing her Republican friends other than the fact that she is pretending she doesn’t know anyone of that persuasion. This act is part of a pattern of deception that has been revealed by successive appearances before the voters.

When the campaign began and she was still trying to find her political balance and had not yet gotten her marching orders from the well-heeled business leaders behind the scenes, she didn’t have much to say.

Then, as the campaign heated up, as her opponent Dow Constantine began to score points, Hutchison shifted her strategy to specific aspects of county government and how she would do things differently.

The thrust of her campaign became a series of sound bites. When we heard her interviewed on a talk show, she made it clear that she had learned her lines well.

Her claim about her long community service rings hollow. And her intimation that she is qualified to saddle up and ride the bronco that is King County government is a fatuous claim.

She is a bright and well-spoken woman. But not prepared to lead King County.

Conversely, Constantine, a seasoned politician, lawyer and urban planning graduate, has the credentials suited to the role.

Criticism of Constantine is warranted. He has not done a perfect job of shepherding.

Importanly, Dow shows up and tends his flock. He is extremely attentive to his constituency, busy in the community and paying attention at the street level. He is a capable leader who will learn from his shortcomings and grow into the job as county executive.

When The Seattle Times announced its endorsement of Hutchison, the decision is more revealing about Frank Blethen, publisher of the Times, than about Hutchison. Frank Blethen yields to pressure from the big money boys. Hutchison is so patently unqualified she embarrasses thinking Republicans.

In the race for mayor, Joe Mallahan is clearly the handmaiden of monied Eastside and downtown interests (even though he put his own dough into the campaign). While he trumpets his ‘executive experience’ as his main qualification for public office, it is obvious that Mallahan has been pushed out from the crowd as the conservative representative to take some power away from the democrats who have held sway in Seattle and Olympia.

Mike McGinn is just who he appears to be: an honest man, an idealist and somewhat of a populist with limited political experience. But we think he is a better choice for the seat than Mallahan because his interests are aimed at things that benefit the public and not the downtown business interests alone, as does Mallahan, who cannot easily distance himself from his tassel-toed, button-down brethren.

McGinn is our choice for mayor.

Ken Robinson, Editor