By Craig M. Benjamin, Conservation Program Coordinator for the Sierra Club Cascade Chapter

In a sweeping win for the environment, the people of Seattle have proven once again that they care about moving our city and our world forward by electing leaders with a proven vision for a cleaner, greener planet.

By electing Dow Constantine for King County Executive, Mike O'Brien for City Council and voting down I-1033, and with Mike McGinn holding a slim lead in the race for Mayor, Seattle and King County voters simply get it.

This election is not only a win for the Puget Sound region and for two of the Sierra Club's Cascade Chapter leaders; it is a win for climate change, for the future of our light rail system and for smart growth policies.

McGinn and O’Brien championed grassroots campaigns that relied on the power of volunteers over wealthy special interests groups. Just as they led the Sierra Club in our campaign to prevent the construction of 182 miles worth of polluting suburban highways, they went directly to the people of Seattle for this fundamental win for change.

All of these leaders see what our future can be, and the victories across the board are a great validation that the people of Seattle recognize that status quo leadership will not fulfill our collective vision of better lives for future generations.