General Contractors Support Sidran Candidacy

SEATTLE-Mark Sidran, the Seattle city attorney, has received the support of local general contractors in his bid for mayor.

Arthur Langlie, chair of the contractors association’s local government affairs committee, said in a letter that his panel believes “Sidran most closely represents the interests of our industry at this time.”

The committee also recommended that Builders United in Legislative Development (BUILD) support Sidran as well. The recommendation was accepted.

Sidran, who threw his hat into the political ring this spring, has served as city attorney for the past 12 years. He is both respected and reviled for his tough-on-street conduct laws he claims he crafted to boost Downtown’s image and business efforts.

Sidran is challenging incumbent Mayor Paul Schell, who was a developer prior to taking office. King County Councilman Greg Nickels of West Seattle is also a candidate. Other lesser-known candidates include: Scott Alexander Kennedy, a Capitol Hill businessman; Omari Tahir-Garrett, an activist known for breaking into the former Colman school in 1985 and then occupying it for eight years to try to force the city to create a black-history museum there and Christal Olivia Wood, who says she’s running for “mayoress.”