 Frank Chopp |
Washington House Speaker Frank Chopp is not a man who, let's say, seems to exhibit great self-doubt. But even he might have been given pause by this.
In the big, ongoing debate over what to do about Seattle's Alaskan Way viaduct, Chopp's position for some time has been clear: Flat opposition to the tunnel replacement proposal backed by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, and evident support for rebuilding the existing elevated downtown expressway. Chopp's home district is in Seattle, in District 43, just north of the Alaskan Way, so his homies have a substantial stake in the outcome.
Last night the 43rd district Democrats (and the 43rd is overwhelmingly Democratic) met, and delivered their thoughts. According to the Stranger's Slog:
"Seattle’s 43rd District Democrats voted last night 74% to say NO to the elevated rebuild. The overwhelming NO vote came despite (or, perhaps, because of?) a 5-minute Vote YES rebuild speech by pro-rebuild 43rd district Rep. Frank Chopp. The 43rd (Capitol Hill, U-District, Wallingford) also favored voting NO on Nickels’s tunnel."