Seattle, we are entering uncharted territory. We have not had a mayor like Katie Wilson in recent memory if ever. She is a genuine community organizer who challenged a seemingly-invincible incumbent and won using volunteer power in the face of the largest attack ad campaign in city history. As she takes office, she owes most of her win to people who were inspired by her campaign messages to volunteer their time, which is a remarkable position to be in as a politician. She does not owe any big debts to major donors, and though she calls herself a socialist she did not even run as part of a specific socialist organization.
Her relative lack of political restrictions is an opportunity for everyone in Seattle to toss out some of their own political cynicism. Formerly hardened political alliances may have new space to change. In her victory speech last week, Mayor-elect Wilson described a very different version of mayor’s office access than our city is used to.
“I am a community organizer, and I will not stop being a community organizer once I step into City Hall,” she said. “I intend to govern in a way that creates opportunities for that organizing” because “what I am able to accomplish depends on you.”…