I had the pleasure of sitting next to Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden at today's Seattle Neighborhood Coalition breakfast.

I introduced Andy MacDonald by saying that we were two of the few people in town who had the fortitude to speak out against the Families and Education Levy. Godden seemed surprised that anybody would oppose the Levy, but praised us for efforts, because "having an opposition means that the issue gets more press coverage" and by implication is more likely to pass. I remarked that I hoped she would have said that she appreciates such opposition because it inspires the city's leaders to do a better job. The opponents of such measures really can be a source of useful input to the City Councilmembers, provided that they read, say, the opponents' voters' guide statements and newspaper op-eds, which, in this case, Godden gave no indication that she had done. The Council would also do well to reach out and appoint to the Levy Oversight Committee a thoughtful and civic-minded critic (e.g. Andy), who could help improve performance by insisting that funded programs be held accountable for results.

Godden also mentioned that she campaigned for the Levy on her own time, even using her personal cellphone and not her Council office telephone, because ethics are important to her and she believes that city resources should not be used in political campaigns. Brava. I hope that means she'll be supportive of the forthcoming campaign ethics complaint that I'll be filing with city and state regulators against the Seattle Channel.