The following piece by Lynn Thompson appeared in the 3/6/11 print edition of the Seattle Times.
MIKE SIEGEL / THE SEATTLE TIMES Seattle City Councilwoman Jean Godden poses with a backdrop of the Smith Tower and downtown Seattle.
At 6:30 a.m. most weekdays, City Councilwoman Jean Godden hits the gym, where she mambos and grapevines her way through a 50-minute aerobics class. At a time of life when many others are booking cruises and taking it easy, the 79-year-old Godden’s only concession to age is low-impact jumping jacks.
After a 29-year journalism career, including as a widely read and well-connected newspaper columnist, Godden has enjoyed a second act as one of Seattle’s most popular politicians. She won re-election in 2007 with 71 percent of the vote.
“Do not underestimate her,” says former City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck. “She’s an amazing woman.”
But as she launches a campaign for a third term, Godden may be vulnerable. She turns 80 in October. She’s attracted more challengers — four — and raised less money — $78,836 — than other council incumbents seeking re-election.
And although she enjoys good name recognition, her challengers say she doesn’t have high-profile accomplishments or an identifiable constituency to go with her name.
“A lot of people who loved her as a columnist and thought she really understood the city now want someone who will bring a new vision to the council. She’s just not accomplishing anything,” said Michael Taylor-Judd, 36, a Democratic Party activist and nonprofit manager in the health-care policy field who is one of her opponents.
Godden’s challengers all say her age is not an issue, but, like Taylor-Judd, they talk about the need for a “new voice” and “fresh ideas.” The youngest of her challengers, 33-year-old deputy prosecuting attorney Maurice Classen, calls Godden “a treasure for the community,” making her sound a little like the Smith Tower or a state ferry.
Two other opponents, architect David Schraer, 57, and city contracts manager Bobby Forch, 55, said they are running to put their own ideas before voters, not specifically to oppose Godden.
Centrist
On the council, Godden is known as a centrist who backed many of former Mayor Greg Nickels’ initiatives, including the redevelopment of South Lake Union and the tunnel to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
Steinbrueck said Godden brought financial stability to Seattle City Light when she chaired the utilities oversight committee during her first term. This year, as chair of the city finance committee, she delivered an $888 million budget that protected human services and public safety while also cutting $67 million in spending, largely without controversy.
Steinbrueck acknowledged that Godden isn’t the council’s “heavy lifter” who sponsors big, challenging initiatives, but he added, “she certainly carries her load. She’s very capable, hard working and energetic.”
Godden touts her strong work ethic, an ability to find common ground among opponents, and her long-standing support for the environment, including restoration of the Duwamish River.
She notes that she wrote her first column about tearing down the viaduct in 1979, and she remains a passionate advocate for reconnecting the city to the “best deep-water harbor in the world.”
“When the others [council members] were making jokes about not having read the EIS [environmental impact statement] on the tunnel, I was reading it. And I’ve spent the last three years doing the most important thing we do as a city — prioritizing how we spend money,” she said.
City historians say they’re not sure who the oldest serving City Council member is or was. City documents don’t record the birth dates of some of the earliest office holders. City Archivist Scott Cline checked the retirement ages of some likely contenders from past councils. He said Myrtle Edwards was 74 when she retired in 1969. Capitol Hill pharmacist George Benson was 74 when he retired in 1993. Magnuson Park protector Jeanette Williams also was 74 when she was defeated in 1989.
That leaves David Levine, who served for 30 years on the council and retired in 1962 at age 79.
“I can’t say definitively that there’s no one older, but if I had to guess, I’d say Jean and David Levine,” Cline said.
Godden dismisses any suggestion that she might enjoy the quieter pace of retirement. Her husband died in 1985 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. Her two sons are grown. She’s already traveled.
“I know it sounds corny,” she said, and then quoted Gabrielle Giffords, the congresswoman shot in January while greeting constituents in Tucson, Ariz.
“When somebody asked her about the meaning of life, Giffords said, ‘Public service.’ I feel that way, too,” Godden said.
Crowded field
Godden jumped into city politics in 2003, on the final day of filing, and quit her job as a Seattle Times columnist the same day. She entered a crowded field and ultimately beat first-term incumbent Judy Nicastro, who was tainted by campaign contributions linked to strip-club owner Frank Colacurcio Jr. Colacurcio at the time was seeking City Council approval for a bigger parking lot at his club.
“I was offended,” Godden said.
She said her City Council job uses many of the same skills as her previous one. She takes extensive notes, asks a lot of questions, researches issues and tries to keep an open mind.
As a columnist, she wrote regularly about city issues and public figures, and, says her friend and campaign manager, Cathy Allen, her social calendar in both jobs is nearly identical — “about 5,670 events a week.”
Asked if Godden is slowing down, Allen tells a story. The two of them vacationed at a health spa this past fall. Several days into their stay, in addition to the daily fitness routine, Godden proposed an early morning hike up a mountain.
“I had to lie and say I was sick,” Allen said.
To opponents who have been hinting that Godden is old enough to be their mother or grandmother, Allen promises a fight.
“If these young men think experience doesn’t mean anything, bring it on.”
Find the online version of this article at the Seattle Times website.
