Greg Nickels

DENVER -- A few dozen of Washington state's delegates spent this morning giving back to the community before heading over to the Pepsi Center to cast their votes to nominate Illinois Senator Barack Obama for president.

In an event organized by Democrats Work, a Seattle-based community service organization, Metro Volunteers and Volunteers of America, and the Democratic National Convention Committee, the Washington delegates met up with their colleagues from across the country to sort boxes of food for Meals on Wheels.

Included among the volunteers was Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

DENVER - After 37 years in local Democratic politics, dating back to his time as the state president of the Young Democrats, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is finally attending the Democratic National Convention.

"I never felt passionate enough about one of our candidates to want to displace someone else who was," Nickels told PolitickerWA.com. "I knew someday I'd have a candidate I felt that way about and with Barack Obama this year I decided I wanted to be a delegate so I am sort of soaking in the moment.

"I spent most of the [convention] with the delegation yesterday on the floor listening to dozens of spellbinding speeches and obviously the Ted Kennedy moment was very poignant for everyone...so that was an amazing moment."

A lot of the time Nickels is soaking inn is being spent among fellow Democratic elected officials talking about environmental policy and climate change mitigation.

DENVER -- Jay Inslee hit the ground running with a full head of steam.

"Boy is this a good time to be a Washington Democrat," U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee said when he took the stage at the Washington state delegation breakfast this morning. "I have never been so optimistic, I have never been so engaged, I have never been so motivated."

He pointed to George Bush's mishandling of Katrina, and Sen. John McCain refusing to vote on a deadlocked energy bill earlier this session as the reason for his fervor.

"I was so angry at George W. Bush during Katrina," Inslee said, "that I got on a plane and flew to the Astrodome. It is going to be Democrats who someday restore New Orleans, who restore education, who get universal health care. I believe that is what we are going to do. I believe that is our destiny."

State Rep. Kevin Van De WegeA number of Democratic state Representatives posted a letter on Monday speaking out against the city's recent ordinance to ban guns from city property. Recently Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels issued an executive order calling for Seattle "to adopt and enforce policies, rules, and contractual agreements that, consistent with state law, prohibit the possession of dangerous weapons, including firearms, on City property."

The group, led by state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Sequim), argues that a city cannot override a law as important as the Constitution's 2nd Amendment.

Woke up this morning, got myself a gun. Here are the Winners & Losers for June 27, 2008.

The seven Party Leader & Elected Official (PLEO) delegates pledged to Sen. Barack Obama at the Democratic were chosen Sunday. The group includes a wide range of elected officials from within the party with two state senators, a state representative, a mayor, county chair, county commissioner and even a precinct committee officer. See the full list below.

State Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle)
State Senator Chris Marr (D-Spokane)
State Representative Dave Upthegrove (D-Des Moines)
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels
Spokane County Democratic Party Chair Kristiné Reeves
Precinct Committee Officer Shanna Sawatzki (46th LD)
Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart.

SPOKANE -

Check out more images from the convention below the jump.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels: Politicker Photo

Dave Reichert wins green recognition while Dino Rossi wavers on global warming. Here are the Winners & Losers for May 30, 2008.

Long time KING 5 news reporter Robert Mak, perhaps best known in political circles for his show, "KING 5 News Up Front", will join Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' staff as communications director and senior policy advisor, the P-I is reporting.

"Robert brings a keen sense of policy and communications to our team," Nickels said in a statement. "He will be a great asset as we continue our key priorities of fixing our transportation system, protecting ourenvironment, keeping our neighborhoods safe, and ensuring all Seattle residents access to safe and affordable housing."

John LadenburgAt his official campaign kickoff last Monday, Democratic candidate for Attorney General John Ladenburg began his speech by talking about opening his first office as a trial lawyer in South Tacoma. He mentioned how he worked with tribes and blue collar folks from the neighborhood and boasted that he was one of the first lawyers around to work on behalf of battered women. 

Ladenburg still lives in blue collar South Tacoma, the neighborhood where he grew up. He even gets his haircut at the same barber shop on 56th and South Tacoma Way that he has been going to for thirty-odd years. It's just one of the ways that he keeps up with the local issues, and the gossip around town.

"I represented people in the neighborhood," he said.