2013 General election

Seattle City Council Pos. 8

  • Persona

    Mike O'Brien: Likeable and pragmatic environmentalist who gets things done.

    Albert Shen: Business-minded urban planner. Definitely not Mike McGinn's finger puppet.

  • Big idea

    Mike O'Brien: Establish a new city policy that 20 percent of capital and construction jobs funded by city government go to people who are facing a barrier to work.

    Albert Shen: Reintroduce the vetoed ordinance to ban aggressive panhandling.

  • Residence

    Mike O'Brien: Fremont

    Albert Shen: Capitol Hill

  • Stump speech quote

    Mike O'Brien: We need pragmatic, progressive solutions that are based in our shared compassion for our people and our planet.

    Albert Shen: Fixing roads and transit is my business.

  • Conventional wisdom

    Mike O'Brien: You couldn't ask for a nicer guy to advocate for zero carbon emissions.

    Albert Shen: Poor primary performance showed he's too inexperienced to win.

  • Baggage

    Mike O'Brien: Longtime buddy of Mayor Mike McGinn's - and the mayor is not exactly coasting to re-election.

    Albert Shen: Participated in Obama's Business Council, but few Seattle civic groups.

  • Family

    Mike O'Brien: Wife, Julie O'Brien; two sons.

    Albert Shen: Married to Nancy Chiue; one son, one daughter.

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