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Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close Image 2 of 29 Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant is sworn-in on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Hundreds of people packed the lobby of City Hall for the swearing-in of city council members, the city attorney and the new mayor. less Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant is sworn-in on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Hundreds of people packed the lobby of City Hall for the swearing-in of city council members, the city ... more Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 3 of 29 Supporters of a $15 per hour minimum wage chant during a swearing in ceremony on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Kshama Sawant, the new socialist councilmember, is a champion of raising the minimum wage. less Supporters of a $15 per hour minimum wage chant during a swearing in ceremony on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Kshama Sawant, the new socialist councilmember, is a champion of raising the ... more Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 4 of 29 From left, new Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, City Councilmember Kshama Sawant and Sally Bagshaw sit in the VIP area during a swearing-in ceremony on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. From left, new Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, City Councilmember Kshama Sawant and Sally Bagshaw sit in the VIP area during a swearing-in ceremony on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 5 of 29 Image 6 of 29 New Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant is hugged by Nicole Grant on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall before Sawant is sworn-in. New Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant is hugged by Nicole Grant on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall before Sawant is sworn-in. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 7 of 29 New Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant speaks after being sworn-in on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. New Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant speaks after being sworn-in on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 8 of 29 New Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant waves from the podium after being sworn-in. New Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant waves from the podium after being sworn-in. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 9 of 29 Seattle Mayor Ed Murray is sworn-in by former Governor and Ambassador to China Gary Locke on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Hundreds of people packed the lobby of City Hall for the swearing in of city council members, the city attorney and the new mayor. less Seattle Mayor Ed Murray is sworn-in by former Governor and Ambassador to China Gary Locke on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Hundreds of people packed the lobby of City Hall for the swearing in ... more Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 10 of 29 Image 11 of 29 Seattle Mayor Ed Murray speaks after being sworn-in on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray speaks after being sworn-in on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 12 of 29 Seattle Mayor Ed Murray holds up a certificate with his husband Michael Shiosaki after being sworn in by former Governor and Ambassador to China Gary Locke on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray holds up a certificate with his husband Michael Shiosaki after being sworn in by former Governor and Ambassador to China Gary Locke on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 13 of 29 Spectators watch the swearing-in ceremony. Spectators watch the swearing-in ceremony. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 14 of 29 Spectators watch the swearing-in ceremony. Spectators watch the swearing-in ceremony. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 15 of 29 Image 16 of 29 New Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, left, holds a certificate with Nicole Grant after Sawant was sworn-in. New Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, left, holds a certificate with Nicole Grant after Sawant was sworn-in. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 17 of 29 Spectators watch the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Spectators watch the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 18 of 29 Seattle Mayor Ed Murray speaks after being sworn-in. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray speaks after being sworn-in. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 19 of 29 New Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant speaks after being sworn-in on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. New Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant speaks after being sworn-in on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 20 of 29 Image 21 of 29 Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant is sworn-in on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant is sworn-in on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 22 of 29 Spectators watch the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Spectators watch the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 23 of 29 Elected officials watch the ceremonies on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Elected officials watch the ceremonies on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 24 of 29 Spectators watch the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Spectators watch the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 25 of 29 Image 26 of 29 From left, City Attorney Pete Holmes, City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, Mayor Ed Murray, Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, councilmember Nick Licata, and councilmember Mike O'Brien pose for a photo after a swearing-in ceremony on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. less From left, City Attorney Pete Holmes, City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, Mayor Ed Murray, Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, councilmember Nick Licata, and councilmember Mike O'Brien pose for a photo after a ... more Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 27 of 29 New Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant speaks after being sworn-in on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. New Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant speaks after being sworn-in on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 28 of 29 New Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and City Councilmember Kshama Sawant shake hands after being sworn-in on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. New Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and City Councilmember Kshama Sawant shake hands after being sworn-in on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Seattle City Hall. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 29 of 29 Mayor Ed Murray: A report card on the first 90 days 1 / 29 Back to Gallery

Ed Murray is a liberal Democrat, a believer in the social gospel, but you could sense Republican President Warren Harding’s 93-year-old campaign motto last year in the Murray endorsements of established Seattlites: “A return to normalcy.”

Murray ran as the candidate of peace, order and good government — that’s actually a Canadian motto — with a promise to end the controversies and divisions of a mayor nicknamed “lead-with-his-chin,” Mike McGinn.

It hasn’t always worked out that way. Murray has appointed highly regarded deputies but clearly stumbled installing an old-guard regime at the Seattle Police Department. Meanwhile, the state Legislature remained stupidly resistant to a city that is Washington’s economic engine, refusing to pass a transportation package and create provisions to head off deep cuts in transit.

Here is one reporter’s report card on the first 90 days of progress — and regress — under Mayor Murray:

— Senior City Hall appointments: Very good. Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim and acting Deputy Mayor Andrea Riniker get high marks for being quick on the uptake, and seasoned Democratic political operative Chris Gregorich was an excellent choice for chief of staff.

Murray came to City Hall after 17 years as a legislator, with no executive experience and a reputation for being intensely sensitive to criticism. He needs strong backup.

— Seattle Police Department: Incomplete, but with a mid-term poor work slip. The removal of interim Chief Jim Pugel, and bringing ex-assistant chief Harry Bailey out of retirement to replace him, was Murray’s most maladroit move.

A popular, savvy reformer, Pugel was forced into retirement. Two other assistant chiefs have left the force. Bailey is a former vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild. He has seemed intent on wiping the slate clean of police disciplinary cases, and even token punishment, before a new chief takes office.

As Murray has noted, the pick of a police chief is an appointment that can mean success or failure by a mayor. The lesson has, hopefully, been driven home by the disgraceful treatment of Pugel and maladroit actions by Bailey.

— Response to crisis: Good, so far. Murray was cool and informed when he briefed the press less than four hours after the KOMO helicopter crash. He refused to be drawn into speculation and said city policy toward choppers on buildings would be re-evaluated when investigations were complete.

The news conference stood in contrast to a rushed, discordant session called by Mike McGinn after the Cafe Racer massacre, but before the killer was tracked down and committed suicide.

— Outreach: Good, to a point. Murray has delighted in being mayor, no more so than when going to the White House and meeting President Obama. No Ron Sims-Bill Clinton hugging, but then the 44th president can be chilly. Murray is our first gay mayor, a supporter of LGBT causes, but has avoided national grandstanding.

Moving the Legislature was probably hopeless, signaled by a snide anti-Seattle crack by Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom of Medina at a City Club legislative preview. Murray hasn’t gotten at cross-purposes with the governor — the McGinn vs. Chris Gregoire feud was worthy of New York — but he hasn’t broken the logjam as he promised in the campaign.

— Keeping promises: Very good. Murray is following through on campaign pledges, notably with his decision — announced last week — to double staffing at the city’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. He’s asking $409,238 from the City Council to do this.

It’s a wise move, given Seattle’s rapidly changing population. The mayor offered sensible follow-up steps — e.g. help for immigrant-owned business, expansion of English as a Second Language (ESL) opportunities in the city. An upcoming April 5 “neighborhood summit” was promised, is now being delivered.

— Minimum wage: Good, but final grade pending. Murray set up an income inequality advisory committee, named to it three members of the left-socialist block on the City Council, and appointed as co-chairs major employer Howard S. Wright III and whip-smart SEIU labor leader David Rolf.

He’s also listened, not just to non-stop noisemakers of the Socialist Alternative — political base of non-stop-talking council member Kshama Sawant — but to the quiet voices of small businesses, non-profits and restaurant owners worried at the potential shock of a 60 percent increase in the minimum wage.

With the far left agitating, and both human gains and hurt on the table, Murray will need the patience of Job and the wisdom of Solomon. He seemed committed to a just solution, yet sturdy and pressure-resistant, at last week’s Income Inequality Symposium.

— Communication: Below average. Mayor Murray is an intense, serious person, yet his press office has been the source of numerous belly laughs. There was the obituary to a very-much-alive Jim Diers, former Department of Neighborhoods director. The actual dead person (and deserving of tribute) was former gubernatorial chief of staff Joe Dear.

On Tuesday, Murray announced a $2 million program to aid a half-dozen Seattle business districts. “I am proud to announce $200 million new funding for the Only in Seattle initiative,” said a post on Twitter. We make mistakes, including blooper typos by journalists who grade politicians. Still, in addition to the laughs, there was Murray’s hasty, testy Feb. 21 news conference on the police.

— Citizen Safety: Borderline average. Seattle is a city under construction, which poses hazards for pedestrians and motorists alike. The city MUST ride herd so people are not at risk. It is inexcusable when walkers are forced into the street by building construction, and when motorists come upon an unannounced lane closure.

The city did seem to respond when sidewalks were closed on both sides of 11th Avenue. Cops were posted at the (at last cleared-up) city-created mess at Boren and Pike. City Hall must get more proactive, or negligence will lead to serious injury. Modest menace from the top would go a long ways: Bawl out a department head, threaten to close a construction site.

— Needed initiatives: Very good. Murray is moving Seattle toward a voluntary city pre-school program, vital to improving Seattle schools. He has strongly supported the April transit levy, designed to keep Metro bus service from deep cuts.

Activist Seattle dreams big dreams, leaving its middle class to foot the bill. Emerald City voters are a generous lot. Still, Murray must show some restraint in decisions to come, notably when it comes to renewing the city’s pricey “Bridging the Gap” street levy.

When driving along an arterial once decorated with “Fix this Street” signs (the 2006 “Bridging the Gap” slogan) — and it hasn’t been fixed — backs stiffen even among backers of big, activist government.