Mike McGinn Finally Gets an Endorsement in His 2017 Mayoral Bid: The Sierra Club

Mike McGinn wants to be mayor again. Kelly O

The local chapter of the Sierra Club is endorsing former mayor Mike McGinn in his campaign to get his old job back. Before being mayor, McGinn was state chair of the Sierra Club.

In a statement today, the Sierra Club Seattle Group cited McGinn's "proven track record of using the mayor’s office to advance a bold and visionary agenda rooted in the Sierra Club’s values."

"That includes writing a new Transit Master Plan and beginning the development of new city-built rail lines, using a race and social justice lens to prioritize city spending including on environmental and climate programs, promoting sustainable building development and measures to reduce energy usage in existing buildings, and launching the city’s Climate Action Plan," the statement reads.

"In a second term," the group adds later, "McGinn will continue to address Seattle’s environmental and climate needs by, among other pledges, accelerating the development of light rail, building more affordable housing, and continuing the work of divesting city funds from fossil fuel companies."

Earlier this year, the Sierra Club endorsed Teresa Mosqueda and Lorena González for Seattle City Council.

McGinn was mayor from 2010 to 2013, when he lost to Ed Murray. After allegations of sexual abuse against Murray surfaced this spring, McGinn announced he'd run again, promising fewer regressive taxes and more neighborhood involvement in city government. But his campaign has failed to generate the kind of energy it did in 2009 and 2013. McGinn has raised the least amount of money among the six frontrunners for mayor, other than state Senator Bob Hasegawa, who can't fundraise because the legislative session is ongoing. McGinn has received few notable endorsements. (When asked the other night at Candidate Survivor which endorsement he was excited to have, McGinn said, "I like every one I get. They all matter.")

Council Member Mike O'Brien, a former McGinn ally and Sierra Club leader, has endorsed Nikkita Oliver and donated to both Oliver and Cary Moon.

Read more about the former mayor's platform and campaign in Sydney's profile of McGinn.