Last updated 2:36PM ET
February 16, 2012
Politics
Politics
McGinn Takes Slim Lead for Seattle Mayor
(2009-11-03)
(KPLU) - In the race for Seattle mayor, environmental activist and attorney Mike McGinn has taken a slim lead over T-Mobile executive Joe Mallahan in early returns.

At a crowded pub in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, McGinn supporters raised the roof when a big screen showed their candidate ahead with 50 percent of the vote to Joe Mallahan's 49 percent.

A few minutes later, an elated Mike McGinn took to the podium.

"I just want to say, to everybody who engaged the debate about what Seattle could be, to everybody's who's committed to what Seattle could be in the future, Thank you. It's a good night."

With less than half of the vote counted so far, the race is far from decided. If the race remains close, it could be several days before a clear winner emerges.

McGinn supporters say it's a good sign that their candidate is in the lead, even though he was out-spent 3-to-1 and the largest business and labor groups backed his opponent.

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