Washblog

Gipson, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for mayor in 2005, is facing his toughest challenge yet in retaining his city council seat. In the recent primary, while he finished with a comfortable lead over his closest rival in a four-way contest, he only garnered 45% of the vote. With less than 50% of the voters choosing him and with the 3rd and 4th place finishers pledging their support to his November challenger, popular community activist Charlene Rawson, Gipson knows that he needs something to keep his name in the papers and boost his image as a civic leader. His apparent solution? Sex Sells. And it appears to be working.

This is the second Herald story to feature Gipson's new crusade in just four days. On Tuesday, the headline read, Everett councilman proposes shame as prostitution punishment  In that story, Herald reporter David Chircop writes, "City Councilman Ron Gipson wants to use the city's cable station and Web site to shine a spotlight on people mixed up in the world's oldest profession.

Gipson said it's time to shame people with what he called a "modern scarlet letter." He thinks mugshots of people convicted of soliciting prostitution should be plastered on Everett TV 21 and the Internet."

Of course, not being able to resist any story that contains both the elements of sex and politics, both KING and KOMO TV were "on the scene" with cameras and reporters to help Ron get his face and name into the homes of thousands of viewers. While they do confirm that Gipson is seeking re-election they are quick to buy his explanation that his "modern day scarlet letter" crusade has nothing to do with that coincidence.

By the way, just how pervasive is our commercial sex epidemic in Everett? According to the piece from David Chircop, "Everett police in 2006 arrested 34 people for prostitution-related crimes." For reference, Everett's population is listed at some 109,000 - higher when the fleet is in.

Note to the media: Everett, like every other city in Snohomish County, is facing real problems of population growth with limited land resources, affordable housing concerns that are reaching critical mass, issues of environment and energy that must be dealt with sooner rather than later. Perhaps if Ron Gipson were spending more time in the community discussing these issues as Charlene Rawson has been doing for so many years, he wouldn't have so much time to spend obsessing over 16th century solutions to 1st century "problems."

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue