Mike McGinn: Seattle mayor should limit travel
Jun 10, 2015, 11:36 PM | Updated: Jun 11, 2015, 5:28 am
Former Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn did some traveling during his time in office, but says he made sure to evaluate how big a budget he would actually need. (File photo)
(File photo)
Former Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn did some traveling during his time in office, but says he made sure to evaluate how big a budget he would actually need.
Though mayors before him often took security with them while traveling, McGinn didn’t see the point most of the time.
Related: Dori says mayor’s $36K trip to Israel a slap in the face
“When I first took office, I was asked if I would take security with me to D.C.,” McGinn explained. “I decided it wasn’t worth the expense.” Plus, he probably wasn’t going to be recognized anyway.
McGinn’s view on trip expenses seems somewhat different than Mayor Ed Murray’s.
Murray has an approximate $36,000 budget for a five-day trip to Israel, The Seattle Times reports. His plans include speaking at an LGTB conference and to take part in a trade mission. Seattle is footing the bill for flights ($24,000) for staff and security. And the Seattle Fire Department is paying $10,000 to $12,000 for two officials to take part in the trade mission.
That’s a stark contrast to McGinn’s trip to China, for example. McGinn took one staff member during that trip.
“I felt we got a good turn of investment in China,” McGinn explained. “There’s a role for the mayor to represent a city when traveling.
“Always have to be aware of what you’re spending,” he said.
Though representing the city and building relationships is important, McGinn said he always felt more comfortable in the city. He didn’t want to be gone in case something major happened. McGinn took advice from someone in the Obama administration to heart.
“He said, ‘When you’re mayor, your city owns you,'” McGinn repeated. “It turned into a useful piece of advice.”
Listen to former Mayor Mike McGinn’s podcast on KIRO Radio, “You,Me,Us,Now.”
