Seattlest Tip: New Challenger for Greg Nickels

Tipster Seth Kolloen, who also says he has breaking news on the Sonics' return to Seattle, took a break from sports coverage to offer us this insider's take on political developments in the mayor's race.

Mysterious Seattle resident Reg Gnickles announced at a hastily-arranged news conference this morning that he will join the growing list of challengers to current mayor Greg Nickels.

"Seattle residents deserve to have as many choices as possible in the upcoming campaign," Gnickles said. "In fact, I encourage every single Seattleite to run their own campaign for the office."

Asked to cite an example of how his administration would differ from the current mayor's, Gnickles hesitated before suggesting that he felt either he or the current mayor would be an excellent choice.

Further pressed on whether he'd entered the race simply to split the anti-Nickles vote, Gnickles responded by saying "Whu-whu-whu-what? That's crazy talk!" He then opened a giant umbrella to shield his face and sprinted into a waiting Chevy Suburban.