Nickels concedes: 'time for a new generation'

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels conceded the election this morning at an emotional City Hall news conference.

He defended his accomplishments in his eight years in office but said, "I think the people of Seattle decided it was time for a new generation of leadership."

T-Mobile executive Joe Mallahan and environmentalist and attorney Mike McGinn — both political newcomers — will move on to the Nov. 3 general election.

Nickels' family and some of his political supporters and city staff attended his brief speech. His staff looked stunned and somber. Some had red eyes, as if they had been crying.

"I'm very proud, though, of the many accomplishments that we have made these last eight years " Nickels said. "I believe that when the history of this decade is written, it will be seen as a time of tremendous change and positive change in our city."

Nickels, who is chairman of the Sound Transit board, mentioned the opening of light rail, and voter approval of lines out to the suburbs, as examples of the region's top achievements during his tenure. He described the deal he made with state leaders to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a tunnel as a "breakthrough agreement."

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