The ’80s-’90s Seattle political gadfly and ex-City Councilmember rode into office as a champion of “neighborhoods” vs. “downtown interests,” like so many local politicians. Unlike most of them, he didn’t suddenly switch “sides” once ensconced in power.

When Chong ran for mayor in 1997, most of Seattle’s progressives latched onto him. The Stranger endorsed opponent (and victor) Paul Schell. The endorsement was the decision of publisher Tim Keck, who saw Schell as a competent leader and Chong as a tinhorn rabble-rouser. We’ll never know how Chong would have handled the ’99 WTO protests that buried Schell’s political future. Chong ran for mayor again in 2001, but already had cancer and didn’t put up much of a campaign.