So, where are they now? Keep reading

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America was still fascinated with hanging chads - which is so 2000 - when we last got a peek at Inside Politics.

So why its reappearance now? Major political developments? Insights and analysis? Scoops and scandals?

Nah. It's just that we've got so many little pieces of paper in our pockets we had to dump them someplace.

And we're long past due in catching up with some of our favorite political players' post-election whereabouts.

First off, to answer a question some lawmakers have been asking: Gary Locke was re-elected in November and is still governor. (But watch this week when Locke proposes a transportation plan and those same lawmakers complain.)

O.K., so he still has the same job. He also has a promoter for a new job.

A recent issue of The New Republic suggests he would be an ideal candidate for chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

The neoliberal weekly doesn't much like the current chairman, Clinton buddy and money man Terry McAuliffe, and in an editorial promoted former Energy Secretary Bill Richardson for the job.

"Or, if Richardson also carries too much Clinton baggage, how about an articulate outsider like Washington Governor Gary Locke?" TNR suggests.

Locke also recently gave the Democratic response to President Bush's weekly radio address. It was tougher than a lot of Locke speeches, including the claim that, "special interests - not George Bush - seem to be controlling America's environmental-safety programs."

It offended some Republicans in Olympia who may actually have begun to believe Locke was a nonpartisan governor. Word is, though, that the radio address was even tougher before Locke toned it down.

Other moves

Former Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn goes to a Seattle law firm to represent consumers against insurance companies. Sort of like what she did in Olympia for eight years.

Tony Williams, former chief of staff for Slade Gorton, opens a new lobbying firm with one of his predecessors, the well-respected - not that Tony isn't - J. VanderStoep.

Former Gorton press aide Cynthia Bergman is in N.Y. now with Ogilvey Public Relations.

Former Jennifer Dunn and Gorton aide Rob Nichols is deputy assistant secretary of the Treasury for public affairs.

Former George Nethercutt and George W. campaign flack Ken Lisaius works for the White House's Office of Media Affairs.

Former Slade scheduler Vickie McQuade is the closest to the Big Power. She works in the West Wing - the real wing, not the TV show - as an assistant to Ari Fleischer.

Former Dunn chief of staff Kara Kennedy joined another former Dunn chief, T.J. Petrizzo, at his lobbying firm.

Former Patty Murray flack Tovah Ravitz moves over to the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee now that Murray is chief fund-raiser for Senate Democrats. He's not really Satan

Seattle City Attorney Mark Sidran usually reacts to the frothing of his critics with a trademark smirk. But lately his mayoral campaign appears less than amused with the proliferation of anti-Sidran Web sites, some of which liken him to Satan and Hitler.

Ben Livingston, the author of one Sidran parody site, recently took a call complaining about the site from Mike James, a Sidran campaign adviser and former TV broadcaster. James was miffed at the site, www.sidran2001.com, which is constructed to look exactly like Sidran's official site, www.sidranforseattle.com. (The parody site features a fake Sidran speech denigrating the homeless and minorities as "slimebags.")

James called looking for the Internet service provider that hosts the fake Sidran site. Livingston works there, but he didn't let on that he was also the operator of the Web site.

Livingston, 23, says James hinted at possible action against the Web site. Later, he noticed that someone from the Seattle law firm of Perkins Coie was checking the "terms of service."

James admits he was irritated by Livingston's site but says he didn't threaten to shut it down. "I'm a great believer that the Web ought to be a place for open conversation," he says.

In or out?

Among those who have no lives, there continues to be a buzz about who else might run for mayor of Seattle. Incumbent Paul Schell, Sidran and Greg Nickels are now the leading contenders, but City Councilwoman Jan Drago is again making noises about jumping in. Meanwhile, City Councilwoman Judy Nicastro disappointed her fans by saying last week she won't run for mayor this year.

Inside Politics is written by Times politics and government reporters and compiled by chief political reporter David Postman. He can be reached at 360-943-9882 or dpostman@seattletimes.com.