Marchione Named 'Best Mayor' by Seattle Weekly

Redmond's own John Marchione has been selected as the "Best Mayor" of 2011 by the staff at Seattle Weekly.

Marchione, who is for re-election to a second term this year, said he found out about the recognition from a friend who read it in the paper and sent a photo of the write-up to him on Wednesday.

“It was very unexpected,” Marchione said. “I thought he (my friend) was pulling my leg.”

The alternative weekly cited Marchione's Redmond roots and business know-how as two criteria for its selection, along with the mayor's "neighborhood-centric" attitude.

After the news set in, Marchione said he felt honored to be chosen.

"It’s kind of fun to be recognized by a publication, like the Seattle Weekly, that mostly covers Seattle,” he said.

The newspaper's annual "Best of Seattle" section, which debuted Wednesday in this week's edition, includes hundreds of staff picks for politicians, radio personalities, parks, restaurants and more. Kirkland was named "Best Suburb," but Marchione said there are no hard feelings.

“It’s hard to compete with Kirkland because it's right on Lake Washington, and it’s such a beautiful sight,” he said. “I figure with my mom on the city council there, and I’m mayor here, we’ve got it covered.”