Seattle's Duke of chowder eyes mayoral run

Duke Moscrip, the owner of six Duke's Chowderhouse restaurants, is inching toward a campaign for mayor of Seattle.

Moscrip has been calling around town in recent days trying to line up political consultants and advisers.

Reached by phone in Los Angeles, where he's attending the Pac-10 basketball tournament to cheer on the UW Huskies, Moscrip said he's "inclined to run" but is still thinking it over. He said he expects to make a decision in a week or so.

"I think Seattle needs a change. I think we need new leadership, effective leadership," said Moscrip, pointing to the city's response to the December snowstorm as an example of voter frustration with Nickels, who is running for a third term.