The state Democratic Party reaffirmed Saturday it will use caucuses, not a presidential primary, to decide how many delegates each candidate receives.
Party Chairman Dwight Pelz said a “contested not contentious” debate preceded a lopsided vote to continue doing what they’ve always done.
Marysville’s Kelly Wright of the 38th District Democrats led the effort to change party rules to allow some of the state’s 97 delegates to be determined by the popular vote.
Caucuses are set for Feb. 9. No date has been set for the primary.
Democrats want it March 18 and Republicans want it earlier. Pelz said a February date will be too close to their caucuses and “confuse” people.
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Two state lawmakers may tell us this week of their fall plans.
Rep. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, is pondering a run for county sheriff. The former state trooper speaks openly of his interest. He would be the third announced candidate joining sheriff’s Chief Tom Greene and sheriff’s Lt. Rob Beidler.
Lovick is the speaker pro tem, a position that lets him wield the gavel most days in the House of Representatives. House Speaker Frank Chopp doesn’t want him to go. Lovick’s fellow Dems don’t either, chanting “two more years” in a caucus last week.
Likewise, Sen. Jean Berkey, D-Everett, is lying low as she contemplates vying for the county council seat held by Democrat Kirke Sievers.
Rep. Brian Sullivan, D-Mukilteo, is already in the race, so if she joins there will be a hot primary. The winner would face Republican William Cooper.
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In the minutes, hours and seven days since lawmakers fled the Capitol, I’ve been scouring my desk, tearing through piles of documents and scrolling through hundreds of e-mails in search of a press release.
Not just any press release; this one congratulates the Legislature for supporting a new branch of the University of Washington in Snohomish, Island or Skagit counties and tossing in $4 million up front.
I realized Friday that none ever arrived. Not a single Snohomish County legislator sent one. Not any chamber of commerce or school district or city council, either.
Everett lobbied for the branch then let the daily paper spread the news of what happened. And Snohomish County, which spits outs press releases around the clock, passed.
The state didn’t mark the launch of what will be its first new university in nearly two decades. Nor did the UW thank the community for inviting it to expand northward.
Possibly the winners – those behind a branch campus – don’t want to come off gloating and the losers – those pushing an independent college – are too peeved to comment.
It also might be a case of folks being happy, not excited. A wait-for-the-first-building kind of wariness. Excitement can stir expectation and lead to disappointment.
If that happens, I’m sure to get a press release.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield’s column on politics runs every Sunday. He can be heard at 8 a.m. Monday on “The Morning Show” on KSER (90.7 FM). He can be reached at 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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