State Democrats in a good mood for convention

OLYMPIA — Democrats pouring into Spokane for today’s start of the state party convention are energized and confident this election season will be one of their most successful in years.

For them, this weekend is about steeling their resolve to return a Democrat to the White House, keep one in the governor’s mansion and increase their numbers in the Legislature.

“I’m going there to celebrate the victories we are looking forward to this fall,” said state Rep. Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo. “It’s a time to party with the party and talk about what we need to do to stay on track heading to November.”

They’ll hear from U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, Gov. Chris Gregoire and Kansas Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson, who headline a gala banquet tonight.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the party’s 2004 presidential nominee, will address an anticipated crowd of 4,000 delegates Saturday morning. Following him will be a stream of Democratic office-holders and candidates speaking to the masses.

Once the speeches end, work will begin on adopting the party platform and choosing a final batch of presidential delegates for the national convention. There’s also some big changes sought in the way the party operates.

Conflict may surface on a Marysville Democrat’s proposal to allocate presidential delegates based on vote results from both the caucuses and the statewide primary.

Currently, only caucuses determine the distribution.

“Our goal is to use the presidential preference primary in 2012 to apportion our delegates instead of our arcane and somewhat undemocratic caucus process,” said Kelly Wright, author of the amendment to the party’s charter.

More and more states rely on a primary vote rather than caucuses, he said. One state, Texas, relies on a blend of both.

Wright said this issue’s been debated in Washington since 1952 with the conversation gaining steam since a 1988 initiative pushed the Legislature to begin conducting statewide primaries.

“The time is now to institute this long overdue reform,” he said.

Party chairman Dwight Pelz is not taking a position on this proposal, said spokesman Kelly Steele.

“It’s coming to the floor and the delegates are the perfect people to debate this as they are the ones who went through the process,” he said.

Caucuses draw the party’s most active members but attract far fewer participants than primaries. In Washington, nearly 700,000 people voted in the primary, more than three times the number who attended caucuses.

This year’s historic presidential primary campaign showcased the value of caucuses in determining the party’s nominee.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., focused on winning states with caucuses and it paid big dividends as he racked up piles of delegates. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., captured victories in several states with primaries, including California and New York, and received more total votes but earned fewer delegates.

In Washington, Obama would have received a few less delegates had the change been in effect this year.

He dominated the Feb. 9 caucuses by a 2-to-1 margin. He narrowly defeated Clinton in the Feb. 19 primary.

Also up for debate this weekend is a proposal from Laura Lewis of Stanwood to end the practice of anointing Democrats as the party’s official nominee in partisan races.

Use of these nominating conventions caused a stir in some parts of the state this year, including the 10th Legislative District where Lewis lives.

There, Democrats Patricia Terry and Ann McDonald are vying to unseat Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor.

A handful of elected and appointed precinct committee officers voted to nominate Terry. The decision did not push McDonald to get out of the race. Similarly, Democrats continue to run for offices in other parts of state without party sanction via a nominating convention.

“What we want to happen is candidates file and voters determine in the primary which of them advances,” she said.

She called the party approach “ineffective” because people who were not nominated by the party went ahead and filed to run anyway.

Pelz is not taking sides on that measure either, Steele said.

While these two issues may ignite some sparks, it won’t dampen Democrats’ enthusiasm for the upcoming elections, said Rep. Maralyn Chase, D-Edmonds, who is in Spokane for the convention and meetings of the Federation of Democratic Women.

“This event is a celebration of democracy,” she said.

Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Everett
Judge sentences man, 73, for intending to have sex with ‘teen’ in Everett

The Arizona man sent explicit images to an agent posing as a 13-year-old. Investigators found images of child sexual abuse on his phone.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

State’s draft of climate action plan open for public comment

Residents can submit public comments or climate-related stories online through Aug. 22.

The Edmonds School Board discusses budget cuts during a school board meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds school board approves 2025-26 budget

After facing an estimated $8.5 million shortfall earlier in the year, the board passed a balanced budget Tuesday.

A wall diagram shows the “journey of the ballot” at the new Elections Center on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County Auditor: No need for feds to meddle with state or local elections

Garth Fell’s comments were in response to a report of Justice Department mulling criminal charges against election officials.

Edmonds Police Chief Loi Dawkins speaks after the city council approved her appointment on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds City Council confirms new police chief

Assistant Chief Loi Dawkins will begin in the role Aug. 1. She has more than 23 years of law enforcement experience, including three years in Edmonds.

The Edmonds City Council discuss the levy during a city council meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds votes to place levy lid lift on the ballot

By a vote of 5-2, the council decided to put the $14.5 million property tax levy lid lift to voters in November.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.