Democratic and Republican party leaders are keeping their word, and that means a lesser role for voters in primary elections.

State party chairmen Republican Chris Vance and Democrat Paul Berendt vowed last fall that if voters backed Initiative 872, the “top two” primary, the parties would start picking their own candidates.

I-872 passed by an overwhelming margin.

So this year, whenever a partisan office is contested, a miniconvention will be held in which a few dozen people – precinct committee officers and other party activists – will select the candidates for those races.

In Snohomish County, Republicans won’t have much to debate. Incumbent County Council members John Koster and Jeff Sax are shoo-ins, so that leaves only one spot to fill. Similarly, Democrats will anoint Councilman Dave Gossett for re-election, leaving them to find challengers for the Republican incumbents.

The change seeks to ensure that in the county this fall, and the state in 2006, ballots contain only the names of the Democratic and Republican candidates the parties want you to consider.

“This should not be a surprise to anyone,” Vance said. “We have an inherent First Amendment right to nominate our candidates.”

This would drain the primaries of showdowns such as in 2001 when Sax had to battle fellow Republican Chad Minnick. Expect no testy match-ups such as last fall’s between Democrats Mike Sells and David Simpson in the 38th District House race.

This change also will create a near-absolute protection policy for incumbents. Who would mount a challenge? That requires entering the lair of the party’s most loyal and smacking around a sitting lawmaker’s reputation.

On the plus side, uncontested primary campaigns of major party candidates might turn out to be less costly, since candidates would have less need for big bankrolls. Unopposed incumbents can turn conventions into rallies and use the primary to simply gauge their popularity.

As long as the Democratic and Republican parties reign supreme, there’s little chance that a “D” and an “R” won’t make the general election under the “top two” system, in which the top two vote-getters face off in the general election regardless of party.

But there’s a legal rub to all this.

Vance and Berendt insist that once a Republican or Democratic candidate is named, no other candidate can run using those political appellations.

Election officials contend the parties cannot copyright “Republican” and “Democrat;” any candidate can use those monikers.

A lawsuit is expected, and the state Supreme Court might have to decide.

Once voters figure all this out, they may turn their glare on the parties, which they blame for burying the beloved blanket primary. Sixty percent of voters backed Initiative 872, expecting it would preserve choices, not reduce them.

Berendt’s reply: “This is the law of the land in the state of Washington.”

“We’re standing up for our rights,” Vance said.

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