Voters in Washington have had no greater advocate, nor a firmer voice for fairness, transparency and civility, than Secretary of State Sam Reed.
Reed, 70, who among other duties serves as the state’s chief elections officer, announced Tuesday that he’ll retire when his third term expires in J
anuary 2013. He will depart at the tail end of a generation of moderate, results-oriented Republicans who hit their political stride with the election of Dan Evans as governor in 1964 — a list that included former U.S. Rep. and Lt. Gov. Joel Pritchard as well as Reed’s predecessor as secretary of state, Ralph Munro.
Among their common traits was an ability to disagree without being disrespectful, a value that reminded politicians and citizens alike that at the end of the day, representative democracy runs on reasoned debate and compromise.
It wasn’t always easy.
As secretary of state, Reed earned a national reputation for defending Washington voters’ independent streak against party leaders’ desire to control the primary election process. After the state’s popular blanket primary was challenged by the parties and thrown out in court, he proposed the current (and U.S. Supreme Court approved) Top 2 primary, in which the top two vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of party preference. It’s been well-received by voters, most of whom disdained having to pick a party in the primary and vote only for its candidates — as the parties preferred.
Reed’s biggest test came in 2004, when the gubernatorial race between Democrat Chris Gregoire and Republican Dino Rossi ended in a virtual tie. It was a nightmare scenario for the elections chief, who knew better than anyone that no matter how careful the tabulation process, there’s a margin of human error. This race was close enough to fall inside that margin.
Reed followed the law and executed his duties faithfully, ensuring a result that withstood a court test. Still, he incurred unbridled wrath from some in his own party when Gregoire emerged the eventual winner.
Unshaken, he set out to improve the system, working with Democrats and Republicans on a package of reforms that included creating a statewide voter database, which with regular checks has all but eliminated duplicate registrations and weeded ineligible voters from the rolls.
He also was a force for exanding legitimate voter registration, pushed successfully for what is now a statewide vote-by-mail system, and got the primary date moved up to allow maximum participation by military personnel overseas.
Not a bad record for a modest, mild-mannered public servant. And proof that even in today’s politics, one can be civil and effective.
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