Candidate endorsements have become a mechanism for Republicans and Democrats to inject their politics into nonpartisan campaigns.
There are more than 160 nonpartisan positions in Snohomish County up for grabs in November — positions on city councils, school boards, hospital districts and others.
Many of the candidates in these elections, however, are endorsed by Republican and Democrat organizations.
“I think it’s a little scary,” said Mill Creek City Councilman Mike Todd. “I don’t like the idea of Democrats and Republicans having control of our hospital districts and school boards. We are at large supposed to speak to the concerns of everyone — not the political parties we represent. We don’t have a partisan form of government at this local level.”
Todd is running for re-election against Ed McNichol, who was recently endorsed by the Snohomish County Democrats.
“I don’t think candidates seeking election to these offices should be out their looking for or accepting partisan endorsements,” Todd said. “I didn’t step up to serve on city council because I’m into politics. In fact, politics are what I like least about this job.”
Todd’s concern is that endorsements from political parties are misleading to voters. A city council member’s liberal or conservative leaning rarely makes a difference in municipal governance, he said.
His opponent agreed in part.
McNichol associates partisan politics with issues like the war in Iraq and global warming — issues that a city council has no control over.
At the same time, McNichol said voters should have the opportunity to decide for themselves whether a candidate’s political views and affiliations are relevant.
He doubts his endorsement from the Sierra Club will lead Mill Creek residents to believe the City Council has any authority over U.S. environmental policy.
“The endorsement process is a great way for candidates to see where they stand with the various groups that are out there,” McNichol said. “I’m a strong independent thinker and believe my endorsements represent a broad range of people. Because we do things at such a micro level in the city, I don’t believe partisanship is the divisive issue that it is at the national level.”
The question on many people’s minds is why partisan organizations are investing so much time and effort in nonpartisan campaigns.
Some say political parties are grooming candidates for higher offices.
Others say candidate endorsements in nonpartisan campaigns are a tool to help voters decide local issues and improve voter turnout in smaller, localized elections.
“A candidate’s political views are important to a lot of voters,” said Democrat Kimberly Cole, who is running for Hospital District 2 Commissioner against incumbent Jack Tawney. “Many people look at these nonpartisan positions and choose not to vote because they’re not sure what the candidates stand for.”
Cole, the Snohomish County Democrats endorsed candidate, sees nothing wrong with the mingling of partisan and nonpartisan politics.
“If it gets more people out and voting that is a good thing,” she said. “I don’t like voting on a candidate when I don’t have all the relevant information.”
The Democrats aren’t the only ones endorsing nonpartisan candidates. The Snohomish County Republicans also have endorsed candidates for sheriff and other nonpartisan positions.
“I don’t care where the endorsements are coming from,” Todd said. “Nonpartisan should mean nonpartisan — period.”
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