Washblog || King County Democrats endorse...

King County Democrats endorse...

By N in Seattle
Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 02:14:28 PM PST
Section: Diary Topic: Democrats

The King County Democrats held their 2006 primary endorsement Tuesday evening. Most of their endorsements were pro forma -- Supreme Court incumbents Tom Chambers, Susan Owens, and Gerry Alexander, the two (unopposed) Appeals Court incumbents, uncontested candidates in most of the county's Legislative Districts.

Of much greater interest were the results of the several contested Legislative District seats, including the biggest prize, the hottest race, of all ... 43rd District House Position #1. Follow me below the fold to find out what the KCDCC did in that one.

With six excellent candidates in the Democratic primary field, the seat formerly held by Senate candidate Ed Murray has been the talk of Seattle political circles for quite some time. I've previously written here about the July Candidate Forum at Town Hall, which drew some 700 attendees, and last week's 43rd District Democrats endorsement meeting. Although one of the six candidates clearly received far more support from the 43rd District Dems than the others, garnering more votes in the first round than any two others and ranking as the only one to make it to a second round, in the end the LD organization didn't endorse anyone.

It was, then, something of a surprise -- a VERY pleasant one for me -- that the King County Democrats gave an emphatic sole endorsement in the 43rd House Position #1 race to DICK KELLEY! The KCDCC vote wasn't even close ... 46-1 for the sole endorsement.

Dick's reaction to the endorsement meeting outcome:

The Democratic Party's support is crucial in a contest for the Democratic nomination. The party is not a single-issue group or limited to one segment of the community. It is the active assembly of the people who work on all fronts -- the environment, human rights, housing, peace -- day after day and year after year. I am proud to be the candidate of the Democratic Party.

My kudos to the KCDCC for their wise decision, and congratulations to Dick Kelley for this well-deserved and important endorsement.

In other contested races, the KCDCC endorsements went to:

32nd District Senate -- no endorsement
47th District Senate -- dual endorsement for Claudia Kauffman and Ed Crawford
48th District House Position #2 -- Deb Eddy
District Court Northeast Electoral District 2 -- Frank LaSalata
In separate votes, KCDCC specifically opposed the candidacies of Jeanette Burrage (running against Justice Chambers) and Richard Pope (in the NE Electoral District 2 race)

All in all, an interesting and positive endorsement meeting of the KCDCC.

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King County Democrats endorse... | 17 comments (17 topical)

Ummm...

What, no "Switzer's an idiot" option in the poll? Where's the love?

I know you like Dick, N, and I do too (although I have no horse in this race), but I think we should call this what it is. Dick has been the long-time chair of the 43rd and deep inside the Party establishment, so they essentially, and unsurprisingly, voted for one of their own. While Dick may or may not be the best candidate for the Party (again, I have no horse, but have heard that others are better candidates), I think this vote shows a lack of self-critical engagement that should have been shown by the voters.

The excitement and buzz in this race is precisely because there is no clear, runaway best option - IMHO, any endorsement running this lopsided is a sign of a problem organizationally, or at least a lack of truly looking into the qualities of the candidates and nature of the race.

Switzerblog'll knock you out!

by switzerblog on Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 02:36:48 PM PST

* 2 5.00 2 *

That's why we all love Switzer... by willisreed, 08/23/2006 03:08:16 PM PST (none / 0)

Well, by switzerblog, 08/23/2006 03:11:29 PM PST (none / 0)

On another note....

...the KC Dems should stop endorsing in LD races - that's why the LD organizations exist. The 43rd LD couldn't make a decision on the race, but KCDCC's vote is almost unanimous? The 47th endorsed Crawford, but KCDCC throws out a dual endorsement? How does this not step on the toes of the real grass-roots organizations (the LDs)?

Endorse in non-LD specific races all you want (Seattle City Council, County Council, KC Exec, blah blah blah), but endorsing in LD races is an insult to the LD organizations.

I'm with Obama

by willisreed on Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 02:47:17 PM PST

* 3 5.00 2 *

So, Willis . . . by ivan, 08/23/2006 03:06:26 PM PST (5.00 / 3)

Wasn't there... by willisreed, 08/23/2006 03:11:12 PM PST (5.00 / 1)

Thought not by ivan, 08/23/2006 03:36:01 PM PST (5.00 / 3)

ok then.... by willisreed, 08/23/2006 03:41:17 PM PST (5.00 / 1)

Ivan, I have to say by switzerblog, 08/23/2006 04:10:04 PM PST (none / 0)

And what's his point? by ivan, 08/23/2006 04:26:37 PM PST (5.00 / 1)

You never answered my question... by willisreed, 08/23/2006 08:17:37 PM PST (5.00 / 2)

Here's your answer by ivan, 08/23/2006 11:44:16 PM PST (5.00 / 4)
I've stayed out of this conversation by noemie maxwell, 08/24/2006 09:56:31 AM PST (5.00 / 1)

What this proves is that showing up matters by eridani, 08/25/2006 04:25:23 AM PST (none / 0)

You're better than this Ivan.... by willisreed, 08/23/2006 04:23:37 PM PST (none / 0)

Big whoop...

...of course they endorsed him - he's a party insider fer cryin out loud (although, not a big enough insider to get the endorsement of his own LD, but that's another story).

As Chair of the 43rd he ran in the same circles as those who had a vote in the matter - they've known him for years and probably haven't had the same chance to get to know the other 5 candidates. Whoop-de-doo.

The only way this helps him is if he actually has the money (which he doesn't) to get that message out to the voters.

I'm with Obama

by willisreed on Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 02:33:53 PM PST

* 1 none 0 *

as opposed to... by N in Seattle, 08/23/2006 03:45:26 PM PST (none / 0)

King County Democrats endorse... | 17 comments (17 topical)

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