Thurston County Democrats

Dear Thurston County Democrats: Today's newspapers are discussing the presidential preference primary and this weekend's WSDCC discussion and vote on this topic. Here is an editorial written by a rep. from the League of Women Voters published in today's Seattle Times.

Also, in the Olympian, there is an article on the Thurston Co. Democrats' resolution.

As a member of the WSDCC Rules Committee, and a proponent of the DNC delegate selection option 2c 'presidential preference primary with post primary caucus,' I want to clarify a couple of things. 1) six members of the Rules Comm. who were present at the March 3rd meeting voted in favor of the presidential preference primary, and others who were absent were also in favor of it and will speak in support this weekend. More than six were sympathetic to the arguments in favor, but voted against for fear that the DNC wouldn't accept the plan. However, with the passage of the new Primary Election statute, which was signed on April 13th.

True crossover voting is not a problem, because you can only vote for one candidate and there is no other office on the ballot. More important for the PPP from this session, is that they abolished the unaffiliated ballot. You can only vote D and R now. This complies with the DNC rules.

2) There would still be caucuses....Delegate Selection plan 2c calls for a post primary caucus. At the caucus, Democrats would still be able to bring their resolutions and platform planks.

And my last point is that as useful as caucuses may be for party building, if 24+ states, including the big states of Florida, California, New York and Texas, all hold their primaries on or before Feb. 5th, by the time the WA state caucuses occur on Feb. 9th, it is likely that we will NOT get the big caucus turn out we enjoyed in 2004. What is the incentive for people to attend a caucus if the Democratic nominee is already decided by a majority of pledged delegates from these other 24+ states?

I firmly believe that WA State Democrats should use the presidential preference primary, as is the wish of the citizens of WA who established this system in 1989, to allocate delegates, and that a post primary caucus should be held to elect the individuals who will serve as the delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Additionally, at the caucus, Democrats would have the opportunity to present their resolutions and platform planks. WA can have BOTH a primary and a caucus, be inclusive of those who are unable to attend a caucus on Saturday afternoon, and most importantly, allow for our active duty military members to receive an absentee ballot so they can vote on their choice for their next Commander in Chief.

Respectfully yours,

Debby Pattin
Thurston County Democrats State Committeewoman