Thurston County Democrats

I just wanted to try and update people on what is going on over here as we move through the State Convention in Spokane.

We went to the Toad Hall Democratic Club for Beer and Dogs (we really need a TCD Club!) and the main topic of conversation was this email and the call those of us who did not make the PLEO slate got today, see the email below.

I have one more chance for At-Large on Sunday.

More later....

Jim

Dear PLEO applicant,

I wanted to follow up on my phone call to you this afternoon regarding the Obama campaign’s submission of an approved list of PLEO candidates for the national convention.  The campaign received a record number of applications for District, At Large, and PLEO positions.  We know and appreciate that this reflects the strong and broad support for Senator Obama in Washington state, as well as the tremendous level of excitement for the Convention in Denver.  We also know that our success in Washington has been the direct result of your incredible efforts across the state.

Under the DNC and Washington State’s delegate selection rules, the campaign is able to submit approved lists of candidates for the District, At Large, and PLEO positions.  The campaign did not do this for the District or At Large positions in order to allow the hundreds of interested activists to run for these positions.  However, the campaign submitted a list of approved candidates for the PLEO positions this afternoon.  Under the DNC and Washington state rules, these individuals will be the candidates that the Elections Committee will consider on Sunday for the seven Obama PLEO spots. 

The creation of this list was an incredibly difficult process given the equally strong support the campaign has received from Washington’s Elected Officials and Party Leaders.  The campaign considered a variety of factors in creating this list, including volunteer and organizing efforts, diversity goals, and geographic representation.  Again, the campaign recognizes that many strong supporters, in the end, had to be left off the list given the small number of spaces available. 

We appreciate your understanding in this aspect of the process, and want to reiterate that this submission does not alter the election of the At-Large delegates.  All candidates that applied for At Large positions are still before the Elections Committee.

Below is the list of names submitted by the campaign for the PLEO positions:

Female Candidates (3 spots available):

Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown

Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles

State Committee Woman Becky Lewis

County Chair Kristine Reeves

Exec Board Representative Anita Latch

PCO Shanna Sawatzki

Male Candidates (4 spots available):

Mayor Greg Nickels

Senator Christopher Marr

Senator Ed Murray

Representative Brendan Williams

Representative Dave Upthegrove

County Commissioner Steve Stuart

WSDCC Exec Board Rules Chair Todd Nichols

PCO Lem Howell