Response by 45th LD Democrats explains endorsement process
By Martin Chaney, Chair 45th LD Democrats
Editor, Kirkland Views
I write in response to a recent letter published in the Kirkland Views criticizing the 45th Legislative District Democrats’ endorsements in Kirkland City Council races of BRAD LARSSEN for position 3, KAREN TENNYSON for position 5, and TOM HODGSON for position 7. These criticisms include a variety of misconceptions about the Democratic Party and its role in elections.
I am proud of the 45th LD Democrats’ endorsement process, which is the most open, transparent and inclusive process of any organization of which I am aware. Kirkland voters should have confidence that our endorsement decisions reflect the consensus of local Democrats, regardless of whether they personally agree or disagree with the decisions.
Individuals who disagree with our endorsement choices frequently complain about political parties making endorsements in nonpartisan races. This is despite the fact that political party organizations in Washington State routinely make endorsements in all manner of elections. The 45th LD Democrats’ rules state “Endorsements may be considered for any candidate or ballot proposal for which at least one registered voter in the 45th District is entitled to vote.” This is consistent with virtually every other civic organization.
Our process begins with an Endorsement Committee. Participation on this Committee has been open to every member of our organization who requested involvement. This year the Committee interviewed every Kirkland Council candidate who requested our endorsement. Aside from such a request, there is no requirement of party affiliation of any kind, although part of our decision process is a determination that they “show support of Democratic values and ideals.”
After the Endorsement Committee delivers its report, actual endorsement decisions are made at an open public meeting with active debate in which all of our members are encouraged to participate. We have a high standard for making endorsements, a 2/3 super-majority vote by our membership. Our decisions in the Kirkland City Council races easily exceeded this standard.
I invite everyone who would like to be a part of these activities and to have a real affect on the policies of the Democratic Party to join us at our monthly meetings. We meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00PM at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center in Redmond.
Martin Chaney, Chair
45th LD Democrats
Posted by Rob Butcher on Friday, October 23, 2009 at 10:27 am
Filed under Elections, Headlines, Letters · Tagged with City Council, Elections
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Speaking on my own behalf and not on behalf of the 45th District Republicans, I agree with Martin’s point that political parties, like any other civic organization, should not be prevented in any way from making endorsements or recommendations, or taking positions on, any matter of public interest, including elections for public office, ballot measures, and matters before our legislative bodies. Political parties are private organizations like any other — they are NOT part of the government — and have 1st Amendment rights of freedom of speech and association like any other. Since Washington citizens have rightly made it clear that they do not want political parties to control the primary election process nor to have exclusive control over nomination to slots on the general election ballot (even in partisan races, the party label does not imply any endorsement by any part organization), endorsements are really the only way for political parties to make their preferences known.
And besides, for some people, the endorsements of the 45th LD Democrats are quite helpful in identifying who or what to NOT vote for.
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Hey Marty,
Thanks for the super letter explaining your open and transparent process of rubberstamping the fringe element of The 45th Dems.
Could I bother you to explain Area 51 to me? I know that was equally open and transpanent, but I still have questions. How about the grassy knoll and Dick Cheney’s vacations in Guantanamo? All open and transparent.
Here’s the deal.
Here’s why we don’t believe a word out of your mouth.
- David Asher savaged a loyal 45th district dem who had the audacity to challenge Frau Greenway in 2007
- Frau Greenway’s husband is an operative for the 45th Dems
- Herr Greenway, Ken Nelson, is the likely conduit of Bob Sternoff’s emails to Judith Shattuck
- Judith Shattuck is a committeewoman for the 45th, an attack dog for Karen Tennyson and a peach of a gal
- Judith Shattuck openly lied to the Kirkland City Council – including Asher & Greenway who knew of, but did not disclose, the lie
- After her deception, Shattuck then went on to attempt to besmirch Councilman Sternoff
- Asher used the 45th Dems to try and endorse Bill Sherman for State Attorney General
- Bill Sherman was later hired by Jim Lauinger to investigate Bob Sternoff
- Jim Lauinger has been an errand boy for, and puppet of, David Asher for 2 years (at least)
- Sherman’s ‘report’ is now mired in such ethical swampland that it is worthless
- As chair of a Seattle ethics panel, Sherman is honorbound to return the money and take back the report
So, in short, here’s where we stand:
Jim Lauinger hired Bill Sherman at Asher’s direction and possibly wasted ANOTHER $5,000 of the taxpayer’s money on a worthless report. Asher (et al) got caught redhanded by a citizen (with a little help from Google search). Asher threw Lauinger under the bus with little effort stating “The Mayor hired him – not me” (BTW Jim, this is the support you can count on in 2010).
- Jim does the Horizontal Mambo with Karen and gets her on the Planning Commission and then tries to slip her into his position on the council.
- Hodgson tells a council majority to pound sand when he gives privileged memos to his cohort and wastes many tens of thousands of dollars on legal fees to protect and defend Kirkland from his actions. In the end, 15 respected former mayors and councilmen are forced to denounce him publicly.
- Brad gets arrested by the mustache police for a smuggling bonsai trees on his lip
AND YOU WANT US TO VOTE FOR THESE FOLKS???????
You can fool some of the people some of the time but we are NOT blithering idiots!
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This reminds me of something that Penny Sweet posted on her campaign site in response to unprovoked attacks against her by her opponent, the 45th’s officer and endorsee, Brad Larssen.
Penny wrote “my first experience with Brad was when I ran for city council in 2007. He was on the endorsement interview team for the 45th District Democrats. He proceeded to interview me despite the fact that he had already publicly endorsed my opponent. He didn’t have the character or the courage to either excuse himself or make me aware of his predetermination. I found out immediately after the interview when my opponent’s literature was distributed at a 45th District Democrat’s meeting with Brand’s endorsement prominently featured.” You can see this and the rest of her response at http://www.sweetforkirkland.org/thetruth.htm
Next time their is an endorsement vote for Kirkland City Council Candidates, all 45th District residents in the more moderate part of the Democratic Party should join the organization and show up. Better yet, they should be there when the chair and other district officers are up for election. Maybe a few rational people from the large group that supports both Larry Springer and some of the moire ethical City Council candidates will get control and the 45th LD Democrats will get straightened out.
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or you could become a moderate Republican…
It could happen!!??!?!</b
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Mr. Reed,
Sounds like a good plan to “restructure” the 45th Dems. I suggest that the same opportunity should be taken to clean out the entrenched powers in the 48th Dems. organization. I’m not sure what it will take, not being a “political” sort of guy, but I sure would respond to a call to arms.
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I cannot vote (not a citizen) so I have no hidden agenda, but to those who complain/disagree, why not get engaged in the “political” process (join “a” or “the” party) and work the process from the inside? Or start your own organization that better meets your values?
If you are a Democrat and do not agree with the current endorsements, did you get involved and try to impact them (before they were made)? Or, are you sitting on the sidelines, just yelling/complaining over the decisions as a matter of fact?
Same goes for decisions of the City Council. While we cannot “vote” during Council meetings, we CAN take the stand and get our “three minutes of fame” and try to get our point/view across to the sitting Council members and the audience (I am thankful to have that opportunity as a resident of Kirkland, although not (yet) a U.S. citizen) and it that manner impact decisions to be taken.
Democracy is not easy, but to function well it does require that each and everyone of us gets involved, somehow…
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Well said, Per. I hope you get your citizenship soon, as we need more level-headed people like you helping to right that which is wrong.
Thank you for your comment.
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