Pelz urges Democrats to stay loyal to the plan

In response to the news that some Legislative Districts have decided not to hold candidate nominating sessions as state Democratic Party rules stipulate by the vote of Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs), first reported here at PolitickerWA.com, State Party Chair Dwight Pelz has urged party leaders not to waver any further. The Times' Postman has details.

Pelz wrote an e-mail over the weekend to party leaders reminding them of the tough hand they were dealt by the Supreme Court decision upholding the "Top Two" primary, and urged them to follow the lead of some of the LDs and counties who have made nomination endorsements already.

Here are some excerpts:

This Party has stepped up to a tremendous challenge posed by the US Supreme Court ruling on March 18 which (tentatively) upheld the Top Two Primary. You have responded by planning, organizing, and/or conducting 55 Nominating Conventions at the LD, County, and CD levels.

 ...

Some LD or County parties face a tough choice between two or more solid candidates. The Thurston County Democrats should be recognized for making a hard choice between two good Democrats standing for County Commissioner at their April 28th Nominating Convention. The 46th LD will face a similarly tough choice on May 15th.

While Pelz trumpets the 55 Nominating Conventions that have been organized, it is worth noting that many of the state's jurisdictions have races where only one viable candidate exists. Very few have real primary races, such as the 10th and 36th LDs who have gone their own way and the 46th that Pelz mentions.