I-872 would replace new partisan primary

By Susan Gilmore
Seattle Times staff reporter

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Under the Grange measure, modeled after Louisiana's system, the top two vote-getters in the primary would advance to the general-election ballot regardless of their political parties.

If I-872 passes, conceivably two Democrats or two Republicans might wind up facing each other in some general-election races.

The initiative is a reaction to the partisan primary that debuted Tuesday, in which voters were required to select a specific party ballot. The courts had earlier thrown out the state's 70-year-old blanket primary that allowed voters to vote for candidates of any party. That system had long been challenged by the state Democratic and Republican parties.

"I-872 gives back the right to vote for anyone," said Don Whiting, a former assistant secretary of state now working for the Grange.

Of the dozens of legislative races in 2000 and 2002, Whiting said only six would have left two Democrats or two Republicans on the general-election ballot.

Secretary of State Sam Reed, who supports the Grange initiative, said the new primary doubled the cost of the election, from $6 million to $12 million.

I-872, he said, would reduce the cost to $6 million.

Reed, who said he was supporting the measure as a citizen and not as the state's top election official, said there is a top-two initiative on the California ballot this year and there may be one in Oregon next year.

Laura Ruderman, the Democratic candidate for Secretary of State, declined to take a position on I-872.

"What I have said is that I think it's inappropriate for the secretary of state to support or oppose any initiative on the ballot," she said, because that office must certify ballot measures. "I don't think a candidate for secretary of state should do that either."
 
Richard Kelley, manager of the No on I-872 campaign, disputed Reed's assertion that voters were mad about the new primary system.

"This campaign is not about the blanket primary," he said. "Nothing can reconstruct the blanket primary."

Kelley says that initiative opponents, primarily the political parties and the League of Women Voters, will be far outspent by supporters of the measure.

Chris Vance, state Republican chairman, said the party opposes I-872, but is putting party money into electing Republican candidates, not opposing the Grange initiative.

"This would not bring back the blanket primary," he said. "It would put in a system even worse. But my entire focus is electing Republicans."

Opponents also argue that a top-two primary could hurt candidates like John Spellman, the last Republican elected governor.

Spellman won the 1980 general election, despite finishing third in total votes during the primary behind Democrats Jim McDermott and Dixy Lee Ray.

Both sides expect that if I-872 passes, the Louisiana-style primary will eventually wind up in court.

Vance believes if voters endorse the top-two primary, his party could legally ignore the primary results and hold nominating conventions to choose the Republican candidates for the general-election ballot.

Reed disagrees. He said there is no legislative authority for the parties to bypass the primary.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com