Defiant King County Republicans, refusing to accept the state's new "top two" primary, convened in Bellevue yesterday and chose the candidates they contend will be the party's official nominees for county offices in September.

In the only close contest, Metropolitan King County Councilman Steve Hammond, R-Enumclaw, outpolled fellow Councilman Reagan Dunn, R-Bellevue, in the new 9th Council District, 234 votes to 209. The two were thrown into the same district after voters by initiative last year downsized the council from 13 members to nine.

It's unclear, however, exactly what Hammond's victory means.

The state Republican Party, which says the top-two primary is unconstitutional, has asked a federal judge to rule that only the candidates chosen at yesterday's convention are legally entitled to be labeled Republicans on the September primary ballot.

The party also has asked losers to accept the convention's decision and not file for office in July.

In the weeks before the convention, both Hammond and Dunn said they intended to abide by its outcome. But after yesterday's vote, Dunn said he would file anyway, although he didn't know whether he would do so as a Republican.

"I can't abandon this campaign because of 24 votes in June," he said, referring to Hammond's victory margin (and getting his math slightly wrong).

Dunn said his earlier commitment to accept the convention's outcome was contingent on Hammond following the Republicans' so-called 11th Commandment — speak no ill of another Republican — and, he said, Hammond had broken that rule. Hammond backers had made "hit" phone calls to delegates Friday night, Dunn said, but he would provide no details.

Hammond denied fighting dirty: "I've had everything but the kitchen sink thrown at me." If he had lost, he said, he would have backed Dunn.

Democrats to convene

King County Democrats have scheduled a similar gathering later this month, but Secretary of State Sam Reed has said elections officials will pay no attention to the party conventions. Candidates, as before, are free to choose party labels when they file, without party approval, Reed has said.

But King County GOP Chairman Michael Young said yesterday that if Dunn files as a Republican, the state party will go to court to remove that label from the ballot.

Whatever the prize was at the GOP convention, Hammond and Dunn campaigned hard for it. This was retail politics in the extreme: The electorate consisted solely of 9th District precinct committee officers and delegates elected at caucuses May 17.

Roberta Yates, a precinct committee officer from Renton, said Dunn had come to her home to seek her vote, and Hammond had phoned. She said she had received mail supporting one candidate or the other just about every other day for the past month.

The choice was between two conservatives who differed little on the issues.

"The bad news is that one will lose," Will Cummings, a precinct committee officer from Covington, said before the vote. "Many of us are rethinking the idea of reducing the size of the council."

Dunn, 34, appointed to the council in February, has more money — about $150,000 so far, compared with Hammond's $24,000 — and the support of many GOP big names. He is the son of Jennifer Dunn, former U.S. representative and Republican power; other backers included former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton and KVI-AM (570) talk-show host John Carlson.

Dunn argued he was more electable. He said the 9th is a swing district, and noted Hammond narrowly defeated a Democratic challenger two years ago.

Hammond, 51, a former minister, emphasized his experience and rural roots. Without him, he argued, rural southeast King County wouldn't have a representative on the council.

He attributed his win over the better-financed Dunn to grass-roots effort.

"There's just a little bit of a feeling of Rocky Balboa in me," Hammond said after the vote.

Conventions new this year

The major parties' unprecedented nominating conventions this year are the latest chapter in their long-running campaign to gain a larger voice in the state's primary elections.

Federal judges in 2003 struck down the venerable "blanket" primary. It allowed voters to pick candidates from any party; the top vote-getter from each party advanced to the November ballot. The parties challenged that system, arguing that it violated their First Amendment right of association because it allowed voters who weren't party members to participate in selecting a party's nominees.

State voters last fall overwhelmingly approved Initiative 872, creating a top-two primary in which the top two vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of party. But the parties contend it has the same constitutional flaws as the blanket primary.

In the only other contested race yesterday, incumbent Pete von Reichbauer of Federal Way beat back a last-minute challenge from former state Rep. Phil Fortunato of Kent for the GOP nod in the 7th County Council District.

County Councilman David Irons, R-Sammamish, was the convention's choice to challenge County Executive Ron Sims, a Democrat.

The convention's other picks for County Council races were Steven Pyeatt in the 1st District, Brian Thomas in the 2nd, incumbent Kathy Lambert in the 3rd, Orin Wells in the 5th and incumbent Jane Hague in the 6th.

Eric Pryne: 206-464-2231 or epryne@seattletimes.com