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| Chris Loftis, Reform |
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| Candidate: Secretary of State |
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| Chris Loftis |
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| Age: 41 |
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| Residence: Eatonville, Pierce County |
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| Occupation: |
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Executive director, United Way of Thurston County |
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| Education: |
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B.S. in zoology and science education, Duke University |
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| Political history: First campaign |
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| Endorsements: No response |
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| Campaign Web site: http://www.chrisloftis.com |
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| Campaign theme: Independent, nonpartisan leadership. |
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| 1. |
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has declared that blanket-primary elections like Washington's violate political parties' constitutional rights, what form of new primary-election system would you propose adopting? |
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Our blanket primary was the most open system, encouraging participation, privacy and choice. The closed primary the Democratic and Republican parties advocate is the least open, least private and offers the fewest choices. Let the voters choose among the half-dozen other models, not party leaders and their attorneys. |
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| 2. |
Washington voters have been voting by mail in increasing numbers in recent elections. What do you think of this trend? What changes would you make? |
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It has positives and negatives. It increases participation and saves money but also lessens the opportunity for citizen participation in the greatest American ritual -- going to the polls and casting a private/secure vote. I'm glad for the option but would fight efforts to sacrifice ceremony for heartless efficiency. |
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| 3. |
What would you do to increase voter registration and voter participation? |
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People will vote again when they think voting matters. With limited choices, obvious policy hijacking by moneyed interests, and the "bumper-sticker" discourse of modern politics, they're predictably disinterested. |
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