Democratic Endorsement Causes Rift Over Campaign Rules

Today's picks for civic nerds. For Thursday Agree to Disagree Image: seattlecityclub.org Frustrated by divisive political debate online (sigh), at the bar, or the media? City Club is hosting a panel on how to manage the stressed out political divide and conduct civil, constructive conversations with people you want to strangle. The lunch event will look political incivility in light of the upcoming election. The audience is encouraged to bring questions about their own experiences, and be civil. The panel includes Cathy Allen, president and owner of The Connections Group. (and Peter Steinbrueck's consultant) ... Steinbrueck, of course, lashed out at rival Ed Murray in the press yesterday; David Domke, Professor and Acting Chair of the Department of Communication at the University of Washington; Parker J. Palmer, founder and Senior Partner of the Center for Courage & Renewal and author of Healing the Heart of Democracy; and State Rep. Hans Zeiger (R-25, Puyallup), who was attacked as a kooky right winger during his first election, but has emerged as a moderate in the legislature—a go to for activists on higher ed funding and the lone Republican vote on this year's transportation package. City Club: Civil Discourse, Thurs, July 18, 12-1:30pm, Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave, $12-$30 For Wednesday Compost in the City Learn how to compost in a cramped—read urban—space by attending the free Seattle Tilth class at Victor Steinbrueck Park. Composting for Apartment Dwellers will feature lessons and demos on how to recycle food waste into compost, even if you're working with limited space and ventilation. The class will also show attendees how to build a worm bin from simple materials that will work well indoors. Composting for Apartment Dwellers, Wed, July 17, 5:30-7pm, Victor Steinbrueck Park, 2001 Western Ave, free. For Tuesday Mayoral Candidate Debate Don't miss the next Seattle mayoral candidate debate, hosted by City Club. The citizen-led debate will be moderated by the Seattle Times’ Joni Balter, and feature audience questions. Audience members will also join cadidates in the traditional "lightning round" of Yes No questions. And for insta-analysis, a journalist roundtable, featuring our very own Erica C. Barnett, will break it all down immediately afterward. Seattle Mayoral Debate, Tues, July 16, doors at 5pm, event from 5:30-7pm, The Seattle Public Library, Central Library, 1000 4th Avenue, free Candidate Survivor If the CityClub is too stuffy for you, head over to 1st & Pike just an hour later and get to know the nine candidates up close at personal at the Washington's Bus' Candidate Survivor. The all-ages event will combine policy questions and debate, alongside a circus of haikus, a talent show, and a possible dance-off. Candidates will be at the mercy of the audience, as they decide who stays and who goes by voting via text. Still not convinced local politics can be this fun? Check out 2011's Candidate Survivor.  Washington Bus' Candidate Survivor, Tues, July 16th, doors at 7pm, show at 8pm, Showbox and the Market, 1426 1st Ave, $5-$50 Want to see your nerdy event featured on the PubliCalendar?Send the details to Carryn at publicalendar@seattlemet.com  

This post has been updated as of Saturday afternoon.

Supporters of  Joe Fitzgibbon, one of three Democratic candidates for state Representative in the 34th District, say that precinct committee officers (PCOs) have  been unfairly ordered not to distribute  literature when canvassing in the district. The 34th both endorsed and nominated Marcee Stone, one of Fitzgibbon’s opponents. An endorsement from a district Democratic organization appears on all campaign literature from the group and often results in direct contributions from the organization.

Other officials in the district, including district chair Tim Nuse, say the district has never ordered its members to campaign for a certain candidate, and that PCOs are free to distribute whatever literature they want.

A memo from Susan Sheary, head of the King County Democrats, seems to indicate that PCOs were in fact told that they couldn’t distribute Fitzgibbon literature “under the banner of” the District, but that they could do so on their own, independent time.

Just another day in the always-entertaining 34th.

Ivan Weiss, a supporter of Fitzgibbon and former chair of the 34th, says Nuse told district officials that PCOs were not, under any circumstances, allowed to distribute Fitzgibbon’s literature when canvassing the district. Nuse personally endorsed Stone before the district’s official endorsement. UPDATE: Weiss has said in the comments that I “lied” about his statements to me. That isn’t the case.

Here is a direct quote from our conversation, taken verbatim from my typed notes: “Tim appeared to believe that he had the authority to compel PCOs to campaign for only the endorsed candidate. Something like that is unenforceable. … I can tell you unequivocally that when we discussed this at an executive board meeting, I just stood up and told [Nuse] he was full of shit, and he didn’t have the authority, and that I was going to campaign for Joe Fitzgibbon. What was he going to do?”

“As long as PCOs are canvassing for a Democrat, the party has no enforcement power” to keep them from supporting a particular candidate, Weiss says.

UPDATE: In a draft email to 34th District members, Nuse wrote:

There have been a couple questions regarding the role of a PCO and what is expected of you.  When you are elected or appointed as a PCO your duty is to represent the District and the Party by registering your neighbors to vote and sharing with them who the 34th District Democrats have chosen to support.  This is why we take the time to endorse and nominate candidates.  That work is now complete.  Soon, we’ll be asking you to carry the materials of those candidates and issues and help turn out the vote.

We realize that some people supported candidates that did not receive an endorsement or nomination.  As an official representative of our organization, we expect that you will distribute the information of only the candidates and issues that received the support of the 34th District Democrats.  By doing so you maintain the integrity of the process, the endorsement, the District, and the Party.  This strikes at the very core of who we are.

This is nothing new.  Last year, a couple candidates for Seattle City Council who did not get our endorsement began contacting PCOs asking them to carry their materials.  When the candidates took this step they were undermining the whole function of our endorsement process and the collective decision and strength of our organization. They were contacted and told to stop immediately, which they did.  When you are performing the function of your role as PCO, we hope you will take this expectation seriously.

If all 34th District PCOs were required to distribute Stone’s literature, or barred from distributing Fitzgibbon’s, the order would also apply to Fitzgibbon himself, Weiss says. “Joe is a PCO in his precinct in downtown Burien. … Is he forbidden from canvassing his own precinct on his own behalf, or would he be forced to carry Marcee Stone’s lit around? How could such a thing ever be implemented? It’s insane on its face.”

Nuse says he never proposed such a policy, and actually agrees. “It’s Ivan Weiss trying to make a flap. It’s cynical politics as usual,” he says. However, he adds, “Ultimately, we would hope that nobody would go around with the 34th District banner talking up Joe Fitzgibbon, because that’s inconsistent with what the 34th supports.”

Fitzgibbon said he wasn’t familiar with the behind-the-scenes discord. However, he adds, “PCOs are not organs of the 34th district, they’re elected by the people of the 34th. Obviously, it would be ludicrous to force all PCOs to campaign for Marcee. I don’t think they would go that far.”

Stone did not return a call for comment.

KC Dems head Sheary did not respond to a call requesting clarification of the party’s policy. However, in a memo that went out to party members, Sheary wrote that “No District member may campaign for another candidate wearing the banner of the District—if a District member chooses to do so, there may be no District name or logo associated.”

Weiss says the argument could have been avoided if the district had simply refrained from endorsing, or made a dual endorsement.

“Three of our members are in this race, and a Democrat is going to win anyway. It’s just not necessary for the district to choose one person, because they’re all good Democrats,” Weiss says.