Democrats prepare for caucus

Published 12:16 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

SNOQUALMIE – While the past weeks’ caucuses and primaries have whittled down an extensive field of candidates, Washington still has a chance to shape the future of the Democratic nomination for president.

With the exception of personally working for a campaign, one couldn’t get more involved in the process of electing a president than participating in a caucus. Valley residents will help determine who the rest of the nation will have a chance to vote for this November, before a vast majority of the nation gets a chance to.

“That’s the great thing about being an early caucus,” said Snoqualmie resident Kevin White, who will be heading the 5th District caucuses. “This means something.”

The Feb. 7 caucuses may be the only chance Washington residents will get to vote for their preferred Democratic candidate for president. The process is not as simple as the primary, which requires residents to go to the polls to vote, but it starts the process that will nominate a Democratic candidate when the National Democratic Convention is held in Boston this July.

On the day of the caucus, residents of precincts meet all over the state. Those within the 5th Legislative District will meet at Snoqualmie Middle School. The district’s 36 precincts vary in size and some cities, like Snoqualmie and North Bend, have more than one. All who attend must be a registered Democrat and will be required to sign an affidavit when they enter stating which candidate they are backing.

After entering, residents will break into their respective precincts. If that precinct has a precinct committee officer (PCO), they will chair the group. If not, the group can elect a chair along with a secretary to keep the minutes.

Although most residents will vote for their preferred candidate when they check in, they could remain “uncommitted.” The votes are tallied in each precinct, and voters will be given a chance to change their vote if their candidate does not qualify for delegates. Only candidates with at least 15 percent of the votes in a precinct will get delegates to represent them in the next stages of the process. If a candidate doesn’t get at least 15 percent of the vote from the precincts, they can’t move on to the next county and congressional district Democratic conventions that are held in May.

Supporters for those candidates can choose to back another candidate, which helps solidify numbers as the delegates go on to the Washington State Democratic convention, which will be held in Tacoma in June, and then on to the Democratic National Convention in Boston in July.

Delegates elected to represent candidates at the precinct caucuses will go on to the 5th District Convention, the King County Convention, and the 8th Congressional District conventions in May. The individuals who attend the Feb. 7 caucuses will start the process that will result in delegates traveling to Boston in July to nominate the Democratic Party’s candidate for president.

It should be an interesting year, according to Tom Vance, chair of the 5th District Democrats. Back in 2000, the Washington Democratic primary included only two candidates, Al Gore and Bill Bradley, and Gore was considered a lock for the nomination. This year, however, there are several strong contenders running. While New Hampshire and a slew of primaries and caucuses on Feb. 3 will narrow the field down more, Vance said there should still be some variety on Feb. 7.

“We will have three or four serious candidates at that point,” Vance said.

It will be a chance to become involved in the democratic process. A vote at the local level before the vote that decides who will run against the president.

“This isn’t something that goes on above people’s heads,” White said.

Ben Cape can be reached at (425) 888-2311 or by e-mail at ben.cape@valleyrecord.com.