Politicking begins at caucuses

Party activists across South Sound will meet tonight

MICHAEL BURNHAM THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- Close to 2,400 people are expected to gather tonight at 200 political caucus sites in Thurston County.

Local party activists will gather by the handfuls at schools, Grange halls and churches to choose delegates to attend the upcoming county political conventions.

"It's one of the very basics of our democracy -- that every citizen has a say in what's going on," said county Democratic Party Chairman Dave Kempher. "And one thing that's great about it is that you actually get to meet your neighbors."

Democratic and Republican leaders anticipate 1,200 voters at their respective party caucuses.

Participants must show proof of voter registration and sign an oath of party allegiance to attend a caucus, said Thurston County Auditor Kim Wyman, who also is a Republican precinct committee officer.

"I think we're hoping for about six or seven people at each site," Wyman said.

The Democratic and Republican parties are waiting to see whether a federal court case strikes down the state's blanket primary as unconstitutional.

If that happens, delegates at the county and state political conventions could wield more control over which candidates win their party's nominations.

The Libertarian Party, although afforded major party status in Washington, will not conduct caucuses in Thurston County tonight, Wyman said.

Delegate selection will start at 8 p.m. for Democrats and Republicans.

Hot topics

Democrats, who enjoy a majority in both chambers of the Legislature, plan to kick off the evening with 30 minutes of policy discussions.

Further political talk could center around the state budget and military action in Afghanistan, Kempher said.

Republicans will have similar interests.

"The topic of conversation in the Republican Party has definitely been getting viable candidates to get the Legislature back in control of the party," Wyman said.

"The budget's going to be a big one, too," added county Republican Chairman Bob Wright. "The other large, large concern is whether the county convention also has to be a nominating convention. That's going to be tough."

"People may have to make a choice between principles and pragmatism," Wright said.

Mason County caucus locations

Democrats

Mason County Democratic Party caucuses will be held beginning at 7:30 p.m. today in two locations: Evergreen School in Shelton and the Belfair Library.

- Precincts meeting at Ever-green School auditorium, 807 W. Pine St., include: Airport, Arcadia, Bayshore, Capitol Hill, Cloquallum, Cush- man, Dayton, Eells, Grape-view, Harstine, Hoodsport, Isabella, Kamilche, Kamilche II, Lake, Lilliwaup, Matlock, Mill Creek, Miller, Mountain View, Northside, Oakland, Pickering, Potlatch, Satsop, Shelton 1-16, Skokomish, Southside, Timberlakes, Union and Westside.

- Precincts meeting at Belfair Library, 23081 State Route 3, include: Belfair 1-6, Allyn, Dewatto, Lakeland, Tahuya and Victor.

Republicans

Mason County Republican Party precinct caucuses will be from 7 to 10 p.m. today.

- Precincts meeting at Shelton Middle School, 3301 Shelton Springs Road, include: Airport, Arcadia, Capitol Hill, Eells, Kamilche, Kamilche II, Lake, Mill Creek, Mountain View, Shelton 1-16, Southside and Westside.

- Precincts meeting at Pioneer School, 611 Agate Road, include: Bayshore, Miller, Northside, Oakland, Pickering and Timberlakes.

- Precincts meeting at a private residence at 1740 W. Star Lake Drive include: Cloquallum, Dayton, Isabella and Matlock.

- Precincts meeting at Hood Canal Elementary School, 111 N. State Route 106, include: Cushman, Hoodsport, Lilli-waup, Potlatch and Union.

- Precincts meeting at the Fire Station 2 at 460 N.E. Old Belfair Highway include: Allyn, Belfair 1-6, Dewatto, Lakeland, Tahuya and Victor.

- Harstine precinct will meet at the Klassen residence, 1070 E. Sunset Hill Road.

- Grapeview precinct will meet at the Grapeview Fire Hall, 4350 Grapeview Loop Road.

- Satsop precinct will meet at a private residence at 168 W. Haven Drive.

- Skokomish precinct will meet at the Chapman residence at 21200 N. U.S. Highway 101.

For more South Sound stories go to the SouthSound section.

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