Donnelly: State GOP endorsements deprive voters of choice

The early endorsement rule was intended to unite the famously fractious state GOP. Unity to win elections in November has long been the party’s elusive goal. Now, with the state convention in the books, the party may not be any closer to achieving it.

Held April 18-20 in Spokane, the convention took place weeks before the candidate filing deadline on May 10. So, delegates voting on endorsements may not have had the final list of candidates. Many delegates were meeting the candidates for the first time. Their votes may have been based on brief campaign speeches.

In the most contentious races (governor and 3rd Congressional District), convention delegates favored Semi Bird and Joe Kent, strongly conservative candidates who have campaigned at party events for more than a year. Their endorsements were virtually a foregone conclusion.

Kent’s Republican opponent, Camas City Council member and lawyer Leslie Lewallen, chose not to attend the convention. Candidate for governor Dave Reichert, former King County sheriff and congressman, traveled to Spokane but elected to withdraw from the process, citing “disarray … and changed rules.” Bird’s supporters ultimately prevailed over an attempt to disqualify him for misdeeds 30 years ago. Bird therefore claims the endorsement.

Nonetheless, the contest between Reichert and Bird, and between Kent and Lewallen will continue. Primary voters will make this important choice, as they should. The party endorsement will matter to some voters and mean nothing to others.

Unendorsed Republican candidates such as Reichert (who has won many elections in vote-rich King County) and Lewallen (an elected official in fast-growing Camas) will now forego party recognition, such as informational literature at party headquarters.

These candidates are disadvantaged, but so is the public.

A case in point involves the race for Superintendent of Public Instruction. The process deprived primary voters of the most qualified candidate — Chad Magendanz. His résumé includes Navy submarine veteran, degree in electrical and computer science at Cornell University, experienced high school computer science teacher, many teaching awards, school director and state legislator.

After the brief candidate speeches to the convention, a candidate of lesser qualifications than Magendanz was endorsed. As pledged, he suspended his campaign.

This issue is not merely a party matter. Early endorsement eliminates candidates the public has the right to evaluate against competitors of both parties during weeks of campaigning. It centralizes decision-making in the hands of a small percentage of party activists.

Unity cannot be imposed from above. It must come from grassroots recognition and tolerance of interparty differences. Through its history the party united factions to win the Civil War and the Cold War. Stakes are equally high now.