YES I-502-WASHINGTON STATE DEMOCRATS ENDORSE

This is a guest post by James W. Green who is the Second Vice Chair of the Kittitas County Democratic Central Committe and the State Committeeman for the 13th Legislative District. Committeepersons from both the county and legislative districts are voting members of the Washington State Democratic Central Committee.  This is heartfelt commentary on party unity and consistency as it pertains to forward progress on all issues of importance to Democrats and a reflection on a recent local endorsement vote where the Kittitas Democrats did not vote to endorse I-502, which provides for limited decriminalization of marijuana use, but the Washington State Democrats did vote to endorse I-502 and recommend a Yes vote. 

To vote for or against Initiative 502 is an individual vote by each on their ballot. To endorse on behalf of an organization is the decision through vote of that body. This is done to aide, and, perhaps educate, individuals in determining their vote on their ballot. The issue of I-502 came up at the State Democratic Party convention in June and it was endorsed by the vote of the delegates.  While individually one may not support this endorsement, this body debated, and vetted their support through endorsing. I-502 has also gained a great deal of other respectable endorsements since then.

 At this point, several points come to mind to set the grounds for this document. One is that the progressive path to legalize (decriminalize, medical use, and distribution) is also supported in the Kittitas County Democrats Platform; and strongly supported in the Washington State Democratic Platform, both of which were recently updated. Also, one must be aware of the organization of the Democratic Party which is that the state party is under and supports the national party; and that the 13^th Legislative District and the Kittitas County Democrats are under and support the Washington State Democrats. These two entities join to conduct the business of the state through their respective voted committeepersons. At the time Kittitas County Democrats decided to not endorse this measure, I took a look at my definition of a state committeeperson.

First I defined STATE COMMITTEEPERSON; as; ”one who provides representation and a conduit for communication to and from the state organization and the represented organization.”  Next, I sent a request for their opinion or comment to Dwight Pelz, Washington State Democratic Party Chair, who referred me to the state charter and bylaws and to Jaxon Ravens, Executive Director of the Washington State Democratic Party, who referred me to the same and added,” the state charter and bylaws do not specifically state the role of the state central committee member in regards to the relationship to the local party organization although your description seems reasonable.”     

 The Washington State Democrats Charter reads, in part in ARTICLE I:

A. the Democratic Party of the State of Washington exists to:

 

1.      Adopt and promote statements of policy to serve as standards for democratic elected officials and goals for the people of the state, and
2.      Nominate and assist in the election of democratic candidates at all levels who support thegoals of the party.

In the Kittitas County Democrats Bylaws it reads that “ State committeepersons shall serve as liaison between county and state central committees.”

So, as the state committeeman for the 13^th Legislative District and a member of the Kittitas County Democrats Central Committee, I believe we have an obligation to acknowledge and, not hide from, the state party’s endorsement of I-502.  The fact is that Kittitas County Democrats voted to not endorse this measure. This is why I spoke out to acknowledge the state party’s endorsement, while still supporting the local vote to not endorse.  While I do believe we do not need to follow the state party blindly, I also believe we should strive to be basically united to remain strong and move “ FORWARD.”  It is also my opinion that going “FORWARD” we as democrats should be promoting and educating the goals and positions of the party statewide and nationally as well as locally.

On the issue of I-502, I encourage each to look for the information and the supporters (or lack of) for each to make your own decision as this is the only measure moving this issue “FORWARD” this election cycle, then get involved to move us “ FORWARD” to 2013. There is great opportunity to be involved early on as these positions and policies are brought forth,and, it becomes harder to move most issues in the final moments. Thus moving “FORWARD” as Democrats we should become engaged early and often to effect changes we believe in early on.

     James W. Green