| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010 1:54 pm |
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Local News 
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Skipping caucus is a vote for objectivity Saturday's the day, but don't look for me at a caucus. Democrat, Republican, it doesn't matter. I won't be there. And come Feb. 19, my presidential primary ballot will not be in the mail.I'm not lazy and I'm not indecisive, but I am a journalist. In my line of work -- although as a columnist I have expressed views on many issues -- taking part in partisan activity risks raising questions about fairness. By nature I'm a voter, I have been since the 1972. Not voting feels strange, but my decision was easy after reading an e-mail from Herald Executive Editor Neal Pattison. "Newsroom employees are free to exercise their democratic rights as citizens," Pattison wrote in his Feb. 1 message to newsroom staff. "They should be aware, however, that openly partisan activities could undermine their effectiveness as journalists. And we can be sure that people and groups who suspect us of bias will be checking the names of high-profile journalists against the state's voter rolls." It's not a secret ballot. Did you know that? Both Washington's caucus system and our presidential primary require participants to choose a party -- and that choice is public. The purple envelope where primary voters must check either a Democratic or Republican party oath has the voter's name on it -- all on the outside. That information, whether you're a "D" or an "R," is kept by the Snohomish County Auditor's Office for 60 days. Anyone can see it -- can even chat about it on talk radio, given the chance. "The voter registration rolls are public information," said Carolyn Diepenbrock, the county auditor. Diepenbrock said state law requires party affiliation information to be kept for 60 days after the primary. For about $30, people can buy the county's voter registration database, or they can use a public access terminal at the auditor's office to search for voters -- and party affiliation. While Pattison leaves the decision to Herald newsroom staff, another editor in the region has a hard-and-fast rule. David Zeeck, executive editor of the Tacoma News Tribune, wrote in that paper Sunday that Washington's caucuses and presidential primary aren't general elections but "activities of political parties." "For anyone covering anything even remotely political or for any supervising editor in the newsroom, participation in caucuses or primaries is prohibited," Zeeck wrote. It's not a problem for journalists alone. "As chief elections officer and in a nonpartisan position, I'm not going to participate in the presidential primary," said Diepenbrock. As for others holding nonpartisan offices, "it's their personal choice," she said. Diepenbrock emphasized that the regular primary in August and November's general election are both secret ballots. She'll vote in those. I will, too. In an opinion issued Thursday, the state Ethics Advisory Committee gave judges a green light to vote in the presidential primary, but not to participate in caucuses. The seven-member panel rules on judicial ethics issues. Thursday's ruling said "judicial officers may not identify themselves as members of a political party, except as necessary to vote in an election. This exception permits a judicial officer to participate in the presidential primary and to sign the oath submitted by the political parties." "Just because judges are allowed to do this, it doesn't mean that everybody will," said Nan Sullins, a staff attorney with the Ethics Advisory Committee. "Some judges like to protect their nonpartisanship." Judge Larry McKeeman, the Snohomish County Superior Court's presiding judge, is one of them. "Personally, I will not be voting in the presidential primary because of that party affiliation requirement, even though the Ethics Advisory Committee said it could be done," McKeeman said Thursday. "It's important to me to maintain a nonpartisan position as a judge." Does not voting make anyone more fair? "Objectivity may not exist, but we exercise it as a state of mind," Pattison said Wednesday. "We seek information on both sides. We submit our efforts to a discipline." And we're not voting for good reason. "I don't think having anyone on my staff vote or not vote changes the objectivity of how they work," Pattison said. "There's a second dimension -- being singled out. You might have to defend your objectivity if you do this. "As a citizen, you have the right to vote," he added. "As an editor, I have the right to protect the paper's reputation." Columnist Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460 or muhlstein@heraldnet.com. |
- A revolutionary 747
- Fire breaks out at Everett car dealer
- Everett rethinks boutique wineries
- A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood
- Snohomish County's bargain housing won't last
- Boeing's 747-8 takes off after weather delay
- Plan for I-5 closures this week
- A new bowling alley for Monroe?
- Lake Stevens man homeless after fire
- I-5 bridge joint may give you a jolt, but it isn't damaged
- Vote on school levies by Tuesday
(11) - A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood (10)
- Everett police officers cleared in 2008 shooting death (5)
- 1949 travel aid shows how few places blacks were welcome in Washington (4)
- I-5 bridge joint may give you a jolt, but it isn't damaged (4)
- Everett rethinks boutique wineries (4)
- North Sound Christian girls winning with just six players (3)
- Three politicians who want Gregoire's job in 2012 (3)
- Toyota has powerful D.C. friends (3)
- Snohomish County's bargain housing won't last (3)
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