Primary dilemma.

[rug]

There's only one Democrat (for two spots) running for County Commissioners in the primary and there are three republicans running for two spots.

Under the Commissioner system, there must be only two Commissioners from one party and one from the other.

Here's the dilemma.

The county Democratic party is debating whether or not to support a campaign to write in, in the Democratic primary, the name of the least nauseating candidate in the Republican primary, ensuring there will be two Democratic candidates in the general election. This allows the possibility of voters who liked the republican to vote for her on the Democratic line, yielding a small chance there might actually be two Commissioners elected on the Democratic line and only one republican.

The flip side is, two republicans might be elected on the republican line and the third, the required minority candidate, might turn out to be the write-in republican.

What do you think? Guarantee the Democratic Commissioner will be the minority Commissioner, or take a chance at having two Commiisssioners elrected on the Democratic line?

[femmocrat]

1. Which county is this?

I think a write-in is a huge long-shot. You are probably doomed to have the dem in the minority. If one of the repubs is more "moderate" (enough to be endorsed by the dems at least), it might not be THAT bad....?

How likely is it that she would switch parties?

[rug]

2. Pike.

Stolidly republican.

If she's a write-in she wouldn'y have to change her registration, she'd simply be on the Democratic ballot along with the real Democrat.

She's likely to come in third in the republican primary so she'd be off the ballot entirely - unless she's written in in the democratic primary. If the county committee actively supports her write-in she'd likey get on. I believe she'd only need 100 write-in votes. Since there's presently only one candidate and two slots, she'd be on the ballot.

My concern is, with two guaranteed seats, the republicans may split their vote and she'd get in as the third, minority, commissioner. Ergo, three republican commissioners.

On the other hand, I don't like the idea of the local party simply giving up and just running one candidate. And, if handled properly, all her republican primary support may follow her to the Democratic line and there would be a Democratic majority, nominal or not.

What to do, what to do . . . .

[Divernan]

6. Do NOT write in a Republican. It's lose-lose for the Dems if she's elected.

You have described her as "solid Republican". Clearly, if elected, she will vote with the other Republican(s). Either you will end up with at worst, 2 Republicans and a faux Dem who always votes Repulican, or at best, 1 true Democrat, 1 Republican and a "Democrat" who always votes Republican. Just because she's elected on the Dem side of the ballot, in no way, shape or form obliges her to vote with the true Democratic commissioner.

What on earth benefit do you get from having a Democratic majority on the commission, when it is a majority in name only, and not where it counts, i.e, in the voting by Commissioners. Further, you damage the image of Democrats in your county and teach voters it doesn't really matter what party affiliation is on the ballot.

I agree with the suggestions to write in the name of another REAL Democrat, just so the party flies the flag and hosts a full slate for the fall election.

[demodonkey]

3. Write in a real Democrat. No Republicans on the Dem ticket.

For pete's sake, why oh why did not another Dem run?

[rug]

4. That was my original thought.

The only answer I can give you is that it's a small county, thouroughly dominated at all levels of government by republicans, and the county party is pretty much in disarray.

To give you an example, the incumbemt Democratic Commissioner is there only because his predecessor resigned mid=term and the republican President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (who was also the only Judge of the Court of Common Pleas) was required by law to appoint a Democrat as his successor.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. We had that same problem in my county with another office.

If you can believe it, it was State Senator position and there was no one on the Dem ticket (duh). I don't even know why the Dems were considering writing him in, but there you have it.

My take on it was, I am not writing in a Rep ever, and certainly not in the Dem primary. Ain't happenin'.

It is unfortunate that your county Dem party is considering this tactic. They should be looking for another Dem to support for a write-in. It is obvious that the second Dem will be on the ticket in the fall since there are two spots. That write in candidate will not have to garner many write-ins to get on the ballot. That person does not even have to campaign or spend money on the run up to the fall to protect the one Dem seat (although it would really be nice if that person would, and the party would help support the campaign).

Your only reasonable option is to have a Dem write-in. You will jeopardize having at least one real Dem commissioner win any other way.

[rug]

7. Thanks for your input.

[PRETZEL]

8. Don't write in,

we have the same scenario, Montgomery County.