A pioneer grunge rocker moving onto the
political stage told senators Wednesday that Washington should elect
legislators by "super districts," a system common in Europe but far
different from anything seen in the United States.
"I felt like I was the
man from Mars," former Nirvana bass player Krist Novoselic said
after his presentation to the Senate elections committee.
Novoselic and others told
the committee what lawmakers should do if the Democratic, Republican
and Libertarian parties succeed in killing the beloved but
constitutionally shaky blanket primary.
Novoselic presented the
most novel idea: Proportional representation in which even losing
parties can gain seats.
The method would "remedy
the notion of 'loser take nothing,'" he said. "How many times have
we heard, 'My vote doesn't count'?"
Novoselic, 38, formed
Nirvana with Kurt Cobain in the late 1980s while both lived in
Aberdeen. A Democrat, Novoselic is considering running for
lieutenant governor in 2004, challenging Democrat incumbent Brad
Owen.
Novoselic, dressed in a
black suit, had six minutes to make his presentation. Using a series
of slides, he energetically explained the idea in four minutes.
He suggested splitting
the state into nine districts and electing 11 state House members
from each one.
Parties would present a
slate of candidates. If the Libertarians received one-eleventh of
the votes, one Libertarian would go to the Legislature.
"You would not be
throwing your vote away," Novoselic said. "Super districts
effectively address the issue of taxation without representation."
What about the state
Senate?
"It's such a big deal,
I'm starting simple," he said. "It's a new idea, and it's going to
take a long time to break through."
Committee chairwoman Pam
Roach, R-Auburn, said after the hearing that her son asked her to
get Novoselic's autograph. As for super districts, "I thought that
was interesting. I think it showed we're certainly willing to look
at all viable options," she said. "However, I have not seen an
outpouring of support for it."
Said Novoselic, "I'm just
glad I had the opportunity to remind people about the cynicism."
Chairmen of the state
Democratic, Republican and Libertarian parties told senators that
parties should have more control over who represents them in general
elections.
The parties suggested
that they could just shut out the general public entirely if they
don't get a satisfactory primary system.
"We don't want to do it
(nominate candidates) with closed conventions, but you may be
driving us to do it," Republican chairman Chris Vance said.
The parties have sued in
federal court to end the state's tradition of allowing voters to
participate in primary elections without declaring the slightest
party allegiance.
The Ninth U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals agreed with the parties, ruling the blanket primary
violated the parties' First Amendment rights of free association.
The state Attorney
General's Office has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which
hasn't decided whether to hear the case. In a similar case, the
court struck down California's blanket primary in 2000.
Washington lawmakers are
looking at coming up with a new primary system that will satisfy the
parties and the public in case the Supreme Court declines to hear
the appeal or rules against the state.
Wednesday's hearing was
billed as the Senate's first "virtual committee hearing." Viewers
watching live on TVW, the state's public affairs channel, could
e-mail comments.
Roach read six e-mails,
including one from a man who said lawmakers should be "going after
the judge who made this silly" ruling. (A three-judge panel actually
ruled the blanket primary unconstitutional.)
"I'm not sure whether you
want us to use pitchforks," Roach cracked.
Don Jenkins reports on
the Legislature and state government. He can be reached at
360-759-8038 or via e-mail at [email protected].
