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Seattle Times
Lt. Gov. Novoselic?
Rocker likes how it sounds
By David Postman
November 20, 2003
Grunge-rock pioneer Krist Novoselic says he may run for
lieutenant governor in what would be the next step of a transition
from rock star to politician.
Novoselic, a founder and bass player of the seminal band Nirvana
and more recently an activist Democrat, is enough of a politician
already to be wary about facing off against fellow Democrat Lt. Gov.
Brad Owen, a two-term incumbent. But he's thinking seriously about
the intra-party challenge, is talking to party leaders and says he
does not want to go through 2004 as a spectator.
"I've been really contemplating how I want to get involved next
year and make a contribution," Novoselic said this week. "It's going
to be a big year and I'm trying to find a way to fit into it."
The office has few required duties. In the past, celebrities have
been successful at winning the post.
"I don't go around encouraging primaries against incumbents,"
said state Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt. "But we've had a
big-band leader and a University of Washington coach in that job.
What's to say that a member of Nirvana wouldn't fit right in?"
Novoselic, 38, formed Nirvana with Kurt Cobain in the late 1980s
while both were living in Aberdeen. The band defined the Seattle
sound that became known as grunge and was one of the country's most
popular acts until the suicide of Cobain in 1994.
After Cobain's death, Novoselic had several music projects,
including his band Sweet 75.
But he became more involved in politics after working in Olympia
to stop a bill that would have restricted minors' access to some
music, and led the Joint Artists and Music Promotions Political
Action Committee.
His passion is now electoral reform, which he says would make
voters feel more connected to their government. He created a Web
site, www.fixour.us, and is promoting a plan for
"Super Districts" in the state.
Rather than the current 49 state House districts, which have two
representatives each, nine large districts would each elect 11 House
members under the plan. Voters would cast ballots for a party's
slate of candidates, not the individual candidates, and the seats
would be apportioned based on each party's percentage of the vote
total.
The state Senate would not change, having one member from each of
the 49 districts.
Novoselic said it would help minor political parties, which might
only win a small percentage of the vote, attain seats in the
Legislature.
While Novoselic says he is done with the music business, there
are ties between his music and his politics.
"Nirvana was a political band," he said. "And we were the
prophets of the disenfranchised. We spoke to the disenfranchised
because we ourselves felt that way."
He promoted Super Districts in a speech earlier this month at
Portland State University.
"Once democracy becomes predictable and a formula to sustain the
establishment, people become cynical, stop voting and tune out," he
said in the speech. "The time has come for the new wave in American
politics. The time has come for a 'Full Representation' democracy."
Given his interest in elections, Novoselic said some people have
suggested he consider running for secretary of state instead. The
office is currently held by a Republican, Sam Reed.
But Novoselic is attracted by what he sees as the bully pulpit
opportunities of lieutenant governor, a job whose biggest public
role is presiding over the state Senate during the legislative
session.
Owen is a former state legislator and convenience-store owner. As
lieutenant governor he has promoted an anti-drug program and
performs at schools in a rock 'n' roll band.
The longest-serving lieutenant governor was John Cherberg. After
being fired as the UW football coach, he was elected to eight terms
in office and served from 1957 to 1989. Orchestra leader Vic Meyers
was lieutenant governor for 20 years, in the 1930s and '40s, and
later served another eight as secretary of state.
Owen was out of town yesterday and unavailable. But his chief of
staff, Glenn Dunnam, said Owen will soon announce he's running for a
third term.
Dunnam said Novoselic would be mistaken to think it'd be easy to
carry out the duties of lieutenant governor.
"You can't walk in and be CEO of a corporation if you don't know
anything about the corporation," Dunnam said. "I'd say to Krist,
'Everyone should look to see where they want to get involved, and if
it's lieutenant governor, power to you. But you need to know what
the job encompasses before you jump in.' "
Democratic Party officials are excited about the prospect of a
Novoselic candidacy.
"I think he has a lot to offer," said Senate Minority Leader Lisa
Brown, D-Spokane. She and Novoselic spoke recently about the
possibility of Novoselic helping with fund raising for Senate
Democrats.
"I did warn him that would be difficult if he actually engaged in
a primary battle with the current lieutenant governor," she said.
Berendt was trying to reach Novoselic yesterday.
"This just tickles the hell out of me,"
Berendt said. "Someone who breaks the mold, someone who brings new
people into the party, someone of that stature, someone who has a
different voice. I think that helps the democracy, helps the
debate."
For more on Krist Novoselic's support for full representation
and his super districts proposal, see www.fixour.us. |
