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].