Small, active turnout as Democrats caucus

Roald Halvorson remembers his first political caucus in 1932, as a college freshman supporting Franklin Roosevelt.

Now there was a caucus – a passionate crowd, a campaign with big issues – he recalled Saturday as his Spokane County Democratic precinct caucus wrapped up in the Sacajawea Middle School cafeteria.

“I think the issues back a few years ago were more significant; we had the severe economic depression,” said Halvorson, 93, who has been to dozens of caucuses in the 74 years since his first. “But we still have big issues. We still have too many people unemployed. We need housing for people, and Social Security needs to be protected.”

Democrats in Washington concerned about practically any issue had a chance to talk them over at a precinct caucus Saturday afternoon. The caucuses, held in schools, churches and other public buildings around the state, are the first step in the process that both major parties use every two years to pick delegates for county and state conventions, where statements of issues, called platforms, are debated and approved.

Two years ago, Democrats were in the throes of selecting a presidential nominee, and the Sacajawea cafeteria was crammed with more than 200 people who were either passionate about one candidate or curious about all of them. Speakers often had to shout to be heard above the din.

This year, 31 people showed up for the meetings at Sacajawea, and some of the 14 precincts assigned to the school were represented by empty tables. Attendees talked in normal voices about everything from the war in Iraq and global warming to the city’s plans to cut down trees on Bernard Street.

Shirley Hanson was the only attendee from her precinct, so she automatically became a delegate to the county convention if she wanted. She wasn’t able to attend the convention in 2004, so she was happy to have the chance in 2006.

When she attended her first caucus in 2004, Hanson said there were at least eight people from her neighborhood precinct and the energy level was high. Her neighborhood just south of the city limits has grown in the last two years, but no one else showed up. So she discussed issues with three attendees from another precinct seated at a nearby table.

Democrats need what Hanson called a “rallying cry,” and someone suggested three Es: Education, Environment and Energy. A retired teacher, Hanson liked that, particularly the first E.

Despite the small turnout, Halvorson said he enjoyed attending his caucus. It was even a family affair, with his daughter Jacqui Halvorson serving as the caucus chairwoman, and his 10-year-old grandson Corbet Abrahamson listening to some of the early discussions before sneaking off to an empty table where he could play his Game Boy.