Edmonds Republican Caucus: Grassroots Support and a 3-Way Tie

One thing was clear at the Edmonds caucus at the Snohomish County PUD office on Highway 99: They’re going to need a bigger boat.

According to Rebecca Wible, legislative district chair for Snohomish County District 32, there were about 90 seats for those caucusing from 27 precincts in the Edmonds area. (In addition, 120 precincts in the 21st Legislative District caucused at Kamiak High School in Mukilteo.)

Several people attending spilled out into the lobby with their groups when it came time to vote and to answer questionnaires.

Wible says about 75 delegates were selected to attend the Snohomish County GOP convention March 31 at Snohomish High School in Snohomish.

The results from the PUD couldn’t have been any closer. There was a three-way tie in the straw poll vote, with 31 votes each for Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul. Newt Gingrich tallied 13 and there were six undecided.

Although it was crowded, caucuses are traditionally under-attended, and Saturday in Edmonds was no exception. According to Precinct Committee officer Marc Knauss—who was helping people sign in and selling badges for $5 each—one precinct equals about 200 houses, and only two to three people from each precinct show up.

Still, the crowd was much larger than in 2008. By that time, said Knauss, Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona had already wrapped up the nomination.

Caucus-goers were generally older in Edmonds, over age 40 and 50, but there were younger attendees as well. One of those, Kyle Brotherton, said the 2012 presidential elections centers on one thing: the economy.

“Whether the issue is abortion or foreign spending, it affects everything,” he said.

Tom Tangen was there to caucus for Gingrich.

“He balanced the budget when he was Speaker and believes in the private sector more than the public sector. He respects freedom of religion. The number one thing, though, is his domestic oil policy to help free us from the Middle East.”

Whether it was their first caucus or simply the latest in many, attendees seemed upbeat about participating in an important political process.

Said Tangen: “It’s a great example of grassroots support for all four candidates united to elect a new president.”