PORT TOWNSEND — Although she is a stanch Democrat, prosecuting attorney candidate Peggy Ann Bierbaum is drawing support from at least one Republican.
One of her biggest supporters is Jefferson County Republican Party Chairwoman Barbara Bradford.
Last week, Bradford sent an e-mail to county Republicans, urging them to cross party lines and vote for Bierbaum on the Democratic ballot in the Sept. 19 pick-a-party primary election.
“I’m interested in good government and having responsible public officials whether they’re Republicans or Democrats,” said Bradford.
Bierbaum is running against two-term incumbent and fellow Democrat Juelie Dalzell, who has been endorsed by the Jefferson County Democratic Party.
Because Bierbaum and Dalzell are the only two candidates in the race, the county’s prosecuting attorney for the next four years will be decided in the primary election by voters who mark Democratic mail-in ballots.
Bradford said that hers was a personal choice that did not constitute an endorsement from the Jefferson County Republican Party.
“[Bierbaum] has been endorsed by the sheriff [Mike Brasfield],” Bradford said.
“That should be a hint to the members of the Republican Party.”
Her opinion that “Juelie is inept and doesn’t hire good people,” Bradford said, led her to endorse Bierbaum.
Reaps criticism
Larry Bonar, Jefferson County Democratic Party chairman of communications and public relations, doesn’t believe it.
“It sounds like a typical Republican trick,” Bonar said.
“It may be legal but I don’t think it’s legitimate.
“If [Bradford] is so interested in the prosecuting attorney race, I don’t know why she didn’t get a Republican candidate instead of trying to mess up the Democratic race.”
Both state party chairs agree that party members should vote for their party in the primaries.
Diane Tebelius, state Republican Party chairwoman, said “It is the position of the Republican Party that if you’re a Republican we’d like you to vote on the Republican ballot.”
Dwight Pelz, state Democratic Party chairman, agreed.
“I think it’s inappropriate,” he said of Bradford’s call to cross party lines.
“As an official of the Republican Party she [Bradford] should mind her own business.”