PORT ANGELES — A written statement from Dale Holiday to her supporters accuses the Clallam County Democratic Party chairman and “undemocratic forces” within the party of undermining her Aug. 7 primary election campaign as a Democrat for county commissioner.
“Without going into all of the gory details (which some of you undoubtedly already know), let me just say that I have no doubt that the results of this election would have been greatly different had there not been active and ongoing sabotage of my campaign coming from the current chair of the Clallam County Democratic Party, Matthew Randazzo,” Holiday said.
“And though the undemocratic forces currently residing within the local Democratic Party may have won this battle, they will lose the war.”
“Fixing an election is not the same as winning an election.”
Holiday would not elaborate on the statement or on what she meant by “fixing an election,” referring queries to her husband, Port Angeles City Councilman Max Mania.
“I can say, being on the inside, this was not a clean election,” Mania said Thursday, adding that he didn’t expect “push-back to be coming from within your own party.”
Election results
Holiday, running as a Democrat, finished third in the balloting behind first-place finisher Mike Chapman, the three-term incumbent who said he had no party preference, and Republican Maggie Roth, running as a Republican.
Chapman and Roth now advance to the Nov. 6 general election.
Patti Morris, also running as a Democrat, finished fourth. Sandy Long, who said she was an independent, was fifth.
Randazzo referred questions to Earl Archer, president of the Democratic Club of Clallam County, the fundraising and social arm of the county party.
Archer said Holiday gave a presentation to the central committee’s executive board before the end of filing week.
The board voted unanimously not to endorse anyone in the primary, Archer said.
Mania and Holiday “made a very antagonistic presentation,” said Archer, who attended the executive board meeting.
During the presentation, Holiday “was objecting to the process, that the people in the party had not been enthusiastic about her candidacy,” he said.
“She tries to center this on one individual,” Archer added.
“This is nothing more than the most blatant sour grapes.”
Board members ‘rude’
Mania said sour grapes had nothing to do with his and his wife’s concerns.
“For the most part, the board members were rude, disinterested and dismissive,” he said.
Chapman also met with the executive board and did not mind that the board did not make an endorsement, he said Thursday.
“I think that was the right decision, and I told them that,” he said. “I don’t think political parties should ever endorse before the primary.”
Morris said she attended an executive board meeting and made comments about the importance of a Democrat being elected.
“They had told me they don’t endorse anyone in the primary, which they had said had been their policy historically.”
