Washington State Grange

March 18, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington State Grange applauds U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the top-two primary

For more information, contact Terry Hunt, (360) 943-9911, (800) 854-1635

Today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the constitutionality of the top-two primary drafted by the Washington State Grange and overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2004 is a real victory for the voters of the state, according to past State Grange President and current Director of Government Affairs Terry Hunt.

“The Court should be commended for agreeing with the Grange’s appeal and upholding the will of the voters of this state,” said Hunt, who has championed the cause since Washington’s beloved blanket primary was nullified by the Court in 2000. “We filed this appeal in the Supreme Court because we believed from day one that Initiative 872 would stand up to any and all constitutional challenges, and now the voters of this state get what they want and deserve: a direct line to choosing the elected officials who will best represent what they need.”

Hunt gives sincere thanks to State Supreme Court Justice Jim Johnson, who represented the Grange in earlier cases and was a driving force behind the drafting of I-872. Hunt also thanks Grange attorney Thomas Ahearne and Attorney General Rob McKenna, who teamed up to present a winning argument. Secretary of State Sam Reed also deserves our thanks, said Hunt, for siding with the state’s voters through this long and arduous process.

“And of course, thank you to the members of the Washington State Grange who worked so hard during the I-872 campaign,” added Hunt. “The voters of Washington State made this whole thing possible, and I thank them for their support throughout this process.”

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