But local Democrats should do it their way, not Chairman Dwight Pelz’s way.

This issue isn’t of importance only to political junkies. It could affect the winner of a seat in the Legislature and thus figure in future state laws. It also is important to the representation of residents in the 17th  District, which is east of Interstate 205 and west of Camas, from the Columbia River to the southern edge of Battle Ground.

The flap involves Democratic efforts to unseat Sen. Don Benton, a lightning rod lawmaker and one-time state GOP chairman.

Pelz wants local Democrats to endorse Martin Hash or David Carrier, the two Democrats running in the Aug. 19 primary for the chance to take on Benton in November. But some local Democrats don’t want to take sides. “We have two very bright, well-educated men who want to run,” precinct committeewoman Carolyn Wolin told The Columbian’s Kathie Durbin. “Let’s let the people decide who they want to be the candidate” in November.

Jack Burkman, who has a special perspective on this, agrees. In 2006 he ran for the state House of Representatives in the 17th District. A respected former Vancouver city councilman, Burkman was widely expected to beat Pat Campbell in the Democratic primary. But the state party stepped in early and supported Burkman. For some combination of reasons, Burkman lost to Campbell. Some figure the state party’s action led to a sympathy vote for Campbell, who then lost to Republican Jim Dunn in November.

Later this month, 17th District Democrats will decide whether they want to endorse in the Hash-Carrier primary or buck Pelz and keep hands off. “My personal view is for the party not to show a preference,” Burkman said.

But parties are about political power, and state Chairman Pelz wants his party to wield influence by endorsing in the primary. (He calls it “nominating,” but it’s really just “endorsing.”) Citing state party rules, Pelz says if local Democrats don’t nominate/endorse a favorite in the primary, he will do it for them.

This year, at least, state Republicans have not demanded the same of their local organizations.

If Pelz sticks to his threat, he’ll also have to do it in a Seattle  district where two Democrats are running for the same seat.

Maybe we should feel sorry for the political parties. They would like to have more clout in determining their nominees in the November general elections. Under the state’s new top two primary, the parties are pretty much limited to endorsing candidates and donating money and party resources. Ballots may not say who is endorsed/nominated by a party, but the ballots may say which party the candidates favor.

Yes, maybe we should feel sorry for the parties, but we don’t. This state did fine for six decades under the old “blanket primary.” But the parties fought that in court, claiming it infringed on their rights of association, and won. But instead of getting it replaced with a strong-party primary, the top two has emerged and been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Voters may pick one from any party for a given office. The two with the most votes, even if they are from the same party, advance to the general election. That wasn’t what the parties had in mind when they attacked the blanket. Now, the state party ought to take a back seat and let local Democrats run their own show.