Melinda Bryden’s letter “Power grab in Democratic Party” (Leader, Dec. 28) saddens me. It’s a shame Ms. Bryden appears to consider democracy an “ugly sham.” Isn’t having a number of the officer and precinct committee races contested really the point of a democratic process?

Bryden suggests that “a far left group” of “independents” were “plotting a takeover” of the party, though each was a dues-paying Democratic Party member. I read this comment to mean that new Democrats are not welcome in the party, especially if they are judged by her as being “far left.”

Having been a member of the local party for 38 years, a precinct committee officer (PCO) and chair of the party, I know there were many times when we would have loved having multiple candidates showing as much interest as we saw in this recent reorganization.

Bryden’s suggestion that the election of principal officers by the PCOs was undemocratic and something “unknown to most of the members” is strange since it’s required in our Democratic Party bylaws (Article XIV, E) and by state law (RCW29A80.020 and 030). I can understand that Ms. Bryden may have been unaware of these rules, but to imply they were crafted by imaginary lefties to take over the party is disingenuous.

Most distressing, however, is her statement that she will not support Linda Callahan, the new chair of the Democratic Central Committee, because she does not know her, rather than reach out to Callahan before passing judgment. When we make decisions based upon personalities rather than informed objective judgments, the potential to destroy our local party is surely as likely as would be this political “coup” Ms. Bryden imagines.

LARRY DENNISON

Port Townsend