May 16, 2014 3 min read

Although many regard the spring primary as simply a nomination process, people are being elected.

At the precinct level, voters from both the Democratic and Republican parties will be asked to choose male and female representatives to county committees.

In many of the county’s 184 precincts, however, no one has filed as a committee candidate.

“Way less than half,” is how Washington County Elections Director Larry Spahr described the number of precincts where names will appear on the ballot.

The lack of interest in getting one’s name on the ballot as could be due to a combination of factors. A write-in candidate can win a contest by securing a single vote if no one else receives a write-in, so soliciting support at the polling place may be easier than circulating a petition.

But Spahr said, “The popularity of political parties is starting to wane. That’s a national trend.” He cited the growing number of voters who register as independents or list no affiliation on their registrations.

Statistics from last year show Washington County with 75,850 Democrats, 48,575 Republicans and 14,939 independents and others.

Once vote totals are certified by June 10, the first order of business for Washington County Democrats will be to elect a county chairman.

George Vitteck Jr. of Canton Township, who holds the office, said it’s “written in stone” that he’s not seeking another term.

Once the state certifies election totals, Vitteck will announce a time and place for election of officers, and candidates seeking posts within the party will file a petition with him.

Democratic committee members will choose a county chairman, first vice chairman and second vice chairman. The new chairman or chairwoman will choose a secretary, treasurer and solicitor.

Washington County Republicans choose a party chairman in November. Chairman William Merrell resigned in March, so Jeff Foutz, former first vice chairman, is now filling the post on an interim basis.

“I have not announced a run for chairman to be elected at the November reorganization meeting and I am quite honestly leaning away from it at this time,” Foutz wrote in an email. “I feel that I can be more effective politically outside of the chairman’s position.”

The Republican chairmanship is a two-year term, although the precinct-level county committee members serve four-year terms.

Foutz is a candidate for GOP state committee, and Vitteck is seeking a similar position within the state Democratic committee.

Once the results of precinct chairman and chairwoman are certified, someone who wants to be Washington County Democratic Party chairman or chairwoman will file a “small petition” with him, Vitteck said.

While a date has not yet been set, balloting will be done in a central location with a 10-day notice to committee members.

If the county chair is a woman, a man would be first vice chairman, and vice versa.