BY PEPPER FISHER

PORT ANGELES – National media attention has begun once again to highlight Clallam County as the longest-running political bellwether of US presidential elections, voting for the winner in every election since 1980.

Northwest Public Broadcasting on September 3 and the September 19 edition of the LA TIMES featured the comments of several members of a long-established round table discussion group that meets weekly at the Port Angeles Senior Center. Also on September 19, the members of that group received a letter from an attorney advising them that the Senior Center and its Guiding Committee, (formerly known as the Board of Directors) will no longer sponsor or support the discussion group or its activities. In other words, they were told they would have to find a new place to meet beginning October 10.

On the face of it, the reasoning behind the decision appears simple. The City of Port Angeles owns and manages the facility, but the dues-paying membership is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. As such, the letter explains, the Guiding Committee must remain strictly neutral and cannot interfere in any political campaign for local, state, or federal office, partisan or not.

The letter described the round table’s invitations to candidates as particularly troubling, saying the IRS rules do not allow a 501(c)(3) organization to invite candidates separately or to invite only one of the candidates. Charitable organizations cannot show favoritism for one candidate or another.

It’s no secret that the discussion group began as a group of Democrats exchanging views and ideas, but the table has always welcomed Republicans and Independents to join in the conversation, and they are doing so regularly. Long-time member David Fox denies that the group is partisan or breaking the rules.

“They’re calling us a political group. We’re not a political group. We don’t endorse any candidates or initiatives. We’re an educational setting and we’re open to all comers. We’ve had some candidates address us in the past. It’s been a very long time, but at this point in time, we haven’t had any candidates for this election cycle because we’re not clear on what’s allowed. And now we’ve been told that we have to leave.”

The group was offered an agreement in August by the Guiding Committee that they could have signed as a group, but Fox says they declined to sign it.

“But we didn’t agree to sign on to be a sponsored activity with the 501 C 3 because we were hesitant to do so, because of the fact that we thought it would leave us subject to these dictums about political activities.”

None of this means the group necessarily must find another place to meet. We reached out to the City of Port Angeles and were told, “The City is ready and willing to work with the Political Discussion Group, should they reach out to rent any of the City’s rental facilities, to include space at the Senior Center.”

Fox, says he’s sensing that the group is inclined toward finding a new venue.