ELECTION PANEL REJECTS CLOSED PARTY PRIMARIES
Some members of the panel believe the Top-Two process would force candidates to focus on issues instead of party politics. However, Mississippi Republican Party Chair Joe Nosef says he’s in favor of maintaining the current open primary system.
“I will tell you this, I think I know enough about Louisiana’s system to know I don’t like that and wouldn’t want to change to that,” Nosef says. “I think our policies are the best, so I want them to vote Republican. Other people they want them to vote Democrat. Some people want them to vote on the issues. I guess where you stand depends on where you sit.”
State Democratic Party Chair Ricky Cole also believes the Top Two system would be detrimental to the state; suggesting the process would reestablish party bosses.
“The discussion was that the parties might be able to endorse one candidate out of all the ones of that particular party that are running,” Cole says. ”The primary was a reform designed to prohibit that kind of political bossism.”
MPB
10/2/14