Earlier this week the 30th District Democrats met to determine a list of nominees to replace the late Roger Freeman in the state Legislature. This is democracy at its roots with both passion and pragmatism.

The Democrats felt an emotional tug as former Federal Way City Councilwoman and Deputy Mayor Hope Elder announced that Freeman’s widow Sonya had endorsed her for the position.

They listened with rapt attention to  a cancer hospice nurse, and surprise candidate, Sharry Edwards’s compelling story of the inspiration she felt from Freeman’s fight against cancer. Supporters of Roger Flygare noted his experience dealing with legislative issues, his business background and his previous campaigns for the City Council and state House.

But despite the emotional urges, strategic thinking prevailed as the precinct voters followed the pre-meeting form sheet by nominating three candidates they thought had the best chance of holding the seat in next fall’s election.

Current school board chair Carol Gregory won the right to be listed first on the nominating resolution, followed by Richard Champion with Shari Song third. Insiders had felt the top two candidates would be Gregory and Song, with Champion and Flygare in a battle for the third position. However, Champion may have been the story of the evening as he showed surprising strength among rank-and-file Democrats and came within one vote of claiming the first position.

Since Freeman was a Democrat, his replacement must be a Democrat. The appointment will be for the remaining portion of his current term and the new term that he was recently elected to, which begins Jan. 12, 2015.

However, the County Councils of King and Pierce County will be the ones actually making the appointment. While it could be two different people or the same person for both positions, local Democrats want it to be the same person.

In King County, Democrats have the advantage 5-4, although that can be fluid. In Pierce County it has been 5-2 in favor of the Republicans. However, in the most recent election one seat changed and the tally is now 4-3 Republican. But timing of when the change in office occurs will affect when the two Councils get together.

Over the last three weeks the lobbying and maneuvering was fast and furious as rumors of candidates’ age or health mixed with questions about who was the best Democrat or who had the most and least political baggage became part of the discussion.

Two of the candidates thought they each had the endorsement of the same public official as the candidates sought to influence the precinct voters. Rumors about City Councilman Martin Moore’s candidacy never materialized, although the possibility of his switching parties and running for the seat is still alive.

But most importantly the race continues, and now it is in the hands of the two County Councils. The Democrats want their first choice, Gregory, to get the appointment as they believe she is the most electable. But that is exactly the problem. Republican Council members will want someone appointed who they think will have a better chance of being defeated. There have already been movements to try and leverage Gregory to give up her school board position.

Gregory has run for the Legislature twice and lost both times. But, she is well known and won a convincing victory for her seat on the school board. Education will be first on the state agenda and that is her area of expertise. Champion is known as a hard worker for Democratic candidates and causes. He recently helped in SeaTac on the $15 minimum wage initiative. He holds a Doctorate degree but has never served in public office and is not well known to the general electorate.

On the other hand, Song is very well known after her run for the Senate this year. She raised a significant amount of money and could do so again. She lost that race, but could she win a race for the House as an appointed incumbent?

Will the two County Councils honor the Democrat’s request and appoint Gregory, or will the current behind-the-scenes maneuvering continue and result in someone else being appointed?

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn: bjroegner@comcast.net.