Karen Marchioro, long-time Democratic activist, dies at 73

OLYMPIA — Karen Marchioro was a force to be reckoned with in Washington state politics. She's credited with reshaping the Democratic Party, being a gatekeeper to public office and having a keen knack for picking candidates.

Ms. Marchioro, whose political career spanned more than 30 years, died Thursday (Aug. 30) of cancer at her home in Bellevue. She was 73.

David McDonald, a friend and Seattle attorney involved in Democratic politics, called her "a force of nature. She pushed and moved things in the same way a river will reshape the terrain."

Friends say she first got involved in politics in the late 1960s, protesting the Vietnam War. She campaigned for Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern in 1972, became active with the 48th Legislative District Democrats, and later became chairwoman of the King County Democratic Party.

In 1981, she became the first woman to chair the state Democratic Party and held that job through 1992. She was one of four state party representatives to the Democratic National Committee until her death.

Presidential candidates came knocking on her door seeking support, as did local politicians.

"Karen's support of a candidate, and early on, was an important thing because it was a seal of approval," said former Democratic Gov. Mike Lowry, adding that she was very good at picking candidates with promise.

"In 1990 or 1991, I remember Karen coming back from a national Democratic committee meeting and talking about Bill Clinton. I don't think many of us had him on our radar as 'this guy is going to be president.' But she absolutely had that sense," he said.

Lowry and Paul Berendt, who chaired the state Democratic Party for several years after Ms. Marchioro stepped down, said she would only support candidates who had policies she supported.

"She would not just go with the winner. She wanted to support candidates who really stood for something," Berendt said.

Friends say she was witty, outgoing, intense and sometimes scary.

"When I first met her, I was scared to death," said former Democratic Gov. Booth Gardner. "She was so forceful ... , but she was fair."

Berendt credited her with reshaping the state party.

"At that time she was appalled that the party was organized in a fashion that the biggest county in the state, King County, had the same voice on the state party governing board as the state's smallest county," he said.

Ms. Marchioro started, and eventually won, a fight for proportional representation.

"After her reforms, there were more minorities, more labor people and more city dwellers," Berendt said. "It certainly resulted in a more progressive and liberal party."

McDonald said Ms. Marchioro never seemed very interested in running for public office herself.

"Karen was more interested in converting the party into a power base than running to be one of the boys," he said.

Ms. Marchioro is survived by her husband, Jeff Smith; and children Tom Marchioro, of Kansas City, Mo.; Kevin Marchioro, of Cambridge, Mass.; Stephen Marchioro, stationed with the Marines in Okinawa; Ann Ystad, of Grimstad, Norway; Joan Marchioro, of Olympia; Katherine Johnston, of Bellevue; and Greg Marchioro, of Mountlake Terrace.

She is also survived by her mother, Frances Byus, and brother David Byus, both of Jacksonville, Ill; and sister Beverly Marchioro, of Mascoutah, Ill.

Her first husband, Dr. Thomas Marchioro, died in 1995.

A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Church at 9460 N.E. 14th St. in Bellevue. A reception at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue will follow.

Andrew Garber: 360-943-9882 or agarber@seattletimes.com