Races for the Lawrence City Commission are technically nonpartisan — no Republican candidates, no Democratic office-seekers.

But an observer could have been pardoned for thinking otherwise at Howard Dean’s speech Friday afternoon at Liberty Hall. At the back of the hall, the Douglas County Democrats had a table and literature. The Democrats were joined with a banner from the “smart growth” Progressive Lawrence Campaign and campaign signs for two PLC-backed candidates for City Commission, David Schauner and Jim Carpenter.

Dean roars into town (02-26-05)

And Kathy Greenlee, chairwoman of Douglas County Democrats, introduced a slew of state and local officials she said had been elected with the backing of Democrats — including Schauner, City Commissioner Boog Highberger and Mayor Mike Rundle.

Schauner said he didn’t see a conflict with promoting his nonpartisan candidacy in a Democratic venue.

“The City Commission is nonpartisan, but I’m a regular Democrat and have been my entire life,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any inconsistency at all between the two. When I’m on the City Commission, I’m not a Republican or Democrat.”

The primary election to whittle the number of City Commission candidates from nine to six is Tuesday.