[PAA-Discuss] Why not two fora?! RE: Houston forum on election reform?

[donald cook]

This is exciting.  I was visiting Camp Casey yesterday, and I missed Keith's 
great LTE in the Chronicle, the PAA e-mails about that, *and* PAA e-mails 
regarding the development of events focusing on electoral reform and the 
preseveration of some semblance of democracy in Harris County.  I knew, of 
course, of the Harris County Green Party's efforts to have an event 
featuring David Cobb and possibly Michael Baderik at the University of 
Houston on or about September 15 or 16, and I had a very good conversation 
with Democrat candidate for Harris County Clerk, James Goodwille Pierre, 
wherein he expressed considerable enthusiasm for participating in such and 
event.  But I was unaware of Bob and Aimees's plans, I assume on behalf of 
the Harris County Democrats for an event on the same theme at Rice in 
October.

This is fantastic!  The September event which will, no doubt, be a bit 
smaller than the October event can serve as advance promotion for the 
October event, and in the meantime we can, as Bill suggests, all continue to 
submit op/ed pieces and LTE's to the Chronicle.  Just as Stan's terrific 
op/ed on election reform two weeks ago, Bill's subsequent LTE on the topic 
later that week, the Chronicle's op/ed for paper trails last Sunday along 
with Beverly Kaufman's feeble op/ed against paper trails, follwed by Keith's 
letter yesterday all raise awareness and passion around the issue of honest 
elections in this community, two fora on the issue can only help build 
things to a crescendo which, hopefully, will result in James G. Pierre's 
election on November 7.

But this is an absolutely non-partisan event, of course.

-- Don

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Stan Merriman wrote in response to  Bill Crosier's e-mail:
Bill, re: an election reform forum....my understanding is that the  PPC/Bob 
and Aimee Turney have one in the works....I think for Oct. with  the Rice U. 
Young Dems. To be confirmed but that is my understanding.  Stan

Bil Crosierl's e-mail:
I know several of you have been talking about having a forum on
electoral reform that would focus on Harris County problems.  This
might also provide a stump from which James Goodwille Pierre could
promote his campaign against Beverly Kaufman.  Think we might get her
to participate?  If she refuses, this would only be to Pierre's
advantage, but it would be good if we could get her there.  And
anything that gets more people talking about the problems with lack
of verification in our election system is good.

2004 Presidential candidates David Cobb (Green party) and Michael
Badnarik (Libertarian)  will both be in Houston around Sep. 15-16.
I'll bet they would both be interested in an electoral reform event
if they could work it into their schedule, and they might help draw
more folks to come to an event than if it appeared to be organized by
just Dems.  Badnarik & Cobb were the ones who demanded a recount in
Ohio after Kerry wimped out on us after the 2004 election.  They are
both going to be at a third parties thing here in Houston called
"Common Ground" on Sep. 16.  Of course, Badnarik is also in the
ballot in Texas this year (running as a Libertarian in the 10th CD,
against Michael McCaul & Ted Ankrum) and I don't want to promote his
candidacy over Ankrum, but he might be a good person to have at the
event because of his fight for an Ohio recount in 2004.

Someone like Pokey Anderson, who is a respected journalist and who
cares passionately about fixing our broken election system, could be
a great MC or moderator if she's available, and again would help make
the event more nonpartisan than if we had some prominent Dems running
the show.

I think a forum on verifiable voting here in Houston, before the Nov.
elections would be a good way to get interest for James Goodwille
Pierre's campaign http://jamesgpierreforcountyclerk.com/  As you
know, he's running for county clerk against Bev Kaufman, and is one
of the few candidates who is regularly talking about the need for
verifiable voting.  I think this is a critical issue, one that
Kaufman is very weak on.  Goodwille is a great candidate, and we
should be doing all we can to help him.

Suggestions/comments?  If you like the idea, who can help get it organized?

Bill