The Ellis County Press: Legal action against TX GOP possible

Legal action against TX GOP possible
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Editor on 06/03/2008 16:25:00


Press Release, copied below:
http://www.fairconvention.org/news/pr_20080603/
Why this matters:
http://www.fairconvention.org/goals/organizing/
"BE IT RESOLVED, That the Republican Party is the party of the open door.
Ours is the party of liberty, the party of equality of opportunity for all
and favoritism for none.
It is the intent and purpose of these rules to encourage and allow the
broadest possible participation of all voters in Republican Party
activities at all levels and to assure that the Republican Party is open
and accessible to all Americans…."
- The Rules Of The Republican Party as adopted by the 2004 Republican
National Convention August 30, 2004
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GOP Grassroots Contemplate Enforcement Action to Insure Republican Party of
Texas Compliance with Texas law
Press conference expected this week - experts available now for interview
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Debra Medina 979-253-0220
June 3, 2008
HOUSTON, TEXAS - A group of Republican activists coordinated by Wharton
County GOP Chair Debra Medina announced today that it has undertaken action
to ensure the proper enforcement of the Texas Election Code at the upcoming
Republican Party of Texas convention in Houston. The group plans to seek
the convention's compliance with Texas Election Code sections 174.094 and
174.095. These sections require the appointment of a temporary convention
chair, seating of delegates, and the election of a permanent chair before
the convention is allowed to conduct any official business.
The court action was prompted by multiple reports of Election Code
violations from around the state at county and senate district Republican
Conventions in March. Previous attempts to ensure their enforcement at the
state convention in June have met with inexplicable resistance from the
Republican Party of Texas' leadership.
"We as Republicans hold ourselves to be the party that respects the rule of
law," said Wharton County GOP Chair Debra Medina, a coordinator of the
efforts. "We've come to recognize that we have some serious problems within
our own Party."
In late April, Medina retained attorney Gary Polland to negotiate an
agreement with the Republican Party of Texas to follow the Texas Election
Code at the upcoming Texas Republican Party State Convention to be held in
Houston June 12-14. Polland, a former chairman of the Harris County
Republican Party himself, reported on Tuesday that efforts to obtain an
agreement from the state party have met with resistance and ultimately a
refusal to simply consent to follow the law. Specifically, the Texas
Election Code prescribes that the delegates at the state convention will
select a permanent convention chairman before conducting business. The
Party leadership continues to be unresponsive to these requests and to
demonstrate a pattern of blatant disregard for the rules.
A press conference is planned later in the week to discuss the next step to
be taken by the GOP grassroots leadership. More information will follow.
In the meantime, three participants are available for comment and
interview.
Vanessa Cahill and Kay Fischer are GOP supporters from Corpus Christi, a
county whose convention is alleged to have some of the worst election-law
abuses. They filed local legal action last week. Robert Johnson is a
professional parliamentarian and expert on Texas Election Law.
To arrange an interview with Ms. Cahill, Ms. Fischer or Mr. Johnson, please
contact Debra Medina at 979-253-0220.