Posted on 01/17/2005 2:53:15 AM PST by Prospero
Last updated: January 15. 2005 12:02PM
The state's second-most-powerful Democrat says fellow party member Britt Cobb should concede defeat in the still unresolved race for agriculture commissioner.
"I personally believe that the people have already settled it - that they voted for (Steve) Troxler and he should be commissioner," Senate president pro tem Marc Basnight told the Winston-Salem Journal.
Cobb trails Troxler, a Republican, by 2,287 votes out of more than 3.3 million cast. But because a voting machine error in Carteret County resulted in 4,438 ballots being lost, the State Board of Elections has twice ordered new elections. Both plans were struck down in court.
Basnight said that even though he voted for Cobb, "if I was in his shoes, I would concede to Troxler. Knowing Carteret County, they aren't going to vote for Cobb."
Cobb issued a statement Friday saying he shares Basnight's frustration with the situation and wants it resolved soon.
"But all I have wanted from the beginning has been to follow the law, and I look forward to the board (of elections) meeting next week to resolve this matter," it said.
Could be another aspect of the growing war between Basnight and the Governor (he didn't attend Sat. Inaugural) or it could be "cooperation" of Basnight with the same Grand Jury that quized him last month, and who had aleady put Meg Scott Phipps in Jail.
It's over two weeks into the new year, and these people still haven't been able to successfully filch an election?!
And they have the nerve to call themselves Democrats?(!)
Pfft!
-good times, G.J.P.(Jr.)
Or it could be the Democratic party wants to point to the Democrats conceeding as an example of what Rossi should do in the State of Washington, where Gregoire has attempted to steal the election.
I think our Dems have grown lazy. I just hope they don't call a special election ... what a waste!
:)
-good times, G.J.P.(Jr.)
They were considering it a couple of weeks ago. Have the whole state revote on Ag. Commissioner. Crazy, huh?
I'm sure that their counterparts in the state of Washington will be emulating them, real soon.
(Eye roll.)
:-).
In our case, the "lost" votes are believed to be almost all Republican, so a revote has more potential for the Democrats.
I'm simply stuned by that revelation.
:*)
The state party appears willing to abandon the fight ... the candidate probably doesn't want to give up on the opportunities for graft. (The previous Dem. Agriculture Commissioner is in jail now.)
Is it a steppingstone to higher office in North Carolina?
No, I don't think so. It controls quite a few contracts and regulatory garbage that make people want to pay the Ag. Commissioner big money, though.
Graft and patronage.
Kind of like liquor inspectors.
Exactly, only it's gas pump inspections, tobacco allotments, State Fair contracts, and other little things all over the state that add up to LOTS of bribes.
(Makes Ka-ching sound.)
The Ag Deptartment, by far, has they largest number of patronage positions of any department outside the direct control of the Governor's office.
And for reference sake: Article VI, Sec. 5 of the NC Constitution reads: All elections by the people shall be by ballot, and all elections by the General Assembly shall be viva voce. A contested election for any office established by Article III of this Constitution shall be determined by joint ballot of both houses of the General Assembly in the manner prescribed by law.
It was seriously believed, after a motion filed with the Supreme Court by Atkinson, that the Dems were going to do just precisely this... their only other option than the Special Election just blown out of the water.
Basnight could still try this, "reluctantly" after the House pulls the stunt.. but WHAT a can of worms.
NO one has ever tried exercising this part of the Constitution, and it looks to me like it calls for a Joint Ballot, which would mean a Joint Session... The lawsuits would fly...
"100,000 lawyers..."
Or am I confusing him with Tom Lehrer?
Mr. Cobb should take Basnight's advice. I'm from California. I know something about special elections. And an Ag Commissioner's job is not worth the trouble for the voting public.
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