[Texas Congressional] District 23 runoff set for Dec. 12

Two weeks after voters sent U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla and former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez into a runoff, it finally got put on the calendar. Voters go to the polls Dec. 12.

But soon after word got out late Tuesday, Rodriguez objected to the short period between the announcement and election day, saying in a written statement that Gov. Rick Perry and Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams had done "a disservice."

"This is yet another coordinated Republican scheme to manipulate the electoral process in order to limit voter participation," the San Antonio Democrat said.

The runoff — and the Nov. 7 special election that preceded it — stemmed from the U.S. Supreme Court's June ruling that GOP leaders violated the Voting Rights Act in 2003 when they carved 100,000 Hispanics out of District 23. As a remedy, a three-judge panel redrew its boundaries to include the heavily Hispanic South Bexar County.

One of the plaintiffs' attorneys in the case, Luis Vera Jr., said Tuesday night he was considering going back to court. State officials, he argued, should have sought "pre-clearance" from the U.S. Justice Department before setting the runoff date. He also said the timing of the announcement — late in the day, shortly before a major holiday — was suspicious.

"They're setting this up to disenfranchise the Latino vote," said Vera, a longtime Rodriguez supporter and national general counsel of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

But Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt contended the governor had complied with the court order that set up the 23rd District's special election. Also, "because it is a court order," she said, "we do not have to go through pre-clearance with the Justice Department."

Vera planned to convene a meeting today with other attorneys from the redistricting case to weigh their options — which include seeking a temporary restraining order in federal court to stop the election.

Late Tuesday afternoon, Perry set the election day and early voting dates after canvassing the results of Congressional District 23's chaotic seven-way special election.

Dec. 12 was the earliest the runoff could take place under Texas election law, according to Perry's office.

In a written statement, San Antonio Republican Bonilla said he was "pleased" Perry set the election for Dec. 12.

But Vanessa Gonzalez, spokeswoman for Rodriguez, said his campaigners were worried that with less than three weeks before election day, they "wouldn't be able to educate voters about Henry Bonilla's record."

Before the announcement, both campaigns showed some angst over not knowing when the runoff would take place.

Tuesday was the deadline for the 20 counties in District 23, which stretches from San Antonio to El Paso, to submit their vote totals to the Texas Secretary of State's office, which then compiled the results and sent them to Perry.

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Liberal Group Focuses On Taking Down Congressman Henry Bonilla!

Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project

Dear Friends and supporters:

We are writing you with an urgent call to action. Our SVREP Marcha Hoy, Vota Manana Campaign for the November elections was phenomenal. This has been a historic and unprecedented election cycle, and its not over yet!

We need to raise the financial resources to mount the most aggressive and ambitious Latino get-out-the-vote (GOTV) effort for the December 19th Texas Congressional run-off election. We ask that you give; that you dig deep into your pockets and donate generously today.

In less than a month SVREP needs to raise $250,000 to mobilize 25,000 first time and occasional Latino voters for the December Congressional run-off election. Our GOTV plan will include earned and paid media, live paid phones, and volunteer/paid precinct canvassing with precinct captains. We expect to make live contact with our targeted universe 3-4 times each.

Given the low voter turnout in the 2006 general elections, the trend may be repeated in this run-off among Latinos, making our campaign imperative. Historically, voter turn out in special run-off elections is even lower and more depressed than general off-year election cycles. Intense efforts are needed in order to guarantee high Latino participation. With your help, our proposed non-partisan live voter contact plan will turn out voters.

In the 23rd Congressional District alone, SVREP contacted over 14,600 first time Latino voters who had no history of voting and voters who would be voting for the first time in an off-year election cycle with 3 live contacts. By SVREP targeting these voters and another 15,000 occasional voters for an aggressive ground operation with 3 to 4 live contacts, turnout will take place on December 19th.

It is crucial we receive sufficient funding immediately. Please give generously today to help us continue SVREP's founder Willie Velasquez's legacy.

Thank you for your generous support and leadership. With your help, Latinos will make history and determine this election.

Sincerely,

Antonio Gonzalez
President

Lydia Camarillo
Vice President

http://www.southtexasrepublicans.com/newsletters/newsletter_template_11_13.htm

We need to raise the financial resources to mount the most aggressive and ambitious Latino get-out-the-vote (GOTV) effort for the December 19th Texas Congressional run-off election.

By SVREP targeting these voters and another 15,000 occasional voters for an aggressive ground operation with 3 to 4 live contacts, turnout will take place on December 19th.

Now just when does this run off election take place.....

Didn't the Gov. establish Dec. 12 as the date?...... I guess they are trying for a week later in their GOTV effort...

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