State Assembly Race Still Too Close to Call and What's Up With Those MILITARY ballots?

AP ^ | November 20, 2002 | Associated Press

[Saundra Duffy]

A Fresno County Superior Court judge ordered Wednesday the release of the names and addresses of 154 voters who cast provisional ballots in Fresno County for the 30th Assembly District.

Judge Gary S. Austin ruled the release of provisional voter's names, home telephone numbers and signatures were public record, and lifted a stay issued Monday that stopped the counting process.

[Saundra Duffy]

There's no mention of the military absentee ballots but it's a factor in this race. The democraps want them all pitched because they claim the ballots were received too late. The GOP still has a chance to pull this off and it will be a major coup. Go, GOP!

[weikel]

Fresno? Well you can definitely organize something in FR's capital.

[Saundra Duffy]

Fresno is one of the counties involved. Jim Robinson's country. Here's more:

This just in from Campaign for California Families: VALLEY ASSEMBLY RACE STILL UNDECIDED

Dean Gardner, a pro-marriage candidate from Bakersfield, is in court trying to get a fair count of ballots. In the race for the 30th Assembly District, which stretches from Fresno County to Kern County, Gardner is only 165 votes behind Nicole Parra, a pro-homosexual Democrat activist. Since Election Day, the registrars of voters in four counties have been counting absentee and provisional ballots, and Gardner wants to make sure that no one voted improperly. But Parra - whose United Farm Worker supporters reportedly registered 15,000 new voters before Election Day - is claiming "voter privacy" and has filed a lawsuit to block Gardner. It's amazing. First Parra disingenuously said she supports marriage - yet she also supports "civil unions" and refused to sign the Marriage Protection Pledge! Now Parra says she wants fair elections - yet she's trying to block accurate counting of votes. The week before the election, CCF held three very successful news conferences in the district to inform voters where the candidates stand on the protection of marriage. This race was another missed opportunity. Trice Harvey, Central Valley vice-chair for the state Republican Party, said, "The Republican caucus (of legislators in Sacramento) feels bad" about not thinking Gardner could win and giving him hardly any money. In contrast, CCF knew this contest in the south Central Valley could be very close. But we never imagined this moral battle would still be here two weeks after Election Day!

Go, Gardner!!! If he pulls this off, it will be a miracle beyond belief. Such intrigue and back-room shenanigans by the democRATS! For victory & freedom!!!

[Saundra Duffy]

Here's another link about this: http://www.smartvoter.org/2002/11/05/ca/state/race/caasm30/

[weikel]

Im personally skeptical about the effectiveness of protesting and I have neither the time nor money to travel I would have liked to have been able to meet Romney he had a debate at WPI but I had work nonstop during that week didn't even post on FR much( I spend too much time here as it is). By the time I was done doing my BJT amplifier lab the debate had started but I had been up for 20 hours and went home to hit the hay.

But Jim could probably get something effective going in Fresno.

[Saundra Duffy]

Dean Gardner was given virtually no support by the Assembly Republican Caucus (Dave Cox). Many of us Republican activists - ME INCLUDED - think Cox's head should roll over this one. They left this poor guy Gardner out on a limb. Just a few GOP bucks would have made the difference in this race and we wouldn't have this MESS! It's infuriating. The California Republican Party is . . . grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Go, Gardner! He could still pull this off if fairness prevails and the democraps aren't allowed to CHEAT! For victory & freedom!!!

[Saundra Duffy]

I'm waiting to get some information on the issue of military ballots. I heard that there are 1,500 military ballots that the democrats want to throw away because they were received too late. If Gardner can protest this action and get those military ballots counted, he's gonna win this race after all. I did hear that the GOP is paying for Gardner's lawyers. IT'S ABOUT TIME THEY SUPPORTED GARDNER IN SOME WAY! For victory & freedom!!!

[weikel]

BTW despite the reservations of the hard right in California I definitely think you should nominate Arny. People on FR say Weld was a RINO( im no moderate at all btw) but he really turned Mass around after Dukasis and personally I think Arny would be like Weld and Arny would win the election. Jane Swift on the other hand she was a RINO and damn stupid to boot if she hadn't of fired Blute while Cellucci was on vacation and replaced him with that airhead Buckingham I don't think 9/11 would have ever happened. Just my opinion.

[concerned about politics]

I'm waiting to get some information on the issue of military ballots. I heard that there are 1,500 military ballots that the democrats want to throw away because they were received too late.

Oh C'mon. Toricelli quit late, but they didn't care about time limits then.
"Every vote must count."
"Disinfranchizement!"
"The people have the right to chose their canidate, no matter what the rules are. We demand democracy!"

[ambrose]

Yeah, the Stupid Party also abandoned McClintock, who would have won with even a little bit of support from the party.

[ambrose]

Even if he doesn't win, he has still accomplished something by scaring this lefty broad. Knowing that Gardner will be breathing down her neck for the next two years, she might actually be forced to vote as a moderate.

[nicmarlo]

BTTT; Hi Saundra!

[maxwellp]

Military absentee ballots should always be secured and counted first. They are risking their lives for America to keep us safe in order that we can vote. And I will never forgive the Democrats for not counting our blessed military votes in Florida during the 2000 election.

[Amerigomag]

Just announced. Fresno County finishes count and Para wins by about 250 votes.

[crasher]

What is the breakdown of the state legislature if we win this seat, both in the state senate and house.

[Theodore R.]

I'm sorry, but those folks in Fresno have a penchant for voting Democrat -- Clinton, Condit, and now the Condit stand-in for Congress.

[tubebender]

I'm sorry, but those folks in Fresno have a penchant for voting Democrat -- Clinton, Condit, and now the Condit stand-in for Congress.

Sorry...southern Fresno county is not in Condits district.

[Theodore R.]

Actually, I read that 40 counties backed Simon, but it was not the populous ones needed.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Where was the money going? GEEZ!!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Dean Gardner was given virtually no support by the Assembly Republican Caucus (Dave Cox). Many of us Republican activists - ME INCLUDED - think Cox's head should roll over this one. Just a few GOP bucks would have made the difference in this race and we wouldn't have this MESS! The California Republican Party is . . .

I am a Californian and a long-time Republican Party supporter. Blessed with financial means, it pained me that I could not in good conscience contribute more to the patently inept small-thinkers in the CRP. They hounded me, to be sure, but most of my support this past election (many thousands) went to the national party, SIG's, and to specific regional candidates across the country.

Sadly, I have over time lost faith in the CRP, beginning with the grossly inept and sophomoric campaign of Dan Lundgren. However,I supported and contributed to Bill Simon, another flawed candidate, this year. Simon might have won the election, but he was not adequately supported by the hopelessly inept, vindictive, and stupid CRP.

When the CRP comes to me with an explanation as to what they stand for, who they will support, and how they will campaign, and if I am convinced of their sincerity and the thoughtfullness of their plans, maybe then they will be able to count on my support once again.