Sussex GOP meeting rescheduled for 2/16/11

This Valentine’s Day I was ready to watch the Sussex County GOP meeting instead of watching a movie.  Who needs paid actors when you have a reality TV show happening directly in front of you?

It turns out my husband will not get out of our previous Valentine’s Day plans.

The Sussex County GOP meeting has been rescheduled.

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011 at 7:30 pm is the new meeting information at the SCAOR building in Georgetown.

This does not mean any of the previous business scheduled for the meeting will not be taking place; it simply means you are all free to enjoy the “Capitalist Couple Day” with your significant other and then still go to the Republican meeting on Wednesday night.

 

House Bill 11: a quick update before the vote

Have you ever felt that you fit in numerous political areas?  Maybe you are a Democrat but also feel that you are a member of the Green Party in many aspects.  Maybe you are a registered Republican but agree with the Libertarians regarding many issues.  Maybe you are like me and feel like you should create your own party because you are not sure where you fit in.

Is there a compromise somewhere in the middle?

At the end of the day today, there may not be, but yesterday there were plenty of chances.  Why?  What happens today?

On the schedule for the Delaware House agenda today is HB 11, an act to amend Title 15 of the Delaware code relating to elections.  What part of Delaware code needs reforming when it comes to elections?  According to numerous state representatives, the fact that Delaware is one of eight states that currently allow fusion candidates is a problem.

This writer has discussed fusion candidates before although in 1997 the U.S. Supreme Court decided by 6-3 in Timmons v. Twin Cities Area New Party that fusion is not a constitutionally protected civil right.  Delaware has been included on the list of states that allow fusion candidacy although during the 2010 election cycle third parties upset the two major parties in Delaware by attempting to become fusion candidates and end up on the ballot.

Why is this legislation on the agenda for today?  It may have something to do with Brent Wangen and his attempts during the last election cycle.

Instead of stating reasons for or against this legislation this writer asks you to decide whether you find yourself associating with more than one party.  Fusion candidacy allows a voter to easily see which party (normally third parties) associates with candidates.  It is not uncommon for a third party to nominate a major party candidate, not just Republicans and Democrats.  These third parties normally let their voters know which aspects of the major party candidate’s platform they associate with accordingly.

Do you see a problem with this association if the candidates themselves do not?

This is to be voted on today.  Please contact your Representative and ask them to vote accordingly.

 

 

Levy Court Redistricting: the updates by Will McVay

I thought this was some useful information yet I doubt I could explain it better then Will McVay.  Therefore, I have shared his information (with his permission).  You may read more of Will’s take on things here.

What is Levy Court?
The Kent County Levy Court is our county council, which has retained its name from its original formation for the purpose of levying taxes on local properties to fund the county government.

What is Redistricting?
Following the 2010 US Census, Delaware State Law requires the Levy Court to adjust the district boundaries to ensure a more or less equal population in each of the six Levy Court districts within a certain range, similar to the process for state and federal legislators.

How Does Levy Court Redistricting Work?
After the president declares the 2010 census final, the Levy Court has 60 days to appoint a redistricting commission. They then have 90 days to deliver a formal recommendation, which the Levy Court commissioners can then modify and pass an ordinance within 60 days to implement, or the recommendations will automatically be implemented if no action is taken. Further refinements can be made once the state level redistricting is complete to align election district boundaries, provided that each step in the process does not result in the districts’ populations being skewed beyond the statutory parameters.

What are the Statutory Parameters?
Chapter 41, Title 9 of the Delaware Code specifies in §4106(b)2 that “Each District shall contain as nearly as possible the same number of inhabitants and no District shall deviate in population more than 15% from the average population for the 6 Districts…”

Who’s on this Commission?
§4106(a) of Chapter 41, Title 9, specifies that the Levy Court shall “…appoint 7 electors of the County who shall comprise a Redistricting Commission. The members of the Redistricting Commission shall be appointed by the Levy Court, 1 from each of the Levy Court Districts of the County, and shall not be employed by the County in any other capacity. No more than 4 of the members shall be affiliated with the same political party.”

So what do you want?
The statutory requirements for the composition of the Redistricting Commission allow the commission to be divided quite handily into a 4-3 D-R ratio. The majority on the Levy Court held by the Democratic Party makes this breakdown rather than the reverse scenario infinitely more likely. While this is legal, the Kent County Libertarian Party believes that the approximate ¼ of Kent County registered voters not affiliated with either of these parties should also be represented on the Redistricting Commission.

Why does this matter?
Redistricting is a very important process because it determines where the boundaries are drawn for our political representatives’ constituencies. This process is frequently abused through “gerrymandering”, where lines are drawn in such a way as to divide and concentrate voters to benefit incumbents and exacerbate partisan divides. A voice on the Redistricting Commission unaffiliated with either of the political parties currently in power can ensure a transparent and honest process that benefits the people of Delaware rather than any entrenched political interests.

Why Tell Me?
The Levy Court is hardly the most notorious government in the country. While it may be difficult for any citizen not closely associated with one of the two incumbent parties to win elections, it is far easier for a few committed citizens to help sway the decisions of a few Levy Court commissioners than a district full of voters. Watch the Kent County Libertarian Party Facebook page for updates, and be ready to come out to a meeting of the Kent County Levy Court on Tuesdays at 7pm to voice your support for An Independent Voice on the Kent County Levy Court Redistricting Commission.

The Kent County Levy Court building is the big building near the Blue Hen Mall and Jake’s Hamburgers on US113 in South Dover.



A disclaimer for my regular readers:

A disclaimer for my regular readers:

Many have commented to me recently regarding typos.  I am sure you have noticed the random irregularities in my writing in the past few weeks.  Naturally, there is an excuse, which I will now share.

My computer has been restored to the “factory default” settings.

I am still working out the kinks in the spell checking aspects of my newly restored Microsoft Word.

I apologize for any aggravation this may cause.

Should newspapers print out the N-word? One local paper certainly thinks so!

As a child, my parents took a vested interest in my education.  My father still quaintly gets the newspaper delivered to his house every day (fun side fact, he always checks the obituaries first, and has done so for as long as I can remember).  Once I reached middle school, my father and I would share the newspaper every day.  I would read a section and later he would read the same section and question me on what I remembered.  This was an easy way to work on comprehension as well as to maintain an interest in current events.  If my father and I were still reading the newspaper together, he would be making phone calls and writing letters today.  Why? A Sussex County newspaper, the Cape Gazette, printed out a derogatory word in their Tuesday, January 11, 2011 edition.

The Cape Gazette, in an article written by Henry J. Evans Jr., printed out the N-word.  We all know what the N-word is without my spelling it out, yet for some reason the Cape Gazette felt it was necessary to print out the full word not once, but twice.  Perhaps the writer felt he was being cutting edge, or he deemed it appropriate as it was a quote, but one wonders if the point could not have been made without printing out a graphic, derogatory word.  Some children may read the newspaper so perhaps an advisory may have been welcome.

When reading a local newspaper such words are not common and not always appreciated (regardless of context).

The image below is the pretext in which the N-word was written.  Instead of saying more, this writer will leave you to your own decisions as to whether this an appropriate usage of such a negative word or is, perhaps, another avenue may have been taken by Henry J. Evans Jr. and by default the Cape Gazette.  This writer, however, will never publish that word, so image has been edited.

Please note – the lack of links to the newspaper’s website is intentional.

This Valentine’s Day, the Tea Party and the GOP may be breaking up, or getting engaged…

I was sent this email today. I was not the only one sent this email. Christian Hudson sent this email to a large number of people, including Ron Sams (and his gavel) as well as many of our Sussex County Republican Representatives.
I will not be discussing this email; I will just be sharing the email. Opinions welcome:

Mr. Sams,
As a member of the Executive Committee of the Sussex County GOP, I plan on making the following motion at the next regular meeting. This division in the Republican Party has become a side-show, and it has gone on long enough. I can only imagine the glee that the Liberals and Progressives in the Democrat party must be feeling right now seeing the Republicans divided as they are currently. This division in the Republican Party will be hard enough to heal as it is. We have only a short time before the next election, and we need time to heal these wounds before going to battle against the Liberals and Progressives in the Democrat party. I appreciate your service to the Republican Party of Sussex County; however, in order for us to move forward as a party I feel that it would be in the best interest of the party for you to resign effective immediately. As stated previously, I will be making the following motion at the next regular meeting.
Best Regards,
Christian Hudson

THE SUSSEX COUNTY REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, MOTION ASKING FOR THE FORMAL RESIGNATION OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SUSSEX COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING GROUNDS:

WHEREAS, The Chairman’s primary duty is to preside over regular meetings to provide for an orderly environment for the Sussex County Republican Executive Committee to conduct its business. Chairman Ron Sams has consistently failed to abide by the official rules by:
1. Failure to take Roll Call to ensure that there is the necessary quorum per the official by-laws for the Committee to conduct any business whatsoever.
2. Failure to ensure order at the regular meetings thereby preventing the Executive Committee from conducting necessary business,
3. Failure to allow New Business to be brought before the Executive Committee by having pre-arranged Motions to Adjourn in order to intentionally and prematurely conclude the meetings.
4. Failure to recognize Executive Committee members, thereby preventing them from officially making a motion.
5. Failure to count the results of the “Yeas and the Neas,” resulting in a failure to officially resolve seconded motions on the floor.
WHEREAS, The Chairman’s position is one of an executive, for the express purpose of directing meetings at the pleasure of the Executive Committee; however, Chairman Ron Sams uses the power of the position to further his own personal agenda. The Chairman runs the meetings as though the Executive Committee is there at his pleasure, as if his position was one of a tyrant or sovereign king by:
1. Granting official appointments to the party in opposition to the rules clearly stating that the said positions have to be duly elected by the Executive Committee.
2. Failing to announce and approve the Treasurer’s Report.
3. Granting non-voting members a vote on matters exclusively the privilege of the Executive Committee such as voting on new members of the Executive Committee and Officers of the Executive Committee.
4. Intentionally omitting whole portions of the Official Agenda for the Executive Committee Meetings so as to suit his own political purposes against the will of the majority.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Sussex County Delaware hereby demands the formal and immediate resignation of Chairman Ron Sams effective immediately.

OK, I lied; we all know that I have to say at least one obvious thing here. It seems, as opposed to the commonly heard cry that the GOP is co-opting the Tea Party Movement, the Tea Party Movement may be co-opting the GOP (in Sussex County, Delaware, at least).

Sussex Gop, nope, looked more like a cage match to me…

That stage was set, the script was written, and the audience was ready to go at the Sussex County GOP meeting tonight in Georgetown, DE.  Sometimes, however, things don’t always go according to the script.  In fact, if you want to compare this to a play, I would compare this to the Rocky Horror Picture Show (you know the one, where people dress in drag and the audience is expected to participate).  Participate is exactly what this audience did, much to the horror of Sussex County GOP Chairperson Ron Sams (and his gavel).

So, who was in drag tonight? OK, maybe no one, but the spotlight was turned on the newly appointed parliamentarian, Bruce Fitzgerald.  I was expecting the proverbial fireworks due to the proposed new Sussex GOP rules (which were due to be presented tonight), but it turns Bruce Fitzgerald and his extremely public online fight with Don Ayotte.

For those of you who are unaware, Don recently announced he would be running for the Delaware GOP Chair seat against Tom Ross.  Don simply sent out an email to his networks informing them of his decision to run (the letter was sent to a few thousand people by The Coastal Network and Judson Bennett).  The simple announcement including a blog post link was sent out 1/9/11.  The Coastal Network follow-up email was sent a short time later.  The following email was sent by the newly appointed Parliamentarian Bruce Fitzgerald:

Don Et all
1. You all are outside of the rules
2. Don you have to take care of your bride & son How can you do this in a NON PAID JOB
3. How are you able to be a spoke person for ALL of Delaware ?
4. Why & under what premise do you think you have the POWER & WISDOM to as you said to UNITE when you & your crowd have tried to KILL SUSSEX ?????
So to sum up. go get a beer with Vance

Interestingly enough, this letter was not addressed to Don Ayotte, but instead to the head of the GOP.  Don apparently sent a response (which I was not privileged enough to receive) which included the statement that Bruce was “not qualified to use the restroom by himself”.

That is the background which most of the audience was privileged to be aware.  Thus, the story progresses…

After discussing a bit of the opening old business, Ron Sams surprised many in the crowd by discussing the recent interactions between Bruce and Don.  Ron stated it was “something we need to put behind us… If we fast forward to where we are right now… Bruce’s opinions have nothing to do with him being Parliamentarian.  These are the kind of things that make it worse for those desiring to move the party forward… This is something between two people”.

Vance Phillips, Sussex County Council President pointed out at that point the discussion was not between two people; somehow Bruce had brought him into the discussion.  Vance pointedly and loudly asked Bruce for an apology or a statement regarding the reason for bringing him into the discussion, yet Vance spoke in vain.  He was ignored by, not the crowd, but Ron Sams and Bruce Fitzgerald.

Throughout this whole discussion Don Ayotte was walking up and down the aisles, asking for time to speaking and loudly protesting that Bruce Fitzgerald had made it painfully obvious he could not be objective.

At this point James Picconi, a previous Sussex County Treasurer, stood up to add a point and make a motion.  James made the motion that Bruce Fitzgerald not be considered for Parliamentarian.  This motion was seconded by numerous people.  Ron Sams chose, at this point, to ignore the motion on the floor.  Ron Sams, the Sussex GOP Chair, said that he would submit the motion to himself because the decision had been made.  He was able to appoint whomever he felt was qualified and he had done that.  The collective gasp from the crowd was priceless.

At this point, I felt I was watching the Time Warp unfold in front of me.  The crowd was yelling, playing musical chairs, and Ron was banging his gavel repeatedly.  He called a few people out of order, and continued to ignore the motion.  One woman stated loudly “In all of Sussex County, if you can’t get a better Parliamentarian than that then it insults all of us!”  There were even thinly veiled threats regarding Ron Sams and his position as Chairperson.

Ron Sams and his gavel regained control (although his face grew bright red from trying to speak over the crowd).  At this point, the meeting continued, although the crowd continued to grumble over the open motion on the floor and the fact that Ron Sams ignored asking about “New Business” (yet again).

The moral of this story? The GOP may not have won the election in Delaware, but the “Establishment” has not won either.  The pedestal which many Good Ol’ Boys were placed upon so highly has not just cracked, it has shattered.  Change is coming to the GOP, whether its officials like it or not.