Burnt Orange Report

Mark Strama's Statement on the Withdraw of Jack Stick's Election Contest

By Byron LaMasters

It's kind of long, so check it out in the extended entry...

After hiring lawyers, political consultants, phone banks, and even a private investigator – and after accusing thousands of Travis County residents of criminal voting behavior – Jack Stick has finally withdrawn his effort to overturn the outcome of the November election.

In deposition testimony last week, Stick admitted that he could not provide evidence to substantiate even one example of his allegations of illegal voting. Yet, though he has withdrawn his contest, Stick continues to challenge the integrity of the election and refuses to concede that he lost. See the Austin American Statesman's coverage here.

Before we put this issue entirely to bed, we should pause for a minute to take pride in some of Stick's more outlandish accusations in his election contest. Below is an actual quote from his legal petition to overturn the will of the voters:

"Contestant alleges the registration of 2,300 voters on the last possible registration date, and 8,000 voters within the 90 days prior to the election, is so implausible that it represents violations of [...] the Texas Election Code and is part of a pattern of conduct designed to alter the outcome of the election."

You bet it was part of a pattern of conduct to alter the outcome of the election! But there's nothing illegal about getting new people to the polls – it's the right thing to do, and it made the difference in this election. Those of you who worked so hard in our grassroots effort to turn out the vote in this election should consider Stick's protest the highest compliment!

Stick also alleged that the high number of straight-ticket voters indicated some sort of fraud. He failed to check that in House District 50, there were actually hundreds more Republican straight-ticket voters than Democratic straight-ticket voters!

As hard as it may be for him to believe, Stick lost because voters wanted a state representative who would focus on the issues that are important to the people, rather than on partisan political power struggles – like last session's redistricting fiasco. And instead of absorbing that lesson and moving on, Stick launched yet another partisan power play.

The good news is, my Republican colleagues in the coming legislative session show every sign of wanting to focus on the voters' priorities this session. The Republican "Master of Discovery," Representative Will Hartnett, did a great job managing the process of gathering evidence – and pointed out on more than one occasion that most of Stick's case appeared to be based "entirely on speculation."

I am encouraged by the way the Contest was handled that we can achieve speedy resolution to the two remaining election contests in Houston and South Texas, and approach the serious challenges facing the state with the bipartisanship and deliberation the people of Texas deserve.

[...]

Mark Strama

[I've omitted the second half of the email which has swearing-in and office information.]