Secretary of State Roger Williams Resigning

? (5.00 / 3)

So....Gonzalez resigns tomorrow, before the No Confidence vote occurs, John Cornyn is named as Bush's AG nominee, and Roger Williams is tapped by Perry to fill the remainder of Cornyn's term.  Too much of a conspiracy theory? LOL...I'm just bummed about the "The Sopranos" finale not being totally incredible, I guess and need some drama.

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by: Indigo @ Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 03:58:15 AM UTC

That would be sweet. (0.00 / 0)

Wait a minute; no it wouldn't.

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by: PDiddie @ Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 17:21:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think there's (1.00 / 1)

something in your post for everyone. :)

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by: Elsbeth @ Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 17:40:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Secretary of State Leo Berman (0.00 / 0)

Could you imagine?

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by: SADem @ Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 04:10:50 AM UTC

shudder (0.00 / 0)

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by: Joe @ Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 14:25:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Leo Berman (5.00 / 1)

is my state rep... I don't wish him upon my worst enemies.

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by: Cody Yocom @ Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 15:16:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I can go one worse - Paul Bettencourt (0.00 / 0)

He of the made up "rampant fraud" frame game in Harris county.  Imagine Kenneth Blackwell on steroids.

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by: sonia @ Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 16:45:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

double shudder (0.00 / 0)

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by: Joe @ Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 17:04:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well this is Interesting (0.00 / 0)

Its times like this where I am glad until I remember Governor Perry is in office.  We have one bad officeholder leaving, but it seems unlikely he will be replaced by someone of worth.

"Let us tenderly and kindly cherish therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write."  -  John Adams

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by: Michael Hurta @ Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 15:24:00 PM UTC

I expect (0.00 / 0)

him to run for either Lt Gov or Gov in 2010

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by: David Mauro @ Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 15:43:54 PM UTC

Reasons for Williams to resign (5.00 / 1)

Here are two good ones:

His relationship as a friend of the court for Tom DeLay in 2006 and then there's the Texas Democratic Party's lawsuit regarding the ESlate voting machines.

Additionally, the Secretary of State's office is required to test all voting machines used in Texas elections and knew of the irregularities related to the eSlate machines, which are manufactured by Hart InterCivic.  Yet Secretary Williams allowed the machines to be used anyway.

"As the State's Chief Election Officer, Roger Williams is responsible for upholding the integrity of our electoral process. However, by certifying voting systems that actually ignore voter's choices, the Secretary of State has failed to perform the most basic function of his office--ensuring the fairness and accuracy of our elections," said Richie.  "I call on Secretary Williams to restore the rights of Texas voters by reprogramming the eSlate machines to accurately record voters' choices or discontinuing their use altogether." [emphasis added]

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by: Elsbeth @ Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 16:48:20 PM UTC

That's not the only lawsuit against the SOS either (5.00 / 2)

The TDP party lawsuit is one of four lawsuits I believe.  All of them were put on hold during the session by an agreement with the SOS, the Texas AG and the respective lawyers. All were waiting to see if the Lege would do anything productive this session on those DREs.  And of course they didn't.  Another reason that Leo Berman isn't qualified to be appointed to SOS.

Tarrant County Democratic party is one of the lawsuits, the Texas Civil Rights Project with DVO and NAACP is a second one.  And TCRP told me there was a 3rd one, that was a disabilities issue one but I'm not sure if they're the lawyers on that one.  All of those lawsuits will now move forward in the courts.

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by: sonia @ Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 17:38:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I had forgotten (3.00 / 2)

about the Tarrant County lawsuit. Thank you!

All of them were put on hold during the session by an agreement with the SOS, the Texas AG and the respective lawyers. All were waiting to see if the Lege would do anything productive this session on those DREs.  And of course they didn't.  Another reason that Leo Berman isn't qualified to be appointed to SOS.

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by: Elsbeth @ Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 17:44:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

And one more really good reason (3.00 / 2)

Martin Frost

More here and here.

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by: Elsbeth @ Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 17:15:46 PM UTC

Any newspaper ask, did he receive any "caging lists" to remove active duty soldiers' absentee ballots and so remove their votes? (0.00 / 0)

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by: ProveOurDemocracy @ Tue Jun 12, 2007 at 21:14:26 PM UTC

Excellent question (0.00 / 0)

I wonder if Williams has been/will be subpoenaed.

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by: Elsbeth @ Wed Jun 13, 2007 at 02:48:47 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

He the called countywide voting pilot program a success (5.00 / 1)

Even though turnout was lower than the rest of the state.
Even though minority turnout dropped 6x more than the overall.

Oh wait, majority Republican votes actually went up. I guess this was his definition of a success.

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by: LubbockDem @ Wed Jun 13, 2007 at 13:21:45 PM UTC

possible replacements for Williams (0.00 / 0)

Selby throws out four names:

Names circulating at the Capitol include those of Phil Wilson, Perry's deputy chief of staff, and Brian Newby, Perry's general counsel. Other possibilities include lobbyists Robert Howden, a former senior adviser and communications director for Perry, and Luis Saenz, a former assistant secretary of state who directed Perry's 2006 re-election campaign.

He then deduces that Phil Wilson will be the new SOS, bumping Newby up to CoS for Perry with Delisi out on maternity leave.

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by: Joe @ Wed Jun 13, 2007 at 21:24:38 PM UTC