Roy Minton Will Represent Chris Bell's Opponent

Not that it matters... (1.00 / 1)

The point as I understand it is not where she has lived but where she has voted. If she's lived in Ft. Bend County she shouldn't have been voting in Harris County.  

Chris Bell should have just filed the lawsuit without the usual press release rantings by Jason Stanford.

Stephanie Simmons is a registered Democrat and it is highly unlikely she is part of a Republican Party conspiracy.  But one has to wonder if perhaps Jason Stanford is.  

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 19:15:36 PM UTC

As usual, you miss the point (0.00 / 0)

We're saying Stephanie Simmons is being put up to this by Republican money to force a runoff, not that she herself is a Republican.  And there's no better proof of this than her hiring the same lawyer who represented Rick Green, Jeff Wentworth, Tom Craddick, and the Texas Association of Business.

As to whether I am part of a Republican Party conspiracy, I'll chalk that up to an admirable attempt at humor on your part.  Really good effort.  

---

by: JasonStanford @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 19:50:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Minton has represented politicians from each party including Tom Craddick (0.00 / 0)

According to David Mauro he has represented politicians from both parties.  

As for the Republican money, where is it?  From whom? Which Republicans? Sorry but the Republican conspiracy theory really should have been left out of this.  That more than anything will come back to haunt you if it turns out there is no Republican money and no Republican conspiracy.

Just as there are some Republicans in this district who might support Chris Bell there are some Democrats who might not if they perceive this as just more of the histrionics they have come to expect of Chris Bell rather than a legitimate lawsuit questioning the residency of a candidate in terms of her claiming to live in one county while having voted in another county.  She cannot live in one and vote in another. That in itself is a very serious matter.

This angers me because as you know I am not a supporter of Chris Bell but I would rather have him than another rabid and racist Republican.  

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 20:04:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Minton has represented (0.00 / 0)

both Bob Bullock and Jim Mattox in the past.

But why would an unknown woman file as a Democrat at the last minute? In a race where one Democrat has a HUGE name ID advantage over his four GOP opponents, the answer is clear and I think Jason Stanford is right on.

---

by: David Mauro @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 20:23:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why? (0.00 / 0)

Why have other Democrats run against Bill White? Maybe they believe they will win somehow. Maybe Stephanie Simmons believed she would win somehow. Maybe she believed she would at least make the runoff with one of the Republicans and would win the runoff.

She has the right to run.  As long as she is qualified to do so. It appears she was not qualified to do so. And if a court rules she is qualified to do so, then she has the problem of having voted in a county where she no longer was legal resident.

What has also offended a growing number of people is the statement by Leticia Van de Putte that Chris Bell is the Democratic candidate.  Until a court says she is not qualified to run or someone proves she is not a Democrat, Stephanie Simmons is the other Democratic candidate.  But according to Leticia Van de Putte, Chris Bell is the only Democratic candidate.

So that adds to the fire which has become the firestorm. The "white boy" and the Hispanic. Doesn't play well with the African-American community. Welcome to the reality of racism.

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 21:16:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You could be right (0.00 / 0)

But it is certainly suspicious. The best chance Republicans have in this race is to force Bell into a runoff. A second Democratic candidate would greatly aid these chances ... and one files just before the deadline. I think we all have the right to question whether the GOP was behind this.

Of course, if she is eligible, then she will run. I still think that, regardless of what happens in this case, Chris Bell will be the next senator from District 17.

---

by: David Mauro @ Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 01:52:39 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Anything is possible (0.00 / 0)

This is Texas. Anything is possible. One thing that does raise a red flag is Roy Minton. Apparently he isn't cheap and doesn't do pro bono work.  So who's paying him?

Reality is a lot of people don't like Chris Bell. The comments in the Houston Chronicle have been particularly nasty. So if this was set up then it's possible a Democrat set this up.  Not a Republican.

There are some heavy hitters behind Austen Furse in addition to a growing number of precinct chairs and so it is folly to assume the Republican vote will be split significantly. Republicans do tend to "follow the leader." He might carry the majority of the Republican vote which would make the election very close and possibly allow him to win it.  Chris Bell will need a unified Democratic base to at least force him into a runoff. And this lawsuit, as Charles Kuffner pointed out, may boomerang and turn some off and may cause some others to vote for a Republican or not vote for anyone.  Just because of the perception that Chris Bell went after a candidate simply because he didn't want another Democrat on the ballot.  And the perception is there. Made worse by the allegation that the Republican Party was behind it. Which it may not have been. And made more worse because the candidate is an African-American.  Perception is all in politics.

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 03:37:27 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Just a Pet Peeve (0.00 / 0)

BabyS, there is no such thing as a "registered" Democrat or a "registered" Republican in Texas.    We have an open primary system so if anyone tells you they are a "registered" Democrat or "registered" Republican, they are only "registered" in the register in their own mind.  Voting in a particular Primary does not make one "registered" in that party.  

---

by: Texas House Lackey @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 19:54:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

voter fraud? (0.00 / 0)

So you are saying she is committing voter fraud? Texas law states you must be registered to vote at your residence. We just had some Republicans indicted this week in Denton County for registering to vote at a commercial address to be able to vote in another town, which is a felony.

Also, to run for TX Senate or House, you must be a resident of the district 12 months prior to the general election. Ms. Simmons would have had to live in District 17 since at least Nov 4,2007.

---

by: John McClelland @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 19:58:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It is not so simple (0.00 / 0)

Apparently you can vote in your old district if you still reside in that county.  But apparently you cannot vote in any district races if you no longer live in that district.  Supposedly they can pull the actual ballot and you can be prosecuted if you do so.  The real issue here, apart from whether she is really a Democrat or really a Republican, and she appears to really be a Democrat, is simply that she claims to have lived in Ft. Bend County for the past year but voted in Harris County. That is a big no-no.  I assume if she is allowed to remain on the ballot someone could ask that she be prosecuted for having voted in Harris County. She's in a little bit of a mess apparently.  Which is probably why she isn't answering the phone and why she has hired an attorney.  

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 20:11:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

chatter in Houston... (3.00 / 1)

...is that Tom DeLay and Tom Craddick's apologist and sidekick Ron Wilson probably helped execute this last minute shenanigan. Wouldn't be the first time he's been involved in such a stunt. And that would be a piece of this puzzle that fits snugly in desperation with the R's.

---

by: getreal @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 20:16:20 PM UTC

Makes sense (0.00 / 0)

If she was a true democrat looking to run... she should have run in the primary, when (if she beat Bell and faced the Republican candidate) she could have won. Now, if this doesn't get resolved with her taking her name out, the District loses. A run-off will split the Ds and a Republican will remain laughing in his seat.

---

by: tbobmccoy @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 20:24:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ron Wilson? (0.00 / 0)

Last time I checked Ron Wilson was still a Democrat although the "white boys" keep claiming he isn't but of course the "white boys" went after Ron Wilson after he went after them.  And claiming Ron Wilson is now part of the conspiracy is just dumping gasoline on the fire that has become a firestorm in the African-American community by the inference that Chris Bell has filed the lawsuit because Stephanie Simmons is an African-American.

As for the inference about Ron Wilson, and others including Sylvester Turner, the African-American community fell for this garbage once and dumped Al Edwards for Borris Miles and they may fall for it again but I doubt it. What they may do this time is vote for a Republican rather than vote for Chris Bell.  

By all means keep dumping gasoline on the fire to make the firestorm even bigger than it already is.

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 20:34:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

If this is correct, (0.00 / 0)

I'll need to go inform Rep. Alma Allen that she is part of a "white boy" conspiracy and not really a part of the African-American community.  It will be only fair.

---

by: Texas House Lackey @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 20:50:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

By all means do... (0.00 / 0)

Not everyone in the African-American community is real pleased with her.  But as with Sheila Jackson Lee, until there is another African-American candidate, Alma is it.

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 21:04:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The above statement is bogus, BabyS. (0.00 / 0)

Are you implying that out of over 150,000 people in Rep. Allen's district and over 650,000 in Congressman Jackson-Lee's District, not a single person who is disappointed in them has the gumption to run?  Usually, if someone is disappointed, they'll run to make a difference, even if it's solely symbolic.  That's why Alma ran against Ron.  Can't really speak to Sheila, but Alma has tremendous support in her District.  I will give it to you that former Rep. Lamborghini-Leather Pants isn't real pleased with her.  Why doesn't he run again?  

---

by: Texas House Lackey @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 21:41:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Marcus Davis may... (0.00 / 0)

Marcus Davis considered running as a write-in challenger to Sheila Jackson Lee in November. And may challenge her next time in the primary. As may some others.  

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 21:47:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You seem to know (0.00 / 0)

a lot for living in Malibu. Are you related to Ron Wilson?

---

by: Elsbeth @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 21:08:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not that I know of.... (0.00 / 0)

But then I haven't gone further than the 15th century on my mother's side.  Perhaps he's a cousin from a leaf on a branch on a limb on the family tree somewhere in the 14th century. Depends on whether my ancestors in England were milling about in Africa or whether his ancestors were milling about in England.  My father's side apparently just suddenly appeared in Germany and I don't believe they left Germany until they came here and I don't think too many people from Africa were milling about in Germany at any point. But you never know who you might be related to. Sometimes it's best not to know. As some of my current cousins once or twice removed will attest to although first they would have to admit it and so far they have tried not to do so.

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 21:43:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

sorry (0.00 / 0)

I seem to have missed the firestorm in the African American community over Chris Bell filing a lawsuit because someone is African American.  There is a pretty united Democratic effort, of all colors I might add, banding together to put this seat in the Democratic column.

As with your other argument, I completely agree.  She registered to vote in the district the day before she filed and she previously voted in another county.  She is not a resident and therefore is not eligible for that particular office.  What's kind of funny is - by my own non-lawyer, layman's reading - if she had reregistered in the portion of Harris county that IS in the district, she'd have a much stronger legal argument, since you can vote in your old precinct as long as you are in the same county.

According to her registration, she lives in Sen. Ellis' district.  And for the more conspiracy minded among us, she's also in former Rep. Ron Wilson's district.

---

by: Joe @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 21:40:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

this sounds more plausible than anything else n/t (0.00 / 0)

---

by: prematurely grey @ Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 15:43:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Running (0.00 / 0)

If she is qualifird she will be able to run and he will look like a schmuk. If she is not, she can't run. If Minton is satisfied she is a resident, then I'd get my schmuk cap out if I were him.

Anyone can run if they meet the qualifications and they don't need their competitors approval, if you are paranoid you more than likely should find another business.

---

by: Geezerthink @ Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 22:29:30 PM UTC

Who IS she? (0.00 / 0)

Hasn't anyone found out anything about her beyond where she lives, in two counties apparently, and what she does for a living? I would have thought someone would have found something out about her by now.  Especially the snoops on BOR. Meant as a compliment rather than a criticism.

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 18:56:51 PM UTC

Sadly (0.00 / 0)

Still no response from her and google finds little to nothing.  At least nothing I can confirm is her on google.

Help build a progressive movement in Texas. Join Progress Texas.

---

by: Matt Glazer @ Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 19:10:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Stephanie E Fridia (0.00 / 0)

The state bar lists her as Stephanie E Fridia and she is the in-house counsel for a company called CL Support Services on Sam Houston Parkway in Houston.   There doesn't seem to be anything about them although they do a lot of online job posting. The state bar records indicate the company has something to do with insurance but that is not reflected by the job postings. Corporate records are now part of the e-system with the state and you have to pay for access and I'm not that curious but maybe someone else will be.  Or maybe someone knows what CL Support Services does and who it's possibly connected with.  Emphasis on the who it's possibly connected with.  

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 22:21:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Good work (0.00 / 0)

from Malibu!

---

by: Elsbeth @ Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 02:08:01 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Life in Malibooboo (0.00 / 0)

It gets boring. Apart from surfing and phoning Pepperdine demanding they fire Ken Starr and setting the Rottweilers loose on the paparazzi and contemplating your navel with the guru du jour, there's really not much to do. So you hit the internet. There's probably more bandwidth waste in Malibooboo than anywhere else. Even the maids are logged on. You want something, you IM them.  

 

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 14:04:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm glad (0.00 / 0)

to know there is someone cleaning up after you at an IMs notice.

---

by: Elsbeth @ Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 17:56:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

And a little more... (0.00 / 0)

Checking a couple of the lawyer directories, she apparently has had her own practice in Stafford but also at 801 Congress Suite 215 in case that rings a bell with anyone. Pardon the pun. I guess she already rang a bell.

Curious she has shunned the media.  What candidate would refuse media coverage particularly if she intends to remain on the ballot which obviously she does or she wouldn't have hired Roy Minton.  Very easy to dismiss everything as much to do about nothing.  She made a mistake. The tax records are wrong.  She had to run to the courthouse that afternoon in March and didn't have time to get back to Ft. Bend County and she wanted to vote so she voted in her old district and forgot she no longer lived in Harris County. The list of "much ado about nothings" is endless.  And sometimes believable.  Instead, she is silent. And shuns the media. And instead hires a big gun. Or someone hires a big gun for her.

I do suspect a little conspiracy. Just not a Republican one. As for Republican conspiracies, rumor is one of the three candidates may drop out and endorse Austen Furse.

What are the voting demographics for this district by the way?  

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 13:50:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]