Burnt Orange Report

Andy Brown has been unqualified from the start. Donna Howard has lived in and been a member of that community for decades and has the experience needed to be a good state rep.

I've heard rumors that Kelly White may run in the special election, but NOT the primary or general election and only if the other Dems don't run in the special election. Therefore, we would have one Dem (Kelly) against one Repub (Bentzin), while the winner of the primary (probably Donna) runs against Dentzin in November, whether or not he wins the special election.

Could Andy's announcement be a first step towards such a scenario?

Kelly White isn't running. She put out a statement today. No scenario there.

She did? Does anybody have the statement by Kelly? I had heard she was definitely getting in.

From the desk of Kelly White

Statement on HD-48 Race:

“I am honored by Andy Brown and Kathy Rider’s gracious offer to step aside for me in favor of what they believe to be best for the Democratic Party.

When asked by numerous community leaders in October to enter the special election, I agreed to consider it if all of the Democratic candidates supported the strategy and cleared the field - that has not happened and I refuse to participate in a divisive election against a fellow Democrat. Therefore, I will not be a candidate in the special election.

I urge fellow Democrats to remember that this special election was engineered to create chaos on our side and a sanitized candidate on theirs – we must all do our part to show that neither is the case.”

This is odd...Kelly is still listed as Donna's treasurer, at least on the latest press release over at QR.

The three candidates should all opt out of the special election and the Dems should run someone who will NOT run in the primary.

Of course, getting the candidates to agree on that is easier said than done.

that is a horrible idea. why not use this as a chance to start building name id?

Is Kathy Rider running in the special election? I have not heard if she is or not. If she's not, then doesn't that make the special election a contest between Donna Howard and Bentzin?

The prize is the primary. If you spend all the money on the special election, but lose the primary you get to serve for 9 months, then you're out.

If 3 (well 2 without Brown) dems fight it out in January, then one (possibly even 2 dems.) has to run again in a runoff in Feb. They won't have a dime left for the March primary.

Your point is exactly why this will be hard to do. All the candidates would have to agree, but, yes, they would also like to just win the special election, too.

One other thing to consider, a poor showing in the special election will kill the campaign. That's probably why Andy Brown is sitting out. It's kind of like the way pulling out of the Iowa Caucus is better than finishing "In a three way tie for 3rd. (Joementum!)"

Phillip - can you clear something up for us? PD and ITPT are reporting that Andy Brown is running in the special election after all. How is that possible? He doesn't fit the residency requirements.

Check my new post above:

"He may challenge the ruling, he may decide to stay out of the race -- this much is still being discussed. We'll know more in the coming days."

Basically, it seems he is deciding what to do. The Statesmen (and myself) flat out said what he was going to do. I apologize, on my part, for not following up and getting it right. Figured that the Statesmen would be at least somewhat reliable...

You live and you learn. I think Alanis Morisette said that.

"Many supporters and activists have asked me to challenge the residency requirements for the special election," = "My parents really don't want me to live in the house."