Go Get a Calendar
I live in Texas Senate District 18. My state senator, the ever-goofy Glenn Hegar, was elected comptroller of Texas earlier this month.
So, the Governor announces a special election to take Hegar’s place during the legislative session that starts in January. SD 18 covers 21 counties along the Texas coastline.
On Friday, they announced that the filing deadline is this Wednesday. And the election will take place on December 6th.
During this time, there has to be time for a mail ballot to be printed and certified, people over the age of 65 to request a ballot by mail, then for the county to mail the actual ballot to those people, then time for those people to mark their ballot and mail it back by December 6th. You’re looking at three separate transit postal service times for a ballot during Thanksgiving season. You also have to have time to allow a mail ballot for people who will be out of town on December 6th.
There has to be early voting, which requires set up times in each of those counties and election workers on December 6th in 21 counties.
By my count, there are 17 days between November 20th and December 6th, counting Thanksgiving and Sundays, 12 days not counting them.
If you’re thinking that Republicans have already picked their candidate and that they think voting is just a needless formality, you’re right. They have picked State Rep. Lois Kolkhorst to advance to this seat and I’m sure they have someone already picked out for her old seat, too.
I don’t know this for a damn fact, but I suspect the election for her Republican certified replacement will be December 7th.
State Rep. Lois Kolkhorst is a doozy. She signed the court brief linking same-sex marriage to incest and pedophilia. The opposes abortion in any case. She supports school vouchers. Claims to have “Led the fight against Obamacare.”
Bottom line: This is not an election. This is a coronation.
I’m making a bet that Kolkhorst’s first speech on the Texas Senate floor will be that Democrats subvert democracy. I’m also betting that I will throw up over the balcony.
Well, isn’t that just a hoot. One thing this state has plenty of is loony politicians.
1Question. Do you need my entire name?
2It seems to be a considerable flaw in our Constitution that one party can gain control (especially the way-out wing of that party) and then put up all sorts of barriers to keep it, with no legal recourse, especially when that party controls the courts as well. I don’t know how they manage it in other countries, but it’s not going well here. Anybody from California want to chime in on whether the ease and number of state-wide referenda help with this, or have you not needed to try that solution?
3I can’t in my wildest dreams attribute this much planning to the GOP. I will remain astounded until this is explained in some logical way. Like a reporter discovers that insectoid space aliens are using the dead bodies of Republicans as camouflage in their bid to take over the world.
4That’s why only about a third of eligible voters cast ballots. Most realize that elections in Texas are fixed in one way or another.
5Micr, without a doubt you are correct that the GOP dumb waiters didn’t do the thinking on this latest shadiness. Suspect one of the Koch affiliates, maybe ALEC, is sponsoring the candidate and hatched the plan.
6This morning I was talking on the phone with a good friend. She and I agreed that 20 or 50 years from now, historians are going to be scratching their heads about the takeover by the super duper rich and say “Why’d they let that happen? Meanwhile we can’t seem to figure out how to stop the Kbros.
7Isn’t there any way to sue somebody about something to slow it down? I don’t hang out with lawyers much but just saying.
8@PKM
9So reading tween the lines YOU haven’t ruled out insectoid space aliens either.
Micr, “insectoid space alien” is as reasonable explanation for Fred Koch as any to date.
Marge Wood, education would slow down or stop the Koch/libertarian/John Birch plot. That’s one of the reasons that group is out to destroy public education and net neutrality is under fire. They already own 90+% of the media.
Pitch forks would work, too.
10http://www.slate.com/…/koch_funded_edvantage_the_billionaire_brothers...
11Slate
Aug 26, 2014 – The Koch brothers are paying millions to inject libertarian ideas into high … dose of libertarianism into the curriculum you take back to school this fall? also you can google americans for prosperity and public education which is how they get into school boards and city councils, not to mention the judicial system.
Not sure pitch forks would work; Kbros probably pretty really well guarded which is fine because I’m not into using pitchforks against anyone. Hope I never do have to.
12Marge Wood, doubt any of us will be the ones wielding even a metaphoric pitchfork. However, about that “well guarded,” or so they hope; bin Laden was brought down by insider information.
13Lois Kolkhorst is bad but one of her opponents Gary Gates is worse. Just google his name and you’ll see his kids were taken away for emotional abuse but were unfortunately returned. He’s a fundamentalist Christian Tea Party wacko.
14There’s all kinds of fundamentalists; they are scary whoever and wherever. You’ll be surprised probably to hear that I believe in secular government.
15JJ-wingnut Gestappo in the lege won’t allow you to have throw up in or on your person in the balcony. You might use it as a weapon against them as they try to take over the world of Texas.
16Given their stand on actual issues, the only way that Republicans can win is by lying and cheating. And they are very good at it.
It helps that the Dems are so pathetic at messaging.
American voters will choose a bully over a wimp every time. They just did.
17Run against her.
18I don’t know what the overall laws are, but the notice had to be posted 30 days before the election in some special elections. See below from our Secretary of State. Other things to read on the same page. Looking for something more definitive, but haven’t found it.
Meanwhile, I like daChipster’s answer.
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/laws/may-election-calendar-2014.shtml
6. Note on Notice of Filing Period
The authority with whom an application for a place on the ballot is filed must post a notice of the filing period dates in a building in which the authority maintains an office. The notice must be posted not later than the 30th day before the first day to file. (Sec. 141.040). If you order a special election to fill a vacancy, the order must include the filing deadline; we recommend posting the notice of the filing period as soon as practicable after a special election is ordered. The form may be found on our website (PDF).
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