State Republicans challenge vote

[Pepper32]

By Ty Meighan
December 5, 2004


AUSTIN - 'Tis the season to ... challenge election results. Three Republican candidates for the Texas House have filed election challenges - Talmadge Heflin of Houston, Jack Stick of Austin and Eric Opiela of Karnes City.

The challenges are significant because we're not talking about candidates simply requesting recounts. These require House Speaker Tom Craddick to set up a committee of House members who will reject the complaints, overturn election results or call a new election.

Contentious election challenges are not what the Legislature needed going into its regular session, which begins Jan. 11. The House is still divided from last year's Republican-backed effort to redraw congressional districts, which took three special sessions.

Expect Craddick to move quickly so he can get the election issues behind him before the Legislature addresses important issues, such as public school finance. Democrats and Republicans will have to work together to solve many crucial issues facing the state and election challenges do nothing but harm those efforts.

The candidates who have filed these challenges claim there was some sort of voter irregularity or fraud in their election. But the challenges really point to candidates who can't accept losing and will do anything to win.

MORE...
http://www.reporter-news.com/abil/op_columns/article/0,1874,ABIL_7981_3375682,00.html

[TheFarseer]

1. I keep hearing something about it going to the house

What's the rule here? If he still doesn't like the results of the re-count he can take it to the house where gee whiz, I just can't figure out who they would support. So is Talmage Heflin(the guy I voted against) going to win because he has the correct letter by his name or will the will of the people prevail?

[burn the bush]

2. so let's recount Texas too

i've got no problem with that. In fact, I think any recount in Texas would only help us.

[Downtown Hound]

3. They can challenge all they want

I'm sure it's bullshit, but it will just add pressure to finally get a solid voting system in place.

[lastliberalintexas]

4. These challenges are going to be interesting

I have no idea what Craddick will actually do, but I can envision several scenarios in which he rules in favor of the repubs. Because really- what repercussions would he suffer? He's already despised by Dems, loved by repubs, and under investigation by Earle. Yes, there would be a little bit of a backlash in the media for now. But by the time elections roll around again, most Texans will have forgotten his transgressions and again be more worried about those queer folk getting hitched and those shameless harlot women killing their unborn babies. Very few drawbacks for him if he decides to screw us. And that's what's so damn scary.

[Moderator]

5. Opinion columns are not LBN