[UCprogressives-discuss] Re: [Peace-discuss] Fw: Election Commission

[Tony Fabri]

In my relatively short time participating in local politics (12 years), I've 
come to the opinion that splitting the progressive vote between two or more 
parties will only improve the already strong odds of electing conservative 
Republicans in Champaign County.  You may disagree.  Gina obviously 
disagrees.  I don't think that disagreement warrants name-calling and 
personal attacks.  Gina obviously disagrees with me there, too.

For the record, I did write a letter to Susan, Zach, and David Sacks.  It 
was not "intimidating," as Gina suggests.  (I'm also not Chair of the County 
Board, as Gina suggests.  I'm Chair of the Democratic Party.  Tricia Avery 
is Chair of the County Board.)  I merely said that I was "disappointed" to 
see that they're running, because I fear their candidacies will help 
Republicans win back the County Board majority, and undo the progressive 
gains made since 2000.  Anyone who remembers "Bud" Barker and the days of 
GOP control know what a dramatic difference Democrats have made on the 
County Board in a very short amount of time.  The Living Wage, sexual 
orientation protections, environmental appointments, an end to Union-busting 
at the County, and support of social services like the County nursing home 
and public health all would have gone nowhere if Democrats hadn't won the 
majority.  I am genuinely disappointed to see progressive, presumably 
well-intentioned people helping Republicans to undermine these progressive 
victories.

Regardless, Green Party candidates are on the ballot in Districts 7, 8, & 9. 
  Their candidacies give real hope to local Republicans that they can defeat 
incumbent Democrats Janet Anderson and Jenny Putman (two of the most 
progressive and effective elected officials I've ever known), and win back 
Republican control of the County Board.  Some will say that's a victory for 
progressives, but I just don't see it.

What does any of this have to do with the Election Commission?  Well, 
nothing, really.  I sent out a message asking progressives to support the 
Election Commission, based on a long history of voter suppression and 
partisan abuse in the Champaign County Clerk's office.  Gina took the 
opportunity to call me a hypocrite, because I don't share her support of 
third party politics.

The County Clerk's office has been used for partisan Republican advantage 
for years.  Employees of the office report abuses ranging from withholding 
voter registration forms from Democratic volunteers to putting together 
Republican campaign mailings inside the taxpayer financed office.  We 
recently caught Shelden red-handed working for the Republican Auditor 
candidate out of the Clerk's office.  Regardless of how you feel about third 
parties or Ralph Nader, I'd hope we could all agree these abuses are bad and 
should be stopped.  If so, then I'd encourage everyone to vote "yes" on the 
Election Commission.

Good luck to everyone working for progressive victories on Nov. 2nd (however 
you personally define that)!

Tony Fabri


>From: "Regina Cassidy" <rcassidy at parkland.edu>
>To: <recotton at earthlink.net>, 
><peace-discuss at lists.cu.groogroo.com>,<ucprogressives-discuss at lists.cu.groogroo.com>,<prairiegreens at lists.groogroo.com>
>Subject: [UCprogressives-discuss] Re: [Peace-discuss] Fw: Election 
>Commission
>Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2004 09:50:20 -0500
>
>Tony Fabri is a hypocrite!
>
>Fabri is actively involved in voter and candidate suppression.  He was
>part of the faction attempting to keep third parties out of the coming
>election.  He went so far as to send certified letters to the two U of I
>students running as Greens for County Board warniing that their
>candidacy threatened progressive change.  As Chair of the County Board
>it is highly inappropriate for him to engage in this type of
>intimidation.
>
>These letters are a matter of public record since they were submitted
>into evidence at hearings for Susan Rodgers and Zach Miller this
>summer.
>
>Additionally, the referendum for the Election Commission is worded in
>such a way as to confuse voters.
>
>This referendum would be a boost to the two-party duopoly (really
>monopoly).
>
>Any attempt at replacing an elected official with an appointed panel is
>a step away from democracy
>
>
>Gina
>

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