From: Choco Gonzalez Meza
Date: Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Subject: TDP and RPT Agreement Regarding 2012 General Primary Election
To: Choco G Meza
One of the most challenging issues at Tuesday's federal court hearing was whether we would have two primary dates as had been suggested earlier in the week by the Texas Attorney General. The position of the Democratic Party was that two primary dates would cause incredible confusion, create economic hardships to county governments, and certainly not a sound decision given the additional election costs that could not be supported by the state of Texas. The previous legislative session included deep cuts and layoff due to budget deficits and entertaining two primaries is certainly not the wisest course of action.
Listed below is an agreement between the state Democratic and Republican Parties which has been submitted to the US District Court three-judge panel in San Antonio. According to the Texas Democratic Party a response from the judges could come as early as today. Here is what we have to do between now and between Monday, December 19, 2011:
1. If you want to run for office and have not filed, you must file Monday, December 19, 2011 at 6:00 pm
2. The drawing of names for ballot placement will NOT take place on December 20th.
3. We will hold our regular December CEC meeting on Tuesday, December 20th at 6:30 pm.
Candidates and elected officials are encouraged to come to hear a briefing on the election changes and enjoy a Holiday celebration with precinct chairs at the meeting.
4. Precinct boundaries are not official until we see what the Supreme Court does on January 9, 2012.
NOTE: The Bexar County Democratic Party does not have to submit any pairing of precincts for senatorial conventions until we have official precinct boundaries. The Texas Democratic Party will issue out party guidelines next week.
WHAT IS THE FEBRUARY 1, 2012 FILING DEADLINE?
This is an open ended new filing period for ALL candidates that will be announced at a later date. The start of the new filing date is unknown at this time, but what we do know is that it will be for an extremely short period. What we also know is that it will end no later than February 21, 2012 at 6:00 pm. I will keep you posted as I get the news.
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The following is a copy of the agreement. If you have any questions please call me at 273-8783. I encourage you to definitely attend the CEC meeting on December 20, 2011 at 6:30 pm at the Fire Fighter's Hall. You can RSVP via email or call the Democratic Party Office at 892-2999.
Joint Statement from TDP and RPT on Agreement Regarding 2012 General Primary Election
Parties have submitted a joint agreed proposal to the San Antonio federal panel.
Today, the Texas Democratic Party (TDP) and the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) issued a statement announcing that the two parties have submitted a joint agreed proposal on the 2012 General Primary Election to the U.S. District Court three-judge panel in San Antonio.
The parties' joint proposal provides for an April 3, 2012 unified primary date, along with adjusted dates, deadlines and requirements in respect to its administration.
TDP State Chairman Boyd Richie said, "We're glad to have worked out an agreement which we feel works best for Texans. Given the less than ideal circumstances, we think that this election schedule is a workable solution that will create the least confusion for the voters. We're pleased that the agreement maintains a unified primary which will save taxpayers money."
RPT State Chairman Steve Munisteri said, "I am pleased that we could come to an agreement and I hope that most Republican elected officials and Texas voters will be satisfied with this proposal. We are hopeful that with both a timely ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court and subsequent finalized maps, that this agreement not only preserves the original structure of a unified primary, but provides us enough time to accomplish it in a fair and orderly fashion. Furthermore, this agreement addresses the concern of both the TDP and RPT by providing a timeline which still allows us to hold our respective state conventions and national delegate selection in June."
Notable details of the agreement submitted to the panel are as follows:
• February 1, 2012 - New residency deadline for candidates seeking election to the Texas House and Texas Senate.
• February 1, 2012, 6:00pm - New deadline of court-ordered reopened filing period, in which candidates for all offices have the opportunity to amend, withdraw or file a new application for the ballot.
• February 3, 2012 - New deadline for County Executive Committees to conduct drawing for candidate order on ballot.
• April 3, 2012 - Date of the 2012 General Primary Election.
• April 14 or April 21, 2012 - Date of County and Senatorial District Conventions, as determined by the State Chair of each political party.
• June 5, 2012 - Date of the 2012 General Primary Runoff Election.
If signed by the three-judge panel - nothing in the order shall be construed by the Court or the parties as a waiver of the positions of each party with respect to the schedule or conduct of the upcoming election. The parties' positions as stated at the December 13, 2011 hearing are expressly reserved. Additionally, the Republican and Democratic parties have agreed that it is necessary to have a primary early enough in April to allow them to conduct their statutorily required conventions as previously planned.
Democratically yours,
Choco
Choco Gonzalez Meza
Bexar County Democratic Party Chair
Texas State Democratic Executive Committee Member
"Texas Majority Builder"
Democratic National Committee Member
"Together We Can Do GREAT Things!
Bexar County Democratic Party
315 Ninth Street Suite 3
San Antonio, Texas 78215
210-892-2999 (office)
210-273-8783 (Choco's cell)
"No one can make you into something you are not and no one can take you from the place you have chosen for yourself" Me
