Sunday, 19 April 2009
A Strange Thing Happened on the Way to the Epicycles
I use the term "epicycles" as an example of an extremely complex convoluted method to force reality into conformance with a desired outcome.
This is a not uncommon occurrence in human endeavors and if the initial starting point of the paradigm is invalid the results can be bizarre and paradoxical.
I met recently with the Leadership of the Linn County Central Committee,
Our dialog was civilized and the basic outcome was that, we agreed to disagree
.
They do not agree with my analysis of the situation the Committee finds itself in, but that they did not have any desire to silence me.
To which I agreed.
It is not my habit to merely dispute an issue with someone and then not think about the matter further. I spent a fair amount of time later that day mulling over the implications of what we discussed.
To recap the situation as it appears to me.
At the February Central Committee meeting David Chung, and quite correctly I might add, brought up a point of procedure, on Iowa State Election Code and the various Constitutions of the Republican Party at the State and County level
.
The result was that we were in fact not in compliance with the above as far as membership and more importantly eligibility to vote and it has come to my attention after investigation, that this situation may be back 10 years or so.
The practice of asking if anyone wished to join the committee and then voting them in is not even close to compliance with State Law and our Constitutions and By-Laws.
A serious problem since at the time we were looking at Officer's Elections at the March meeting.
It was decided to form a committee to examine the Form As from the Precinct Caucuses in order to compile a list of Credentialed Voters.
Now that method was IMO quite correct.
The State Election Code states.
43.99 Party committee persons.
Two members of the county central committee for each political party shall, at the precinct caucuses, be elected from each precinct
The State and County Party Constitutions state
<
IV. MEMBERSHIP OF CENTRAL COMMITTEE
The County Central Committee shall consist of two precinct committee members elected from each precinct at the precinct caucuses
So it appears to me that the only persons who couldhave been listed for the March Election as Central Committee members were those elected to those positions at the Precinct Caucuses.
It would seem that everything should have been simple. Look at the Form A records from the Caucuses and list those persons elected to those posts.
However the list that was derived included not solely persons listed as elected to be County Central Committee Members, but Chairs, Co-Chairs, Secretaries and a category called Alternates.
Now let me be clear on one thing there is no position as Alternate County Committee Member, there is something called an Assistant Central Committee Member, but those are appointed by a majority vote of the Central Committee which does not happen at the Caucus.
In my opinion, our list contained not just elected Central Committee Members who were eligible to vote but others who were not eligible.
At least not in compliance with the State Election Code and the Constitutions and By-Laws.
In fact I am informed that one elected Central Committee member's name did not appear on his Precinct Caucuses Form A and therefore they did not vote someone who Chaired the Caucus voted instead.
When I presented my conclusions, which are the Election may not be valid, the response seems to have been we should let it stand because we voted on it.
I may be doing the two gentlemen a disservice but to me the logic seems to be.
Upon discovery that a large portion of those who thought they were Committee Members, were in fact not,
We examined the Form As and compiled a list of persons many of whom were not eligible to vote either,
and we should let the results stand because
The original group comprised of many people who were not eligible to vote, voted to do so.
This sort of circular argument, gives me a headache.
In a latter article I will present my own ideas on how to remedy this situation in a Post I plan to title
Solutions.
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Dialog
The following is an exchange between me and David Chung who sits on the Subcommittee for Caucuses and Rules of the Iowa Republican Central Committee.
I requested, and recieved Mr Chung's permission to post the contents of his email.
My words to prevent any confusion, will be in bold red font.
I will take your points in a biblical manner the first shall be last and the last shall be first.
Dan,
I appreciate your thoughtful inquiry. I have a couple of comments about your notes.
4) Mark Hudson. I do not know whether Mark is a member of the Central Committee or an alternate. Regardless, the bylaws allow officers to be selected from outside the membership. This is a common practice. According to Roberts Rules chairmen who are not members may not vote or break ties. In the RPI Constitution, the Chair is not a member but is allowed to break ties. The RNC Constitution also allows non-members to serve as chair (I don't know whether non-member chairs are given voting rights). Current RNC chair, Michael Steele was elected from outside the RNC membership.
4) The correct term for the secondary class of Central Commitee Members as per the By-Laws is ASSISTANT COMMITTEE PERSONS and while can be heard, have no voting rights but as you point out if they are Chairing they can break a tie since Robert's Rules of Order take precedence unless the By-Laws preclude them
IX. RULES OF ORDER Robert's Rules of Order Revised shall prevail unless modified by these by-laws.
So an Officer does not have to be a Central Committee member since the By-Laws also state.
The
Central Committee shall elect either from its’ membership or otherwise a chair, co-chair,
secretary, treasurer and other officers as it may determine
I interpret Otherwise as they don't have to be a member, however anyone who is an officer but not a voting member would have no voting rights unless they were chairing and a tie had been called
3) Our (Linn County's) Constitution and By-laws do allow for alternate members who do not have voting privileges except in the absence of their elected committee people. It has been many years, but we used to keep ordered lists of alternates per precinct. People who came to meetings to join were informed whether they could join as members (to fill vacancies) or alternates if there were no vacancies.
3) Again the accurate term is Assistant Central Committee Persons and it is correct as you state that in the absence of an Elected Committee Member one or two from a Precinct maybe given temporay voting rights. But since the By=Laws are mute on the mechanism I would assume it would be by a vote of a Quorum. Present.
@
2) The question of who are the two elected members is a more difficult one to answer. I proposed the first two names from form A because it is the only record we have of what happened on caucus night. In the two precincts that I moderated, we did have elections and we did elect two CC members. They were reported on form A. In my opinion form A was the only reasonable way to attempt to re-construct the results of caucus night. As I mentioned, I am on the State Central Committee's organization sub-committee. Issues like rules and the caucus (and form A) fall under my committees purview. This situation will not happen again
@
1) It was not improper for the county central committee to add new members. However, only those added to fill 'vacancies' are actually full-fledged CC members. Since Linn Courty (and RPI) by-laws allow the committee to fill vacancies and this power is granted explicitly in the Iowa code. What the committee cannot do, is add more members than two per precinct without taking the special steps defined in the code of allocating new seats proportionate to the precinct's voting in the last election.
@
2 & 1) Yes that is indeed much more difficult. You recall I missed my Caucus? It being the first I would have attended I have no experience with how these things should run, but looking at the Paul handout I would say that would be a good way to do it.
So I asked my next door neighbors what they remembered. They recall there was an Acting Chairman who was elected to be Permanent Chair and they do not recall ANY other ELECTIONS that night for Permanent Secretary, County Convention Delegates, County Convention Alternate Delegates Nor for Central Committee Members,
With respect we cannot allow individuals to simply fill in who they wish for these positions and in the absence of any documentary evidence, Form A for instance that clearly indicates that a person was elected to the positon of The Precinct County Central Committee Member, or witnesses to the same, then that position is Vacant.
Now IF we can find 20 people who were elected in the correct manner as happened in your Caucus? The situation is simple,. They consitute a Legal Quorum of the County Central Committee and as stated
Vacancies in the County Central Committee may be filled by a majority of those members of
the Committee present and voting.
and yes this situation does not need to happen again, we shoud wipe the slate clean and restart in the correct maner, even if what is required is the process stated in Article VI Secion 7 of the
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF IOWA
7. Vacancies on the County Central Committee may be
filled by majority vote of the County Central Committee, or
at a special precinct caucus called by the County Central
Committee.
The following is an extentsion of my (Dan Kauffman's) remarks after gathering more information
I have recieved reports to date on the actions of 8 precincts in 4 there were elections for Central Committe
Members. In 3 the person I have been in contact with have no recollection of special elections for
Central Committe Members. In the last and 8th Caucus, there were two nominations from the floor
for Central Committee Members, being unopposed it was the consensus of the Precinct Caucus that
their positons were afirmed BUT their names did not appear on Form A.
@
As a result when it came time for the Election in March one of these two, who had been attending
Central Commitees all year under the impression that they were one of the two credebtialed Central
Committee Member, was not able to vote and instead someone whose name did appear on Form
A and who this person had never seen in a meeting since the Caucus voted instead,
Not Good.
Technorati Tag::REPUBLICAN PARTY OF IOWA ****Election Laws of the State of Iowa ****Precinct Caucuses ****Linn County GOP Central Committee****View blog reactions
Saturday, 11 April 2009
So You Thought You Were A Central Committee Member?
The Chinese have a curse, "May you live in interesting times."
Well times certainly have been interesting in the Linn County GOP Central Committee of late.
Like quite a few others and perhaps some of you for quite some time I thought I was a member of that organization. It appears I was in error.
Now it is true like so many others over the years since I started attending, when the Floor asked if there were anyone present who wished to join, I spoke up, introduced myself and there was a motion made and seconded to admit me and after those present had voted in the affirmative, I considered myself a member.
In fact one of the newly elected officers joined the Central Committee in the very same manner during the monthly meeting before the Election.
The truth however is that neither of us are members.
The issue was raised in the February meeting as to confusion about the official list of Central Committee members.
David Chung spoke, quite correctly and to his credit I might add, to the issue that the Linn County Central Committee was not in accordance with the Legal Code of the State of Iowa in such matters.
Now while I have only spoken with Mr Chung on a few occasions during meetings, he has always struck me as a person with what I would deem
personal integrity of the highest order, so I did not doubt his words, but determined to at least investigate them.
So it was that I and quite a few others found that we were not in fact able to vote during the recent elections, but instead there was compiled a list of names from Form A of the last Precinct Caucuses.
This List included the names of the persons who were listed as Permanent Chair, Co-Chair and Alternates.
Two of the above were declared the Linn County Central Committee representative for their Precinct and the Election Results were tallied after they delivered their votes.
Upon investigation, the Truth is indeed that the only valid members of the Linn County Central Committee are those elected during Precinct Caucuses.
I don't know what the opinion of others was at the time but IMO the Paul Campaign was extremely well organized. ;-)
The above links are to PDF files, if you do not have a PDF viewer a simple Freeware PDF viewer can be obtained
HERENow I must caution the reader the Iowa State Election Code file is about 13 megs rather lengthy
But the pertinent sections are
43.99 Party committee persons.
Two members of the county central committee for each political party shall, at the precinct caucuses, be elected from each precinct. The term of office of a member shall begin at the time specified by the party’s state constitution or bylaws and shall continue for two years and until a successor is elected and qualified, unless sooner removed by the county central committee for inattention to duty or incompetency. The party’s state constitution or bylaws may permit the election of additional central committee members from each precinct in a number proportionate to the vote cast for the party’s candidates for office in the respective precincts at preceding general elections.
[S13, §1087-a25; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §626; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §43.99]
107
43.4 Political party precinct caucuses.
Delegates to county conventions of political parties and party committee members shall be elected at precinct caucuses held not later than the fourth Monday in February of each even-numbered year. The date shall be at least eight days earlier than the scheduled date for any meeting, caucus or primary which constitutes the first determining stage of the presidential nominating process in any other state, territory or any other group which has the authority to select delegates in the presidential nomination. The state central committees of the political parties shall set the date for their caucuses. The county chairperson of each political party shall issue the call for the caucuses. The county chairperson shall file with the commissioner the meeting place of each precinct caucus at least seven days prior to the date of holding the caucus.
There shall be selected among those present at a precinct caucus a chairperson and a secretary who shall within seven days certify to the county central committee the names of those elected as party committee members and delegates to the county convention
From the
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF IOWA
ARTICLE VI
COUNTY COMMITTEES
1. County Central Committees shall consist of two
precinct committee members elected from each precinct. Every
County Central Committee shall adopt a Constitution and
Bylaws which shall govern the operation of the Committee, and
which may contain a provision for the election of additional
Central Committee members from each precinct in a number
proportionate to the Republican vote cast in that precinct at
the last preceding general election for President of the
United States or for Governor of Iowa, as the case may
7. Vacancies on the County Central Committee may be
filled by majority vote of the County Central Committee, or
at a special precinct caucus called by the County Central
Committee
From the
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
LINN COUNTY
IV. MEMBERSHIP OF CENTRAL COMMITTEE
The County Central Committee shall consist of two precinct committee members elected from
each precinct at the precinct caucuses. The Constitution of the Republican Party of Iowa
permits a provision to be adopted in the County by-laws for the election of additional Central
Committee members from each precinct in a number proportionate to the Republican vote
cast in the precinct at the last preceding general election for President of the United States or
for the Governor of Iowa, as the case may be.
When elected, a member of the County Central Committee must be a resident of the precinct
from which elected. The term of office of a member of the County Central Committee shall
begin on the day following the precinct caucus and shall continue until the next precinct
caucus and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. A member may be removed
by the County Central Committee for inattention to duty, incompetence, or active support of
an opponent of a Republican nominee. Vacancies on the County Central Committee shall be
filled by the County Central Committee.
VI. MEETINGS
The Chair or Co-Chair or twenty (20) members of the Linn County Central Committee may
call a meeting of said Committee and there shall be no less than six (6) meetings per year.
From the
BY-LAWS OF THE LINN COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL
COMMITTEE
I. VACANCIES
Vacancies in the County Central Committee may be filled by a majority of those members of
the Committee present and voting.
II. ASSISTANT COMMITTEE PERSONS
The County Central Committee shall have the power to designate and select additional
members from each precinct to assist the Committee persons. They shall have the right to
attend meetings and to be heard. They shall not have the right to vote, except in the
absence of a Committee person form their own precinct.
III. REMOVAL OF COMMITTEE PERSONS
Any member of the County Central Committee who, without good cause, misses two (2)
consecutive meetings of the County Central Committee, whether they are regular, specially
scheduled or instructional meetings, or who fails to promptly carry out his or her assigned
duties within the time specified under the organization's program which the Committee has
adopted may be removed by action of the county Central committee and a replacement
selected to fill the vacancy caused by his removal. No removal shall be effected until the
member is given an opportunity to be heard at the next meeting after which his or her
removal is introduced.
IV. EXCUSED ABSENCE
In the event a member is unable to attend a meeting for a good cause, he or she shall notify
the secretary in advance that he or she is unable to attend.
X. AMENDMENTS
These by-laws may be amended by majority vote of those present at any called meeting of
the Central Committee. Written notice of the proposed amendment must be forwarded to the
members of the Committee with a notice calling the meeting, and be postmarked at least ten
(10) days prior to the meeting at which said amendment is to be presented for consideration
and vote.
XI. QUORUM
Twenty (20) members of the County Central Committee shall constitute a quorum for the
purpose of transacting any business which shall be presented for consideration and vote.
**********************************************************************************************
Well I think all can agree that the Iowas State Election Code, the Constitution of the Republican Party of the State of Iowa and the Constitution of the Linn County GOP Central Committee and it's By-Laws are clear.
Unless you were Elected to be one of the Precinct delegates to the County Central Committee at the Precinct Caucus then you are NOT a member of the County Central Committee,
So if you stood up in a Central Committee meeting in the past were recognized and accepted by voice vote to be a Member of the Linn County Central Committee?
Sorry but you aren't
However it is equally true that if your name appeared on a Caucus Form A as a Chair, Co-Chair, Alternate or Secretary?
You are no more a Member of the County Central Committee than the above,
Chair Co-Chair and Secretary elections are only for the purpose of running the Caucus. County Delegates and County Delegate Alternates are for the purposes of the Function of the County Convention,.
Precinct delegates to act as County Central Committee Members for the two years between elections are a separate election, Assuming the Chair Co-Chair Alternate, or Secretary, can be a Central Committee Member has no more validity than assuming a Voice Vote at a meeting makes you a Country Central Committee Member.
What does this mean?
A royal mess, Unless there can be found at a minimum 20 persons who were elected at their Precinct Caucuses to be County Central Committee Members this body does not have a quorum. It also means that if there were not 20 persons who were so elected at the last Officer Elections?
That Election has No standing under the Election Laws of the State of Iowa, nor under the Constitutions of the Republican Party of the State of Iowa, nor under the Constitution and By-Laws of the Linn County Central Committee.
The Election is Invalid and we must first ascertain we can assemble a quorum of Central Committee Members that fits the definition under the present Law.
Before we can do anything.
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
America's Answer to the Crisis
America has faced challenges and adversity,
To a far greater extent than we do today.
Out of the Past,
From the Time of the Great Depression and the Dustbowl,
Sounds a voice to remind us what REAL Americans do in Crisis.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
YOU RAISE ME UP SO I CAN STAND ON MOUNTAINS
IMO a most moving and beautiful tribute to the People and City of Cedar Rapids.
I received A DVR disc from our own Kathy Farrand who has been working tiredlessly in the rescue and recovery of our City from the recent flood.
She had a concept and a series of photos and had a friend create the disc.
I wanted to put it on Youtube, but alas I do not have the skills.
But I was able to upload all of the files into my website directory and have created a page from which it can be viewed.
I regret that it is necessary to download a 16 Meg EXE file so it will be difficult for those with dialup modems and I do not know how it will play for anyone with that type of connection. Sorry
Cedar Rapids Flood of 2008
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
2008 Proposed Linn County Republican Platform
The County Convention has come and gone. In the coming weeks this website will have Platform Planks posted that were chosen to discuss, consider and rank.
To start things off we will list the categories so readers can rank them according to the importance they deem appropriate.
It is hoped that this website will evolve into a place where issues are brought up and platforms and planks are developed in a continuous dynamic ongoing process, so that some day we will go to the Caucuses and County Convention will a slate that has crystalized during the time since the previous eleciton cycle.
Business and Economic Development
Education
Energy Natural Resources and Transportation
Family Values
Government
Health and Human Services
Defense, Immigration and Foreign Policy
Right to Life
The Full List can be found Here
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Iowa's Rainforest
The Following is the first of what we term "Concerned Citizen" Hot Issue Posts
The views are those of the author and not intended to reflect those of the Linn County Central Committtee.
It is presented to initiate a dialogue and debate
Chief Rainforest con man and Senator Chuck "fauxscal conservative" Grassley campaign contributor David Oman
From WHO-TV, regarding the Earthpark rainforest application grant:
Principal Financial Group also planned to make a $2 million donation in exchange for naming rights to parts of the park. The Pella Corporation, Vermeer Manufacturing and Musco Lighting also pledged millions in in-kind services.
Earthpark had until December 1st to show it had secured nearly $50 million in private money in order to collect a $50 million federal grant. Congress later rescinded the funding.
$3 million of federal funds already spent by Earthpark will not be recouped.
Wow! David Oman had nothing!
In-kind services are not cash!
The best "con man" David Oman could do after nearly 9 years of huckstering and scamming cities was a $2 million pledge for partial naming rights from Principal Financial.
That, and a further cash pledge by project dreamer Ted Townsend.
As for the $2.9 million in deficit-financed taxpayer money already spent by David Oman under the watchful eye of Senator Chuck Grassley , I think the taxpayers ought to be suing both of them for recovery of the funds. Oman shouldn't have had access to the money until the grant application was completed.
They should both be arrested for conspiracy to commit fraud.
Who allowed that money to be spent?
Was it Senator Grassley?
If so, he should resign before being thrown in a Federa prison for fraud and theft.
We know Oman spent the money. He should definitely be arrested!
One more thing, also notice that the Des Moines Register hasn't had a single story about the rainforest grant application this past week. Nothing since December 22nd!
Talk about journalistic malpractice!
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Elections
We are changing our format a little. Previously we asked for posts on Hot Issues to place here. Starting tonight we will place a Hot Issue as the Title and invite coments on it.
Tonights issue will be Clean Government as proposed by
Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Elections (VOICE)
Voter-Owned Elections is a voluntary system for state elections where candidates can choose to run using public funding instead of contantly fundraising and accepting monies from power groups hoping to weild their influence. It provides qualifying candidates - those who collect a set amount of signatures and $5 donations from within their district - with a set amount of money from a public source if they promise to refuse money from all other sources.
Follow the above link to a full presentation of this responce to the Issue of Clean Government and we welcome your informed and responisble reactions and thoughts on it.
Today in History: November 7 : On November 7, 1837, Elijah Parish Lovejoy was killed by a pro-slavery mob while defending the site of his anti-slavery newspaper The Saint Louis Observer. His death both deeply affected many individuals who opposed slavery and greatly strengthened the cause of abolition.
.
Monday, 5 November 2007
All Politics Are Local
It has been said that all Politics are Local. The same can be said about Issues. While it is true there may be some Local Issues here in Linn County that do not affect the State of Iowa or the Nation at Large, it is equally true that what does affect the State of Iowa or the Nation at Large also affects us here. For all Politics are Local. It is for this reason that this website is named as it is. Not "Hot Issues IN Linn County", but "Hot Issues FROM Linn County". We desire this to be a Forum for the presentation of those Issues which have an effect on our lives. Those that galvanize the most attention. Your reasoned comments are not only encouraged but needed. Please, however, try to keep them on the level of Principles rather than Personalities and bear in mind, this is a public forum and a responsible quality of language will be expected. This Statement of Principles will remain at the top of the website. Today in American History:
Apri 4,1873 Have women citizens the right of suffrage under the Constitution of the United States?
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
We Must Not Forget.
Last Tuesday Michelle VanMarm gave a talk at the Linn County Monthly GOP meeting on the events of September 11, 2001 I asked her to email me a text version of her thoughts. This a day to remember.
Six years ago, on 9/11, our country was attacked. 2,974 of our fellow Americans perished that day; more than died at Pearl Harbor. What made this attack so insidious was the planning and executing with one target in mind. Civilians. As we are all still targets today.
We must not forget the images of that morning; the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, Flight 93. We must not forget the expressions of the firefighters, with 100 pounds of gear on their backs, as they ascended the stairs. Knowing it would be hours before they reached those trapped above. We must not forget those who could not wait for the firefighters. Trapped on floors above the impact zone, the windows were their only avenue of escape. We must not forget the emotions on the faces of those on the streets below, as they watched the towers fall.
We must not forget our own emotions, painful as they may be; the horror, the grief, the anger. We must remember we are at war with an enemy who would kill you as easily as we pour our first cup of coffee in the morning. We are at war with a religion—an ideology. One that wants to look at the world, especially the West, and see a mirror-image of itself.
9/11 is not a day to just “put behind us and go on”, as we Americans often do. To forget, or even to let these images fade, is to invite our own peril; to invite the collapse of our very way of life, our very civilization.
We must not forget.
Today in History ordinarily presents events that happened at least twenty-five years in the past, but this day is an exception.
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