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Minor Party Presidential Debates in Southern California This Weekend

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Richard WingerApril 21, 2012

Southern California hosts two minor party presidential debates this weekend.

On Sunday, April 22, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the four Peace & Freedom Party presidential candidates will debate each other at the Westside Peace Center, 3916 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City. They are Stewart Alexander, Rocky Anderson, Stephen Durham, and Peta Lindsay. The Peace & Freedom Party asked the Secretary of State to list all four of these candidates on its presidential primary ballot this year. So far the Secretary of State has resisted putting Lindsay on the ballot. A U.S. District Court will decide on April 26 whether to add Lindsay to the ballot.

A multi-party presidential debate is scheduled for Saturday, April 21, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Echo Park United Methodist Church, 1226 N. Alvarado St., Los Angeles. All four of the Peace & Freedom Party candidates will participate. Also, the three Green Party presidential candidates who are on the California Green Party presidential primary will participate. They are Roseanne Barr, Kent Mesplay, and Jill Stein. Also, James Ogle, who is seeking the Libertarian Party presidential nomination, will participate. Thanks to Casey Peters for this news.

Arizona Supreme Court Issues Opinion on Why Governor was Wrong to Remove Chair of Independent Redistricting Commission

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Richard WingerApril 21, 2012

On April 20, the Arizona Supreme Court issued this unanimous 31-page opinion in Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission v Brewer, cv-11-0313. Arizona has an independent redistricting commission composed of two Republicans, two Democrats, and one independent. On October 26, 2011, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer removed the chair of the Commission, Colleen Mathis. The Arizona Constitution permits a Governor to remove a member of the commission for gross misconduct, if two-thirds of the Senate agree. On November 1, 2011, two-thirds of the Senate did agree with the Governor’s action.

The Commission then sued the Governor, and the State Supreme Court ruled that the removal was unlawful. Now the Court has explained the basis for its ruling.

Five California State Legislators Running for Office This Year Avoid Listing that Occupation on Ballot

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Richard WingerApril 21, 2012

California is the only state in which candidates for public office list their occupations on the ballot. According to this story, five California state legislators who are running for re-election this year chose an occupation (for listing on the ballot) other than one that refers to their employment as state legislators.

Ballot Access in South Carolina June Primary Threatened for Some Democrats, Republicans

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Richard WingerApril 21, 2012

South Carolina holds its Democratic and Republican primaries (for office other than President) on June 12. On April 20, the Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court ordered to State Election Commission not to mail any absentee ballots until that court hears a challenge to the ballot placement of several major party candidates. See this story. The law requires candidates for state and local office to file a Statement of Economic Interests, and apparently many candidates filed that statement late. At least one candidate didn’t file it at all.

Peace & Freedom Party Files Reply Brief in Lawsuit Over Presidential Primary

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Richard WingerApril 20, 2012

On April 20, the Peace & Freedom Party filed this 6-page reply brief in Peace & Freedom Party v Bowen, eastern district, the lawsuit over whether Peta Lindsay should be on the party’s presidential primary ballot. Even if you don’t normally read legal briefs, this one is very interesting and easy to understand.