Oklahomans who are working to improve ballot access in that state are meeting on Sunday, 1:30 pm, July 8, in Stroud, Oklahoma (between Tulsa and Oklahoma City). The exact location is Best Western Motor Lodge, 1200 N. 8th Ave. The group will discuss plans for the initiative that would ask the voters to make it easier for parties to get and remain on the ballot.
On June 25, a federal court jury in Tallahassee, Florida, unanimously ruled that the action of the national party convention in June 2005, changing national party officers, was invalid. Therefore, the officers who were in office prior to that convention (and the faction that supports them) are the valid national party officers. Shawn O’Hara, who had been national chair during 2004 and 2005, had since resigned and Rodney Martin of Yuma, Arizona, had taken his place.
The Tampa convention had been called over the objection of Shawn O’Hara. The Tampa convention had chosen Charles Foster of Texas as national chair. Foster and his faction had then sued the O’Hara/Martion faction, alleging that the law on trademarks was being violated by their use of the name “Reform Party.” However, the jury ruled in favor of the defendants. The specific question answered by the jury was, “Do you find by the greater weight of the evidence that the vote changing officers at the June 2005 Tampa convention was valid?” The jury answer was “No.”
On June 25, a federal court jury in Tallahassee, Florida, unanimously ruled that the action of the national party convention in June 2005, changing national party officers, was invalid. Therefore, the officers who were in office prior to that convention (and the faction that supports them) are the valid national party officers. Shawn O’Hara, who had been national chair during 2004 and 2005, had since resigned and Rodney Martin of Yuma, Arizona, had taken his place.
The Tampa convention had been called over the objection of Shawn O’Hara. The Tampa convention had chosen Charles Foster of Texas as national chair. Foster and his faction had then sued the O’Hara/Martion faction, alleging that the law on trademarks was being violated by their use of the name “Reform Party.” However, the jury ruled in favor of the defendants. The specific question answered by the jury was, “Do you find by the greater weight of the evidence that the vote changing officers at the June 2005 Tampa convention was valid?” The jury answer was “No.”
The Arizona Green Party now has 5,000 signatures on its petition to qualify itself as a party. 20,449 valid signatures are needed by March 6, 2008.
The Ohio Libertarian Party now has 2,500 signatures on its petition to qualify itself as a party, even though the drive only started ten days ago. 20,114 valid signatures are needed by November 26, 2007.
HB 3040 in the Oregon legislature has not advanced far enough to have any chance of passage, since the legislative session is almost over in that state. HB 3040 is the bill to legalize fusion.
