STUNNING REVERSAL: County Prosecutor Moves "Restore Election Confidence" Initiative Forward - Caucus Postponed
Jan 12, 2024 9:29 pm
VICTORY: WRIT OF MANDAMUS CAUSES PROSECUTORS TO FOLLOW THE HOME RULE CHARTER
The day after I filed the Writ of Mandamus with a Skamania County judge, the PA's office reached out to me via email and wanted to talk. During our conversation, Leslie Lopez, Chief Civil Deputy, informed me that they received the Writ of Mandamus and were looking to reverse their decision to deny the initiative from the ballot and to forward the "Restore Election Confidence" initiative to the Auditor as the Home Rule Charter calls for. From this conversation, Ms. Lopez indicated that if they created a ballot title and forwarded it to the Auditor, would I be willing to pull the Writ that was filed?
In other words, they got caught and know that they really don't want a judge to force them to follow the Charter and to do it fairly.
Later in the evening, they sent me a follow-up letter indicating that they will be reversing and will be forwarding the proposed initiative to the Auditor on January 11, 2024.
But after prayer, consideration, and seeking wise counsel, I replied to address the remaining problem of conducting a proper legal review (see my reply in the screenshot), as specified in the Charter in 7.2 A, B., and the need to make a public statement to undo the damage that has been done that the proposed initiative is rejected and not legal.
Here's What You NEED TO DO:
Stay Informed: Sign up for updates and stay in the loop.
Volunteer: Join the signature collection efforts.
Spread the Word: Every small effort makes a difference.
WATCH THE UPDATE VIDEO HERE
CAUCUS POSTPONED BECAUSE OF WEATHER!!!
Precinct Caucus Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024
Election of delegates and alternates for CCRP County Convention and discussion of issues for the CCRP Party Platform.
Caucus Locations
Please confirm your precinct at:
https://voter.votewa.gov/WhereToVote.aspx Verify your precinct location as you may not be attending the location closest to where you live.
Doors open at 8:30am. Registration ends at 9:55 am. Photo ID required. Must be a Washington state registered voter and 18 years old. Please arrive early, parking may be limited at some locations. Meeting time from 10am-11:30am.
Precinct Caucus Saturday Jan. 13, 2023
All the Caucus information is here.
The caucus is the election of delegates and alternates for CCRP County Convention and discussion of issues for the CCRP Party Platform.
Be the Party!
All Republicans are welcome.
ICYMI: Writ Of Mandamus Filed Monday Over Alleged Home Rule Charter Violations
"Today, January 8, 2024, I embarked on a little road trip to Skamania County with a mission—to file a Writ of Mandamus. Why, you ask? Well, it's all about getting the Prosecuting Attorney's (PA) office to follow the law laid out in the Home Rule Charter (HRC). So far, they've been hoping their little shenanigans of ignoring the HRC goes unnoticed.
In case you're not familiar, a Writ of Mandamus is a higher court telling the lower court or public office holders to get their act together and follow the law.
The big question here is, if we don't put a stop to the PA's office playing fast and loose with their power and ignoring the HRC, what's next on their agenda? This whole saga seems like a well-thought-out plan by those who slipped in the HRC amendments, giving the PA's office the green light to squash petitions they don't like. And guess what? Petitions are the people's direct line to the government.
Filing this Writ of Mandamus isn't just about holding the PA's office accountable. It's a stand for the integrity of the initiative process—the very heartbeat of our functioning Constitutional Republic. So buckle up, PA's office, the people are watching, and it's time to follow the laws outlined in the HRC.
What's next?
The Writ has been filed and the PA’s office will respond and the judge will set a hearing date.
I need your help as the legal battle has now officially begun. A lot is at stake. Will the PA's office just run over the Home Rule Charter and the people's right to petition? The PA's office is hoping they can rule by fiat and send us away.
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ICYMI: County Prosecutors Flip-Flop on Initiative Rejection Reasons
On December 21, 2023, the Prosecuting Attorney's (PA) office tried to pull a fast one, claiming they were blocking the initiative from the ballot because it would "amend State or Federal law." But hold on to your hats, folks, because on January 2, 2024, they've changed their tune. Now, they're singing a new song, arguing that the initiative violates the "one subject" requirement, throwing around accusations of containing "at least three different subjects" without bothering to provide any specifics. Talk about a plot twist! Apparently, someone in the PA's office decided they needed a new script to keep "We The People" from even having the choice regarding the Restore Election Confidence initiative. Cue the eye roll.
The Washington State Constitution, in Article 1, Section 4, boldly declares, "The right of petition and of the people peaceably to assemble for the common good shall never be abridged." Moreover, our Home Rule Charter, in Section 7.2, grants the good folks of Clark County the power of initiative, allowing them to propose ordinances unless limited by state or federal law. But here's the kicker: Clark County is a Home Rule Charter county, meaning we've got more autonomy than other counties. Home Rule counties and cities can't pass ordinances that openly conflict with state and federal law, but the PA's office is trying to play the 'if there's another law in the room, you can't dance' card. Ridiculous.
Here's the deal, the Charter puts a leash on the Prosecuting Attorney, explicitly limiting their powers to the question of whether "the subject of this initiative is within the scope of local initiative powers" (HRC 7.2 A). Well, spoiler alert: the initiative checks all the boxes outlined in HRC 7.2 A, 1-6. The PA's office isn't given the authority to pick an initiative apart but only to evaluate the subject regarding state and federal law.
Now, if the PA's office has a bone to pick with any proposed initiative, they've got one option – check a box. That's it, no more, no less. They don't get to arbitrarily kill it because they don't like it but that's what they are trying to do.
As you well know, anything can be challenged for legality. So, the fact that the PA's office is trying to off the initiative now is downright outrageous and won't fly. On the flip side, it's a spectacle to watch how far they'll go, revealing to the public their true colors. The PA's office is acting like lawless gangsters, flexing their muscles, armed with guns, buildings, cash, and lawyers, all funded by the taxpayers.
I'm eagerly awaiting their next move, which will likely be their last hurrah. Or maybe they'll choose to stay silent, realizing that with every letter, they're exposing their desperation and willingness to abuse power, tossing laws aside to maintain control and keep the little people out. The drama continues!"
STAY TUNED...
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ICYMI: Restore Election Confidence Initiative Filed In Clark County
It'll come as no shock to many, that we've got a serious problem in Clark County —our recent election saw a dismal 26% turnout. What's more concerning? The lack of urgency from the folks at the top—the Auditor, County Council, and State officials. As a result, I've filed a new petition with the Clark County Auditor because the people have the final say and there are times when it falls in our hands to do something when our officials refuse to act.
Beyond the low turnout, the dismissive attitude of those in power brings us to this point. This year the County Council approved a $4.4 million request from the Auditor, despite valid concerns from the community and a promise to investigate issues raised. Also, Auditor Kimsey's response involved a misleading statement that has resulted in an ethics complaint adding to the growing mistrust. On both sides of the political aisle, many have expressed serious election security concerns that have lingered to the point that confidence in Clark County's electoral processes is hanging by a thread.
After careful review, with several attorneys, members of the Clark County Election Integrity Team, and Bill Bruch, WA GOP Chair of the State's Election Integrity Committee, the initiative submitted will address these core issues:
- Chain of Custody: Ensure the security and accurate reporting of ballots to the public from pick up to storage.
- Fraud Prevention: Stop illegitimate ballots from being sent out or counted.
- Voter Roll Cleanup: Ensure voter rolls are maintained 30 days before mailing out ballots.
- Transparency Measures: Install cameras at all drop boxes and processing areas.
- Post-Election Audit: A thorough examination after every presidential election.
- Timely Reporting: Provide the majority of results by the end of election day.
- Fraud Investigations: Address irregularities promptly and keep the public informed.
- Implementation Deadline: Ensure all measures are in place before the next scheduled election and place serious consequences for failure to do so.
Now, the road ahead won't be easy but it's doable. After the Prosecuting Attorney's office reviews and releases for signature gathering, we need 35,000 signatures in four months. Seems daunting? Remember, we pulled in over 10,000 signatures in just one month back in 2021. It's very doable, but we need everyone on board.
Here's What You NEED TO DO:
Stay Informed: Sign up for updates and stay in the loop.
Volunteer: Join the signature collection efforts.
Spread the Word: Every small effort makes a difference.
As we stand on the precipice of change, your active participation is the only forward to change. By signing up, volunteering, and spreading the word, you'll contribute to the collective effort of restoring confidence in elections.
Your voice is a catalyst for change, and your involvement is the key to shaping the future of Clark County don't wait for someone else to come to step up and fix this. Remember the words of Benjamin Franklin who told us long ago, "A Republic, if you can keep it."
