Second DeLeon Recall Petition Fails
KCBD 11 just broke the story that the second petition to recall Linda DeLeon has failed by 23 signatures.
I’ve heard that the news conference on Wednesday will detail each rejected signature along with the reason it was rejected.
Edit: Sue is right (in the comments) — the A-J is reporting that it failed by 16 signatures.
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August 21st, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Lubbockonline is reporting failed by 16.
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:15 pm
This will certainly have legs. Lefty, credit to your initial anaylsis for seeing that it looked like the recall effort would fall short. I was listening to the radio though and there seems to be some sketchy information about the numbers again and exactly when the decision was made that the petition failed. According to Armando Gonzales he got calls from the media yesterday morning saying that had it on reliable sources that the petition had passed then called back a couple of hours later saying it hadn’t. Whatever the situation it does not look good.
And can someone coach Linda on soundbytes 101. The clip they played on the radio this morning was terrible. She was saying that she had all this support from people in the community folks coming up to her at Starbucks and giving her hugs and that she wished they would give her money. Sheesh… talk about leaving your self wide open!
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Bystander, I’m not convinced that the recall effort will continue. Like you, I very much want to see the exact City results of the count — I will look into obtaining their count including rejections.
Also, I plan to do some analysis of the voting history of those who signed the petition if I can get my hands on a good voter history file for the area. I have a hypothesis in mind for why they gathered fewer signatures this time around, and I want to back it up.
I think Armando Gonzales and the people or groups backing him up (and that includes some local radio personalities) are making the recall effort seem more significant than it really is. But I’ll do the research to find out for sure.
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:55 pm
According to the radio show, Mr. Gonzales sounded like he was not walking away from this. I think the effort will continue and I think in part due to some of the comments Linda was making in her interviews - using terms like “those people” and saying that some of them would vote against her because they “didn’t like her short hair cut”.
Your analysis would be interesting to see hope you can get a good list.
As for your comment about making the recall more significant than it really is, I disagree. Democracy in any shape, form or fashion is pretty significant to me.
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Yeah, I just heard Mr. Gonzales on the radio saying that he filed reports with the FBI and Texas Rangers offices here in Lubbock. It seems that you are correct — he is definitely not walking away.
I didn’t mean to say that the petitioners were wasting their time or anything like that. Like you, I think that any exercise of democracy is a good thing. If the petitioners want to go another round, more power to them.
What I meant by saying that the recall effort wasn’t super significant is that it will not be politically significant. They gathered fewer signatures the second time around, and I know from conversations with people in the district that several folks who signed the first time refused to sign the second time. I believe they are not on the path to their desired result, and I believe that a majority of Linda’s constituents are still behind her.
But again, openness and fair analysis must prevail either way.
August 25th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
Lefty, I get the impression you like Linda Deleon - but consider her actions.
She called the petition effort “Lame” Do you believe the Democratic process is “Lame” ???
She called the two ex-council persons “opportunists” Do you believe they are “Opportunists” ???
She called petition signers “Disgruntled” Do you believe they are “Disgruntled” ???
She called a press conference at the “ORielly” site Do you believe she is entitled to credit for this enterprise ???
Sorry Lefty - I sure hate to burst your bubble.
August 26th, 2007 at 1:01 am
I don’t believe that the Democratic process is lame. The petitioners have every right to a fair recall petition process as many times as they want to try. I don’t agree with their reasons for wanting a recall, however.
Victor may be an opportunist in this case — he may be gunning for his old job back. I don’t believe that Maggie Trejo is an opportunist. So, the ex-council persons in this case are 1-1. :)
I believe the petition signers are disgruntled, misled, Republicans, or people disconnected from the usual political process. I have not yet backed my hunch up by matching a voter file to the petition signers.
Not sure what you mean about the press conference. Care to elaborate?
I live to burst bubbles.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:05 am
Lefty,
Your defense of Deleon sounds like Dick Cheney’s defense of the war in Iraq.
Are you her campaign manager ??? Is yes, I understand. If no, then there is hope for you. Try to look at Deleon from beginning to end as a whole. Were her words and actions consistent with those of a person of principle ??? or, did she lash out at everyone who questioned her ??? Did she accept personal responsibility ??? or, did she try to blame others ???
Your anwers will be your bond !!!
August 26th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Haha, no — I’m not her campaign manager. I’ve met her a few times, but I don’t have any input into her speaking or her policies.
Two things she’s done recently that I like: opposing a Citibus fare increase and beginning the “Love Thy Neighbor” project, where houses that repeatedly fail code inspections because the occupants are too poor to fix them are fixed up by volunteers.
Which actions “from beginning to end” are you referring to?