Yes, Virginia, There ARE Democrats in Kansas

One of my best friends lives in Kansas, and considering she, her Viet Nam vet husband, and her daughter are staunch progressives, this is not always the easiest place for them to live.

Not so easy for Virginia Woodward, the Democratic candidate for state senate from the Kentucky 37th district, either.

From Jim Dean on Blog for America:

Shortly before Election Day last year, it was discovered that Virginia's Republican opponent was not qualified to be on the ballot as a candidate for the Kentucky State Senate because she had only lived in Kentucky for three years instead of the clearly required six. In fact, Virginia's opponent had been living in Indiana during most of this period, but had moved back to Kentucky to run for a seat that her father had previously held.

The principal here is simple. Kentucky officeholders are supposed to be from Kentucky. Even in the presence of this "residency slight-of-hand" the election was held. Virginia's opponent won by less than one thousand votes—a difference that can be attributed to the opponent's family ties to the Kentucky Republican machine.

The illegitimate election of Virginia Woodward's opponent was further established in a subsequent court hearing on the matter, that declared that the opponent had no business running for office in Kentucky and that Virginia was the winner of the election. Yet, there were still challenges—both in the courts and the county and state board of elections—all of which ruled that Virginia was the winner. The county and state board of elections certified Virginia's victory; and she was sworn in by the Kentucky Chief Justice as the State Senator representing the 37th District in the Kentucky Legislature on January 4th 2005, along with the rest of her Senate colleagues.

It should have ended there, but apparently, the Republicans decided that the rule of law does not apply to them. The President of the Republican controlled State Senate refused to seat Virginia and attempted to seat her opponent from Indiana instead. Again, the courts sided with Virginia and issued an injunction preventing her opponent from conducting any Senate duties and paving the way for Virginia to represent the voters in her district.

However, the Republicans continued their efforts to skirt the law and delay the process by introducing one appeal and legal motion after another. Sound familiar? The courts and elections boards have continued to side in Virginia's favor, including the most recent Kentucky Supreme Court ruling which upheld the lower court's ruling for Virginia.

In the meantime, these Republican delay tactics have effectively prevented the voters of Kentucky's 37th District from having any representation at all in the Senate during this entire 2005 legislative session! This matter is so appalling that one Republican Senator has already resigned from his party in protest of this assault on Democracy.

Virginia has fought with tenacity, courage, her own funds, and individual contributions; whereas, the Republican Senators of Kentucky have taken up the case of her opponent on their own. Conveniently, this means that they can use state funds—taxpayers' money—to continue to tie this election up in court!

So, do the right thing. Go give this woman some money. I did.

Comments

[Gil.]

So, what's the residency requirement for New York. Did Hilary fulfill it?

Just asking.

[carla]

I've come across your blog via hits to my blog..believe it or not..from the Progressive Women Bloggers Ring.

I'm the facilitator for the Ring.

I get so many requests for people to join that I normally just skim the blogs before I check them in. Yours keeps cropping up though. I figure it must be destiny for me to sit and read you more carefully.

I'm so glad I did. I truely enjoyed it.

I've been working on a blogroll for my blog that highlights women who blog about politics. I've just added you. I hope you'll come over to PreemptiveKarma and check out the blogroll and our blog.

And maybe consider reciprocating. :)