DONNA FRYE TO APPEAL SAN DIEGO MAYOR'S RACE

Liberty Belle

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Thu Dec-02-04 01:06 PM
Original message

DONNA FRYE TO APPEAL SAN DIEGO MAYOR'S RACE

All--Last night I met with Donna Frye's aid and persuaded her to appeal the mayor's race! I told her about the power of the Internet and all the activists who want to help her win and would help send money fast. 5 minutes ago, I got a call saying she will appeal! (She was ahead as a Democratic write-in candidate until a judge tossed out ballots with her name written in, but bubbles not filled in). Here's the info, with a link to Donna's website for donations.

Dear Progressive Friend-

Donna Frye, the progressive write-in candidate for mayor in San Diego is under siege. She needs the help of every progressive across the country. Battle lines are drawn every day in our fight to provide for a better future. For those of you "in the know" the battle is real and ugly and expensive here is San Diego. Due to our San Diego campaign finance laws, Ms Frye can only accept contributions from individuals in the maximum amount of $250. This was fine for the campaign, as she runs a tight ship, but there are THREE legal battles raging right now that would affect her right to be a write in candidate and voters rights to have every vote count. And she can not go back to her loyal supporters for additional funds because we already gave the maximum amount.

How can you help? It is very simple we are asking every progressive from every state to contribute $50 to Donna Frye's campaign. It is easy and painless. You can go to her web site www.DonnaFryeForMayor.com and use a credit card or you can follow instructions on how to send a check. If you can give more than $50, my hat is off to you. If you can only give half then we understand how tough the economy has been and appreciate whatever assistance you can provide. Just be sure to include your proper information so that Donna abides by all campaign reporting laws.

The basic crisis of this situation is that Donna needs to respond in court to every one of these lawsuits as a party of interest. Even though she has filed none of the suits, since they directly affect her, her candidacy, and the basic right to have every persons vote count, she must mount a legal defense in each case. Two are state court cases and one is federal. This effort is estimated to cost upward of $120,000.

As a founding trustee for Progressive San Diego I profoundly want positive change for our city. As a Donna Frye supporter I want her to win. As a citizen I want my vote to matter and the votes of each and every voter to be counted. But this will not happen without a court order. The latest controversy lies in the fact that three to nine votes in every precinct wrote in "Donna Frye" and failed to fill in the bubble next to her name. Where did I get those numbers you will ask? I am one of the observers for the Frye campaign who watched the election workers tally the write in votes. I saw the actual ballots with her name written in and yet were not counted (because they lacked a bubble). These votes are the difference between progressive victory and "business as usual". We have non partisan elections here, and the two establishment candidates on the ballot are republicans who both voted to underfund our pension fund, a strategy which has cost our city its credit rating. The injustice and decline of our society will continue if we do not fight to ensure those votes are counted.

For more information on our battle please visit Donna's website. I know the New York TImes and the Chicago Tribune did informative articles and Donna's web site can lead you to others. Below is also a copy of the Neil Morgan piece that sums up our feelings about the situation.

Thank you in advance for helping advance progressive politics.

Sincerely,
Anne Dierickx