Yet again, politics and not common sense governed the timing of this special election for District 114.  The governor could have appointed the retiring incumbent to the parole board a couple of months later and saved the tax payers a whole lot of money. I am sure the State and voters in District 114 would not have suffered for a couple of extra months--while the legislature was not in session anyway—to have the seat empty until the general presidential election in November!

The law requires the special election to occur within a short period of time after the vacancy and the election within 30 days of the qualifying deadline. I say the law needs to be changed!

The 30 day rule basically only works to the advantage of the incumbent being able to anoint his candidate for the seat--as happened here. The announcement of his being appointed to the parole board was coupled with his endorsement of his cousin. Concomitantly, the incumbent’s cousin, with plenty of advance notice of the appointment, was able to hit the ground running with signs, and organization walking door to door, and so forth, even before the qualifying deadline had passed! I was scrambling to get 50 district signatures to qualify for the race, while my opponent was already putting out signs!

 Unfortunately, “politics as usual” is not a function of what’s best for the voters and taxpayers, it is what’s best for the politicians in office! I will work to end “politics as usual” and do the right thing for the voters. Isn’t that just common sense for the taxpayers of District 114?

 Whoever you may have chosen as your candidate, and whatever the outcome of the election, insist that they end the practice of “politics  as usual” in special elections.

 Please make sure to vote in this special election on September 23, 2008!