On Klein, Derouen, and Reid

In a posting last week, Philip R. Klein claimed to have seen the complaint concerning Robert Reid's application for a place on the ballot in the Jefferson County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 race:

Well the Review went to the court today and found that there are two reasons - FIRST : Reid did not put his name in a blank on a page when he turned in his ballot (yes we are being serious) and SECOND : He signed his name in areas to which he should not have signed his name (yes we are being serious again).

There is no such provision in the Texas Election Code. Compare Klein's version with the story posted by reporter Mary Meaux of the Port Arthur News, who named her source:

According to Derouen, a candidate is required to take an oath to attest that he witnessed each individual signer place their name on the petition. But Reid had at least three other people helping circulate the petition thus meaning Reid himself did not witness each signature.

Derouen's argument is based on Section 141.064 of the Texas Election Code:

Sec. 141.064.  METHOD OF ACQUIRING SIGNATURE.  A person circulating a petition must:

1. before permitting a person to sign, point out and read to the person each statement pertaining to the signer that appears on the petition;
2. witness each signature;
3. ascertain that each date of signing is correct; and
4. before the petition is filed, verify each signer's registration status and ascertain that each registration number entered on the petition is correct.

Klein claimed in his article yesterday:

Independent candidate Robert Reid was kicked off the ballot by the democratic leader - Judge Ron Walker this afternoon in what has been dubbed an "Illegal Hearing." Sources tell the Review that an appeal is being tendered to the 9th court of appeals and a complaint has been drafted against Judge Walker (like he cares)- away from candidate Reid.

"What happened here is an illegal hearing. There was no case number. There was no process of service. The county judge abused his authority. He is not king of Jefferson County. He is county judge. He certified the candidacy and that is all he can do. He cannot decertify. We are not going to stand by and watch this," said a source away from candidate Reid.

Philip's "sources" aren't familiar with that part of the Texas Election Code that names the authority in a county race:

Sec. 142.005.  AUTHORITY WITH WHOM APPLICATION FILED.  An application for a place on the ballot must be filed with:

1. the secretary of state, for a statewide or district office;  or
2. the county judge, for a county or precinct office.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.

Philip R. Klein, self-proclaimed political consultant, can't recognize a shrewd campaign strategy when he sees one. Why should any candidate waste money on a potentially expensive campaign when contesting irregularities in an application can eliminate an opponent?

Welcome to Texas Politics, where aggressive campaign strategy isn't limited to Jefferson County or the Democratic Party:

• In heated Texas congressional race, the political football is . . . football
• Rick Perry Wins Heated Texas GOP Primary
• Allegation: Signs posted by Borris Miles in heated Houston statehouse race violated election laws

Other examples are legion.

Regarding Reid, Gator on The BE Bayou noted that he is a Democrat who ran as an independent:

Reid was originally going to run as a Democrat, later opting to go as an Independent. Derouen won the Dems primary, while Reid chose to — in lieu of paying a hefty filing fee — get signatures for a petition. He needed 231, but got 271.

But Klein claims that Reid has the support of the Tea Party (Klein's crude and offensive language is redacted):

Now for the wild card - the Tea Party. There is no doubt that if Reid goes down - he is the political poster boy for the Tea Party Kids and this is going to  off some big wigs in town.

PRK had no comment on the size of the Tea Party vote in Precinct 2, where recent developments are relevant and may affect that constituency.

This critique reflects my objective opinions of Philip's comments on these issues, but not necessarily my personal political views. However, I think Marc Derouen previously ran a great race for Jefferson County Inspector of Hides and Animals. I strongly disagree with Klein's opinion:

When you live in the MOST CORRUPT COUNTY IN TEXAS and you are a FOW - THE LAW MEANS NOTHING!

In this case, it seems to me that one JP candidate got beat by another with a better knowledge of campaign law. Maybe that's not a bad thing someone seeking a judicial office.