DeLay's Handpicked Version of Mini Me

Oh, I just love the continued machinations of the Fort Bend Republicans as they try to figure out how they are going to pick the Chosen One to replace DeLay on the ballot. There are 91 precincts in Fort Bend, but only 61 have GOP chairs. These chairs have to get together to select one person from among themselves to serve on a committee that will select the replacement candidate for Tom DeLay. Harris, Galveston and Brazoria counties will do the same. So, if there are 38 vacant precinct chairs, what happens? Here's the latest from Bob Dunn at Fort Bend Now:

But at least 10 prominent Fort Bend County Republicans, including past and present political candidates and office holders, have privately expressed concern over rumors that the 38 precinct chair vacancies soon will be filled – with people intent on voting as a bloc to see that one particular congressional candidate is nominated.

The issue of vacant precinct chairs has become sensitive enough in Harris County that Republican Party officials don’t intend to allow those vacancies to be filled until after DeLay’s ballot replacement has been chosen, said Bill Borden.

A past county GOP parliamentarian and state GOP executive committee member, Borden said he has “strongly advised” Harris County party officials against filling their CD-22 vacancies, and they have listened. Harris County appears to have 31 vacancies out of 76 precincts in the district.

The rationale for his advice, Borden said, is that “we are already on notice that the Lampson people” intend to infiltrate Republican executive committee meetings in the four counties to see whether anything occurs that is not done exactly according to the Texas Election Code.

Among the nuances in the election code, Borden mentioned a provision (Chapter 171.024) stating that a majority of precinct chairs must be present at any county Republican Party meeting in which there is a vote to approve applications for new precinct chairs.

“At least two of the counties in CD-22 are notorious for allowing a vote to occur to replace precinct chairs without having a majority of the entire executive committee,” Borden said, “and the code is real clear on that.”

If the election code isn’t followed in the run-up to choosing DeLay’s ballot replacement, Borden contended, Lampson and the Democrats plan to obtain a restraining order to keep the Republican candidate off the ballot.

State Rep. Robert Talton and attorney Tom Campbell, both candidates for DeLay’s seat, said they also have heard similar information.

Lampson campaign manager Mike Malaise said Republicans are being “extra sensitive” because “they know themselves that there is nothing on the up-and-up about this process.

“If these meetings are open to the public, why would there be any need for spies?” Malaise asked. “As for our campaign watching what’s going on, we have never conceded that Tom DeLay can legally remove his name from the ballot simply because he saw he was going to lose and wanted the chance to choose his successor. He should have dropped out and let the voters decide.

“Regardless,” Malaise said, “we are going to win in November whether we are facing Tom DeLay or his handpicked version of Mini Me.”

Campbell said he thinks “the potential for a challenge here is real. As a lawyer, I think we’ve got to dot our i’s and cross our t’s. This is where the legal overlaps the political.

“I can understand (Harris County GOP officials’) concern about filling those slots, and concern that they be democratically elected,” Campbell said. “I understand it could be used to stack the deck.”

If Fort Bend precincts are filled “with people who would support one particular candidate, that would be really unfortunate,” Campbell added. “People are generally bone-tired of being manipulated.”

So, we have a clue - the Chose One is most likely going to be Mini Me! And, indeed the good people of TX-22 are tired of being manipulated. Tom DeLay, did you hear that? We are tired of being manipulated. Pack up and leave already!