More than a month
after Patricia Todd's historic primary victory that has
her set to become Alabama's first openly gay legislator, her
election has still not been certified--and her
supporters are asking the state's Democratic Party to
stop dragging its feet on the matter. Todd's 59-vote
victory over opponent Gaynell Hendricks in the July 18
contest was challenged by Hendricks's mother-in-law,
even though election officials reported no voting
irregularities and held a recount that confirmed Todd
had won, and now local Democratic officials are apparently
meddling with the panel that will hear the challenge.
"Democracy means nothing if backroom deals can
change the outcome of a fair election," Chuck Wolfe,
president and CEO of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund,
which backed Todd, said in a statement. "The people
have spoken, but party power brokers are insisting on having
the last word. That's un-American."
Wolfe added, "The Alabama Democratic Party shows
little inclination to conduct a fair hearing based on
the merits of the challenge, and we have lost faith in
that process. It's unthinkable that in 2006 some
politically powerful insiders still consider themselves
untethered to democratic principles and superior to
the electorate. If the party has no intention of
protecting the rights of voters, then we intend to ask the
courts to step in to do so."
Party bosses reportedly prefer Hendricks and are
unhappy that Todd, who faces no opponent in November's
general election, won. (The Advocate)
