We received a tweet from TwoCathedrals a bit ago saying, “So, when will we see the promised post about the City Attorney & Registrar of Voters refuting SDGOP residency accusation?”
This was in response to a Twitter exchange about a week ago, which culminated in Rostra (Thor & Co.) noting, “…if Marquez has proof or a statement, we will post.”
We’re not sure that Carlos Marquez has issued a statement…but with our limited budget and resources, we simply can’t keep tabs on everything, not even here in Valhalla. If Marquez has issued a statement, please send it our way. We will post it, without any editorial comment.
In the meantime, however, not to be weasels, we will live up to the spirit of that tweeted “promise,” meaning the request for proof, even though the pretty clear intent (as clear as Twitter gets anyway) was that we wanted to see something from Marquez. It would’ve been nice if he sent us something (he could have done so in the additional spirit of “non-partisanship”).
From 10News (excerpted)…
Redistricting Official Still Eligible To Serve
SAN DIEGO — Carlos Marquez remains eligible to serve on the city of San Diego’s Redistricting Commission because he is still registered to vote here, the City Attorney’s Office said Thursday.
City Attorney Jan Goldsmith and Deputy City Attorney Catherine Bradley wrote in a statement that the Registrar of Voters confirmed that Marquez has been a registered voter locally throughout his tenure on the commission, which redraws the boundaries of City Council districts every 10 years based on updated census information.
“The only question for the commission and the city is whether Mr. Marquez is eligible to vote in the city of San Diego,” they wrote. “The commission and the city must recognize Mr. Marquez as a commission member as long as he is registered to vote in the city and may not look beyond and determine whether he is properly eligible to vote.”
Any question on whether he is properly eligible to vote is up to the Registrar of Voters and the courts, they said. Information on Marquez has been referred to the registrar, but state law gives “great weight” to a voter’s intent, with any doubts to be resolved in favor of the challenged voter.
What is clear at this point, then, is that regardless of whether Marquez spends most of his time in San Diego, LA or the North Pole, he kept his voter registration in San Diego. Wow, what a surprise. Which … just a wild guess here … wait for it … Derrick Roach and Tony Krvaric knew before they released the video of Marquez spending a fair amount of time up north.
Deflated or not (we’re guessing not), those who continue to question Marquez’ eligibility to serve as a SD Redistricting Commissioner have upped their efforts…
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Comments 9
Really? You’re begrudging having to post the official ruling from City and County officials because it didn’t come from Marquez personally?
Author
Actually, the link we used as the proof was the same one we thought you used in your post, the one that goes to the 10News story…
http://twocathedrals.com/?p=645
We are working pretty much remotely at present, so if you have a decent link to the official ruling, send it along, we won’t begrudge it. What we saw on TDA* was three docs from Goldsmith, which were being difficult.
*Thor Digital Assistant
This is called demolishing the straw man. The point is that Marquez lives in LA County. So this amounts to a denial of something not alleged. See how that works in court, or with voters if this thing goes to referendum.
Nice Try,
Thank you for coming clean on the true intent of this action by Tony K. It was obvious from the start that Marquez would be found to be legally registered to vote in San Diego (the bar is not set very high for this requirement). The goal all along has been to throw as many accusations at the Commission as possible in order to set the stage for the inevitable referendum that the Party will file if the final map isn’t to their liking.
Or, gee, to set the stage for the Commission to do its job and not try to push thru a map that has five or six guaranteed labor/dem seats built into it? Just a thought.
Greg,
So you think it is reasonable to sue in court even before the Commission has proposed any map? I thought it was the Republicans that hated plaintiffs’ attorneys and activist judges.
And by the way, 41% of the registered voters in the City of San Diego are Democrats and 29% are Republicans. You would have to gerrymander the districts in order to not have at least five Democratic seats.
A little reactionary, Alger. You said, “…set the stage for the inevitable referendum.” I responded that maybe the GOP’s plan (or hope) is to “set the stage” for an outcome to their liking prior to a referendum.
Oh, by the way, some competitive seats can “lean Democrat” while matching city registration. There is a difference between a seat that leans and one that is guaranteed. The city reg stats shouldn’t dictate five guaranteed anything.
Greg,
Perhaps you are right and the Republican Party is simply trying to use the filing of of a lawsuit to intimidate the Commission into making a map of their liking. I was under the impression, however, that this was a tactic that Republicans abhor. I know they constantly accuse labor of using the threat of lawsuits (greenmail) and make it sound like this an evil, reprehensible tactic to use.
On your other point, I have yet to see any map proposed, certainly not one by the Commission since they haven’t yet proposed a map, that would guarantee six Democratic seats. I am not even sure one like that could be drawn. However, almost 60% of San Diego City voters who register either as a Democrat or a Republican, are Democrats and any fairly drawn map will reflect that.
Author
Registrar says Carlos Marquez is good to go at San Diego address. Two Cathedrals may have it first…
http://bit.ly/iPxwfr