I would like to make clear that this meeting was specifically not requested by Lateefah Williams, Jon Mandel, or Haseem Naveed. These individuals, defeated in their bid to serve on the Stein Club executive committee, possess too much dignity and integrity to turn Club policy into a forum for personal motives. In truth, no matter if the meeting takes place, or not, or if said meeting validates or invalidates the December 3rd election, or not, it is my opinion that the integrity of the Stein Club electoral process and the reputation of the Club have been damaged. Perhaps the December 19th meeting can help reduce that damage, and bring about a consensus within the Club that all can live with. For that cause, I encourage all to attend.

Club President- elect Martin Garcia is quoted as saying “We are disappointed that the Stein leadership intends to challenge new members who want to contribute to Stein’s growth. Stein’s membership rolls nearly doubled because of our recruitment efforts, and that’s a good thing. These new members are young people, people of color, and people from low-income backgrounds who were otherwise not engaged in Stein’s activities…We should be having a special meeting celebrating these new members, and finding ways to engage them.”
These statements demand a response. First the Stein Club leadership is not initiating any challenges. The challenges are a response to member requests to review an election process which was highly irregular. Secondly, every standing member of the Club actively seeks new members who want to contribute to the Club’s mission. Thirdly, the statement that Stein membership nearly doubled because of Garcia’s recruitment efforts is a gross misrepresentation. The Stein Club membership exceeds 200. Forty six new members can hardly substantiate the claim of an increase of “nearly half”. However, those forty six new members do provide explanation for Garcia’s tally of 47 votes – and account for the 2 vote lead he obtained to win the election. It is obvious that Garcia and this new “slate” received a miniscule amount of support from any member who had actually participated in the Clubs efforts prior to November 28th, 2012. Fourth and last, any inference that the new members are an introduction of diversity to the organization is highly offensive. The Stein Club has always welcomed and celebrated diversity. However, I find it extremely difficult to celebrate and welcome individuals whose first and only participation in the Club is connected to an effort that would drown out the voices and overwhelm the votes of the members who have consistently contributed to the Club’s efforts.

Members of the Club – standing members of the Club who have participated in the past – have rallied behind Garcia, and defend the position that the election took place according to the Club’s bylaws. They argue that the proposed meeting violates the Club bylaws. They defend the fact that historically we have never questioned a member’s financial status, or held them accountable for providing accurate address information. These are honorable individuals, dedicated to operating within the rules and bylaws. They are dedicated to fair play. I would expect nothing less. But I want you to remember that these are the very same Stein Club members whose voices and votes were removed from consideration during the December 3rd election. Their votes were not solicited by Garcia; and he did nothing to earn them. He did not participate in club events or efforts. The club and our members just weren’t important. He simply lined up enough individuals to submit dues – with many at a reduced rate – and participate at the annual election. Winning the election appears to be his only priority.
I do not believe that the intent to hold open elections which allowed for the participation of new members was meant to include instances where the collected voice of standing members would become irrelevant. Am I a sore loser? I was not running. I owe no one any particular allegiance. Lateefah Williams is disheartened and disgusted by what has occurred, and will no longer serve under any circumstance. On a personal level, I have lost nothing. But I am sore, and we have all lost. I support the Club, and respect the rules by which it operates. The Club deserves better than these newly elected “leaders”. And we deserve an electoral process that respects and reflects the will of the members.

I would like to make clear that this meeting was specifically not requested by Lateefah Williams, Jon Mandel, or Haseem Naveed. These individuals, defeated in their bid to serve on the Stein Club executive committee, possess too much dignity and integrity to turn Club policy into a forum for personal motives. In truth, no matter if the meeting takes place, or not, or if said meeting validates or invalidates the December 3rd election, or not, it is my opinion that the integrity of the Stein Club electoral process and the reputation of the Club have been damaged. Perhaps the December 19th meeting can help reduce that damage, and bring about a consensus within the Club that all can live with. For that cause, I encourage all to attend.

Club President- elect Martin Garcia is quoted as saying “We are disappointed that the Stein leadership intends to challenge new members who want to contribute to Stein’s growth. Stein’s membership rolls nearly doubled because of our recruitment efforts, and that’s a good thing. These new members are young people, people of color, and people from low-income backgrounds who were otherwise not engaged in Stein’s activities…We should be having a special meeting celebrating these new members, and finding ways to engage them.”.
These statements demand a response. First the Stein Club leadership is not initiating any challenges. The challenges are a response to member requests to review an election process which was highly irregular. Secondly, every standing member of the Club actively seeks new members who want to contribute to the Club’s mission. Thirdly, the statement that Stein membership nearly doubled because of Garcia’s recruitment efforts is a gross misrepresentation. The Stein Club membership exceeds 200. Forty six new members can hardly substantiate the claim of an increase of “nearly half”. However, those forty six new members do provide explanation for Garcia’s tally of 47 votes – and account for the 2 vote lead he obtained to win the election. It is obvious that Garcia and this new “slate” received a miniscule amount of support from any member who had actually participated in the Clubs efforts prior to November 28th, 2012. Fourth and last, any inference that the new members are an introduction of diversity to the organization is highly offensive. The Stein Club has always welcomed and celebrated diversity. However, I find it extremely difficult to celebrate and welcome individuals whose first and only participation in the Club is connected to an effort that would drown out the voices and overwhelm the votes of the members who have consistently contributed to the Club’s efforts.

Members of the Club – standing members of the Club who have participated in the past – have rallied behind Garcia, and defend the position that the election took place according to the Club’s bylaws. They argue that the proposed meeting violates the Club bylaws. They defend the fact that historically we have never questioned a member’s financial status, or held them accountable for providing accurate address information. These are honorable individuals, dedicated to operating within the rules and bylaws. They are dedicated to fair play. I would expect nothing less. But I want you to remember that these are the very same Stein Club members whose voices and votes were removed from consideration during the December 3rd election. Their votes were not solicited by Garcia; and he did nothing to earn them. He did not participate in club events or efforts. The club and our members just weren’t important. He simply lined up enough individuals to submit dues – with many at a reduced rate – and participate at the annual election. Winning the election appears to be his only priority.
I do not believe that the intent to hold open elections which allowed for the participation of new members was meant to include instances where the collected voice of standing members would become irrelevant. Am I a sore loser? I was not running. I owe no one any particular allegiance. Lateefah Williams is disheartened and disgusted by what has occurred, and will no longer serve under any circumstance. On a personal level, I have lost nothing. But I am sore, and we have all lost. I support the Club, and respect the rules by which it operates. The Club deserves better than these newly elected “leaders”. And we deserve an electoral process that respects and reflects the will of the members.

I would like to make clear that this meeting was specifically not requested by Lateefah Williams, Jon Mandel, or Haseem Naveed. These individuals, defeated in their bid to serve on the Stein Club executive committee, possess too much dignity and integrity to turn Club policy into a forum for personal motives. In truth, no matter if the meeting takes place, or not, or if said meeting validates or invalidates the December 3rd election, or not, it is my opinion that the integrity of the Stein Club electoral process and the reputation of the Club have been damaged. Perhaps the December 19th meeting can help reduce that damage, and bring about a consensus within the Club that all can live with. For that cause, I encourage all to attend.

Club President- elect Martin Garcia is quoted as saying “We are disappointed that the Stein leadership intends to challenge new members who want to contribute to Stein’s growth. Stein’s membership rolls nearly doubled because of our recruitment efforts, and that’s a good thing. These new members are young people, people of color, and people from low-income backgrounds who were otherwise not engaged in Stein’s activities…We should be having a special meeting celebrating these new members, and finding ways to engage them.”.
These statements demand a response. First the Stein Club leadership is not initiating any challenges. The challenges are a response to member requests to review an election process which was highly irregular. Secondly, every standing member of the Club actively seeks new members who want to contribute to the Club’s mission. Thirdly, the statement that Stein membership nearly doubled because of Garcia’s recruitment efforts is a gross misrepresentation. The Stein Club membership exceeds 200. Forty six new members can hardly substantiate the claim of an increase of “nearly half”. However, those forty six new members do provide explanation for Garcia’s tally of 47 votes – and account for the 2 vote lead he obtained to win the election. It is obvious that Garcia and this new “slate” received a miniscule amount of support from any member who had actually participated in the Clubs efforts prior to November 28th, 2012. Fourth and last, any inference that the new members are an introduction of diversity to the organization is highly offensive. The Stein Club has always welcomed and celebrated diversity. However, I find it extremely difficult to celebrate and welcome individuals whose first and only participation in the Club is connected to an effort that would drown out the voices and overwhelm the votes of the members who have consistently contributed to the Club’s efforts.

Members of the Club – standing members of the Club who have participated in the past – have rallied behind Garcia, and defend the position that the election took place according to the Club’s bylaws. They argue that the proposed meeting violates the Club bylaws. They defend the fact that historically we have never questioned a member’s financial status, or held them accountable for providing accurate address information. These are honorable individuals, dedicated to operating within the rules and bylaws. They are dedicated to fair play. I would expect nothing less. But I want you to remember that these are the very same Stein Club members whose voices and votes were removed from consideration during the December 3rd election. Their votes were not solicited by Garcia; and he did nothing to earn them. He did not participate in club events or efforts. The club and our members just weren’t important. He simply lined up enough individuals to submit dues – with many at a reduced rate – and participate at the annual election. Winning the election appears to be his only priority.
I do not believe that the intent to hold open elections which allowed for the participation of new members was meant to include instances where the collected voice of standing members would become irrelevant. Am I a sore loser? I was not running. I owe no one any particular allegiance. Lateefah Williams is disheartened and disgusted by what has occurred, and will no longer serve under any circumstance. On a personal level, I have lost nothing. But I am sore, and we have all lost. I support the Club, and respect the rules by which it operates. The Club deserves better than these newly elected “leaders”. And we deserve an electoral process that respects and reflects the will of the members.

It's great to see new, young, involved members. My experience, however, is that such coups are done by a relatively small number of people who are able to enlist a group of friends to show up for a meeting. It will be interesting to see how many new members remain involved and dedicated to the work of the club over the next 12 months. I hope I am proven wrong, but I project that less than 1/2 of them will involved in a year.

To paraphrase Elton, at this point anyway, it is Stein Dem’s current credibility and future effectiveness that lies bleeding on the floor.

The prompt and common-sense way to ‘settle’ this issue is to simply hold another election– to show LGBT Dems and non-Dems alike that LGBT Democrats have no fear of open and free elections.

No Bush v. Gore, here, people– puh-leeze.

This isn’t just about mere political patronage anymore. It isn’t about who gets elevated to hollow titles and who gets silenced with a seat in feckless mayoral offices and on made-for-PR commissions.

It isn’t about so-called LGBT-friendly Council Members who prefer to showboat rather than provide serious oversight and ask relevant questions of MPD. (How many hate crimes cases were closed with an arrest? How many detectives’ hours were spent on them? Who at Council is reviewing those closed case jackets to insure due diligence? Where’s the Chief’s long-promised force-wide training?)

DC LGBT politics has a higher, much more important ‘reality show’ concern, now.

Horrific anti-LGBT hate crimes in DC have gone *UP*… EVERY YEAR for 5 YEARS running.

This is about life and death. This is about kicked-in teeth. It’s about shattered jaws– and shattered lives. It’s about facial reconstructions– or months of physical therapy and rehab.

It’s about a kid who won’t complain of the black eye he got because he’s gay– but knows deep down that Mayor Gray and his Chief Lanier don’t give a damn… ‘cuz that’s the way it’s always been in his short life.

It’s about LGBT residents who have to constantly look over their shoulders because they can no longer trust their MPD Chief and her regular beat cops to even handle a complaint without appearing discriminatory against DC LGBTs.

What has “LGBT-friendly” Mayor Gray and Jeff Richardson REALLY done to end violent hate crimes against our LGBTQ citizens and visitors?

Has it been any better than the PR-minded team of Fenty and Dyer– who apparently consulted with one another little or not at all for 4 years?

Has Sterling Washington promised to push for new leadership at MPD?

Let’s stop kidding ourselves with this dirty, backroom political charade. While the Stein Club is destroying its credibility throughout the region with this election controversy/ farce — real LGBT residents of DC and their visitors are still in fear for their public safety.

What good is any *independent* lobbying organization that cannot offer credible, relevant help for the public safety of the citizens they purport to serve?

Both factions of Stein need to get the Club’s credibility back. Rerun the election– or the new “winners” will rightly forever be under a cloud of suspicion.

And this is the vaunted political machine representing our community’s interests on local issues? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

To the commenters who ‘hope this won’t destroy the organization’ or whatever…..uh…..I think that ship has already sailed, folks.

Let me reiterate my statement again. Members who you witnessed presented payment prior to the meeting being called to order.