Lincoln Club Commits $100k to California Electoral Reform Initiative
Posted by: Scott W. Graves | 11/27/2007 3:52 PM
As Jubal likes to say, "This just came in over the transom"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clare Venegas
714-505-0115LINCOLN CLUB OF ORANGE COUNTY COMMITS $100,000 TO
CALIFORNIA ELECTORAL COLLEGE REFORM INITIATIVEORANGE COUNTRY (Nov. 27, 2007) – The Lincoln Club of Orange County Board of Directors voted today to contribute $100,000 to the “California Counts” Electoral College Reform Initiative campaign. Earlier this month, the Board voted to support the initiative.
“With a population of 38 million of which about 15 million or so consistently vote, California is an aberration to the rest of the nation,” said Richard K. Wagner, president of the Lincoln Club. “In a winner-take-all process, there are upwards of 5 to 6 million, not a few thousand, voters not counted. There are counties in this state which have more voters and electoral votes than many states.” Wagner added, “The whole purpose of the Electoral College was to keep large states from dominating presidential elections. The fact that the Constitution allows for states to determine how their electoral votes are allocated is a built-in check and balance.”
According to Cal Counts Campaign manager David Gilliard, the contribution makes the Lincoln Club one the largest donors to the initiative’s campaign, and will make a significant impact as the campaign enters the final days of signature gathering to qualify the measure for the June 2008 ballot.
“As they have done so many times over the years, the Lincoln Club has again demonstrated tremendous leadership on an issue of great importance to our state and nation,” said Cal Counts Campaign Manager Dave Gilliard. “In 2003, the Lincoln Club stepped up early and helped qualify the recall of failed Governor Gray Davis. In 1978 it was the Lincoln Club that put up initial seed money and support for Proposition 13. Today they voted to help make all voters in California relevant again in Presidential elections.”
If the initiative qualifies and is passed by voters, California’s Electoral College votes would change from a winner-take-all system to one that awards 53 of the state’s 55 electoral votes individually to the presidential candidate who wins the most votes in each congressional district.
Founded in 1962, the Lincoln Club of Orange County is an association of business men and women and professionals who support candidates and causes to limit the size of government, and promote low taxes and pro-business policies. More info: www.lincolnclub.org. More information about the initiative can be found at www.calcounts.com.
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The Lincoln Club is great and I share a history with them. In 1978, I was the lawyer that helped set-up the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and I was one of the first Directors of that organization. In 2003, I wrote the first legal memo to Scott Taylor, for Darrell Issa, that lead to the funding of the 2003 recall. And I am proud to currently be the Treasurer of the Cal Counts Initiative. What a history! Thank you Lincoln Club!