Kelly Robinson today released the following statement regarding approval of Douglas County's commission district map.
With approval, this map will be used in the upcoming Primary Election on July 31. Note that the timing associated with the DOJ’s decision was independent and mutually exclusive of any other person or entity, including expressed or unexpressed intentions.
However, the short 2 paragraph letter conveying the action by DOJ was also definitive in its position to allow any lawsuit to come forth. The DOJ’s Chief of Voting Section – T. Christian Herren, Jr. stated in the letter:
“In addition, as authorized by Section 5, we reserve the right to re-examine this submission if additional information that would otherwise require an objection comes to our attention during the remainder of the sixty-day review period.”
This means that the announcement made on June 15 to file a federal lawsuit and the DOJ’s decision to pre-clear the map on June 19 “passed in the night” since the filing was not complete by the press conference. It is clear the DOJ will allow and hear new evidence – if submitted by July 21. No further public comment can be made regarding this pending litigation.
It is important to highlight that the core issue here is “suppression” of votes during the approval process of the map. The creation of the map was the focus of the DOJ probe. I intend to continue this fight for the acknowledgment of those 29,000 “uncounted” votes that did not get to shape legislation at the GA General Assembly. We ask for nothing else other than “equal protection, one vote.”
At some point, if the fundamental right for “due process” associated with voting or elections in general begins to be compromised through false tallies, illegal candidates, or technical violations then at some point, the public in general should totally “distrust” those currently in office. Government in America is a public trust, i.e. one gives certain (not all) decision making to those elected which enables an efficient governance and growth of society – whether at
federal, state or local level. Government like any institution such as church, academia, and marriage is pure – but it is the “people” who cause the compromise that can lead to corruption that can lead to a collapse. The ultimate remedy – replace the leadership who perpetuate and allow this type of behavior with their eyes wide open – violation of basic civil rights.
Commissioner Kelly Robinson
Other Douglasville Patch articles on this matter:
Robinson Files Lawsuit Against Commission's Redistricting Map
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