Carolyn Moon, Editor
 The VOTER
“I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in A, B, C, and D.  Just who do they think they are?  And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me?” -- Barry Goldwater, 1964
                                 November 2005
League of Women Voters
317 Peoples Street, Suite 404
P. O. Box 8276, Corpus Christi, TX 78468-8276
361-993-7851
Email:  lwvcc@lwv-cc.org, Web:  http://www.lwv-cc.org

LWVCC Officers
President
Lois Huff, 985-9702
Secretary
Treasurer
Velma Luna-Budd,881-8022 Ext 4237 Work, or  949-0511 Home
Vice President, Program
Patricia Mattocks,991-9480 Home or 855-4215 Work
Vice President, Community Relations
Donna Strong, 851-0596
Vice President, Member Services
Linda Allen,949-7869

Directors
Elizabeth Stewart, 994-1212
Susan Berndt, 980-0118
Emilie Olivares, 853-6389

Off-Board Chair
Pat Parr, Voter Service
855-3664
Carolyn Moon, The VOTER Editor, 814-4920

Nominating Committee
2006-2007
Ann Jaynes, 852-7942
Peggy Duran
Evy Coppola

Webmaster
http://www.lwv-cc.org
Linda Allen, 949-7869
Visit our Web Site
http://www.lwv-cc.org

Next Meeting!
Thursday, November 17
Seaman’s Center, 1501 Mesquite
Lunch 11:30m to Noon
Program starts at Noon
Program: 'Study of Drug Laws and Policies' Consensus
RSVP 853-9642 by Monday Evening 11/14
 
November Program Update

Our LWV-TX 'Study of Drug Laws and Policies' consensus meeting will be this month.  Our preparation included two presentations.  Corpus Christi Police Senior Officer Jessie Cervantez provided an Overview of Drug Investigations in July.  His presentation made it clear that the problem isn't limited to a few zip codes; it's an epidemic that transcends education, ethnicity and household income.  We were fortunate to hear about State District Judge Sandra Watts 'divert court' program in September.  After seeing the same faces move through her court time and time again, Judge Watts set out to stop the revolving door - or at least slow it down.  Through the program, dozens of people have been placed in treatment programs and kept out of jail.

Please review the consensus questions in preparation for discussion at our next membership meeting.  This is a very complicated study with enormous potential impact for Texas.  Please make a special effort to attend November's meeting.

See you on the 17th,
Pat E. Mattocks, Vice President, Program.  Home: 991-9480   Work: 855-4215
Email: pmattocks@marchofdimes.com

President’s Message

This is a busy time for LWV-CC.  Two state studies, a finance drive, a constitutional amendment election, preparing for the 2006 LWV state convention, receiving a proclamation from the Mayor, and still working to influence public policy through education and advocacy.

Our Goals state this very well:  LWV "acts after study and member agreement to achieve solutions in the public interest on key community issues at all governmental levels; builds citizen participation in the democratic process; and engages communities in promoting positive solutions to public policy issues through education and advocacy."

At the November 15 meeting we will be discussing two important topics.  First, the state drug study.  Please read about it before the meeting and be prepared to participate in the discussion.  Second will be the local issue of closing the beach seaward of the seawall on Padre Island to vehicular traffic.  The Board of Directors is sending a letter to the General Land Office with the message that our position statements from 1965 and in 1973 have not changed.  These position statements do not include support of closing beaches to vehicular traffic.  They do include:
Due to the depth of both issues, we will start the discussion as soon after 11:30 as possible.

See you all soon!
 Lois Huff, President, LWV-CC

Open Beaches

History:  The Ordinance regarding elimination of vehicular traffic on the beach seaward of the Padre Island seawall passed and approved by the City Council on October 18, 2005, includes a letter of support from LWV-CC dated June, 1996.  Our board is watching this topic, and is soliciting member input.

We already have consensus on the following from previous statements:
These topics will be discussed at the November meeting.
  1. Should LWV-CC submit a letter of replacement to the City and Texas General Land Office that more accurately reflects the current position of LWV-CC regarding the beach property in front of the seawall?
  2. Should LWV-CC be an active supporter of a petition requesting a referendum prohibiting the closing of this beach?
Membership as of November, 2005
Chris Adler
Linda Allen
Jane Bachman
Carolyn H. Baker
Diana Barrera
Helen C. Barron
John Bell
Myriam Bell
Winnie H. Benkendorfer
Delia*
Miguel*
Susan G. Berndt
Linda Bridges
Jewell Rae Brownstein
JoAnn Carpenter
Jean Carson
Robin Borglum Carter
Lois B. Chesney
Pauline Clarke
Lena Coleman
Evy Coppola
Carolyn Cutbirth
Margaret DeVille
Jose Miguel Duran
Margaret 'Peggy' Duran		 Anna Eiseman
Anita Holt Eisenhauer
Pat M. Eisenhauer
Kim Erwin
Christina D. Garcia
Mary V. Gleason
Katharine Guerra
Michele Guglielmino
Elia Gutierrez
Rene Haas
Grete Hallstein
Lilias R. Hammerick
Ed Hecht
Bill Hennings
C. M. 'Hank' Henry
Allen Herkimer
Angelica Hernandez
Dorothy G. Himmel
Bob Huff
Lois C. Huff
Alrae Huseman
Van Huseman
Patricia Jalufka
Joyce Hope Jarmon
Ann Jaynes		 Laura Garza Jimenez
Kathy Juneau
Genie Lemley
Grandis Lenken
Leon Loeb
Betty Jean Longoria
Vilma Luna
Velma Luna-Budd
Crystal Lyons
Glenn Lyons
Margaret 'Peg' MacPhail
Adelaide Marlatt
Esther M. Martinez
Nelda Martinez
Bruce Mattocks
Pat E. Mattocks
Dorothy McCoy
Vera McGonigle
Carolyn Moon
Mary C. Moore
Janie M. Mumphord
Lois Nickerson
Betty J. Noster
Jacqueline T. O'Keeffe
Emilie J. Olivares		 Pat Parr
Patsy Perez
David Perry
Nan Pillinger
Jean E. Rice
Janis W. Richardson
Carol Scott
Gloria R. Scott
Mark Scott
Ann E. Smith
Mary Alice Steidley
Elizabeth P. Stewart
Donna J. Strong
Amanda Stukenberg
Michael Stukenberg
Clarice Wallock
Philip Wallock
Marjorie 'Ricky' Walraven
Jack Widder
Helen K. Wilk
Kay Wilson
Charles Zimmerman

*name withheld by request

Happy Birthday to Us!

A proclamation was read at the Corpus Christi City Council meeting on October 18, 2005, by Mayor Henry Garrett.  The proclamation recognized the 60th birthday of the LWV-Corpus Christi.  The organization was honored the week of October 17-21, 2005.  Dorothy Greene was the first president of the LWV-Corpus Christi.

Georgia League Scores Victory in Voter ID Lawsuit

On October 18, the League of Women Voters of Georgia (LWVGA) and other voting rights advocates scored a victory when a U.S. District Court judge issued a preliminary injunction protecting Georgia voters from the newly-passed restrictive photo ID requirement.  The injunction prevents this law from being enforced until the lawsuit filed by LWVGA and other groups challenging the measure is fully heard in court.


Calendar
November 17
 Consensus Meeting on Drug Policy
December 15
 Evening Holiday Social
January 19
 Patriot Act planned

HELP WANTED!

Grants Writer.  LWV-CC needs someone to assist with researching available grants and the writing of grants.  Our local League currently keeps on $3.20 of the dues we collect from each member, and we need to find additional funding.  Contact the League office at 993-7851.

Finance Committee Chair.  The finance letter has been sent and we have started to receive responses.  A chair for this committee is needed to co-ordinate follow-up phone calls and other correspondence.  Contact the League office at 993-7851.


Legislative News

The November 8 election has come and gone with a woefully inadequate voter turnout.  Many election judges reported they had a considerable number of voters who do not regularly turn out, but those wo do failed to exhibit sufficient excitement.  The State of Texas could be called a "sad state of affairs".

The League had a demonstration of the new voting machine, the e-slate, at the October meeting and generally declared it acceptable.  Demonstrations have been conducted around the county to make voters more comfortable with the change.  Reports from eledction judges at the courthouse on the 8th were that almost 100% of voters were delighted with the new machines.  A few complained about the length of time it took, but that was generally due to poeple attempting to decipher the language of the proposed amendments.  Those who brought "cheat sheets" were through in record time.

There were the usual complaints of "no paper trail", but voters should remember that when the country quit the old mechanical voting booth machines, the outcry was we were going backward to paper ballots.  Most everone dislikes change, but there are some who wouldn't like this new way of voting it it was made of chocolate.

This election judge was happy with the ease of setup and take down.  I was out of my polling place and on to the courthouse at 7:10.  And that was with a last minute voter!
Carolyn Moon, Editor

League of Women Voters-Corpus Christi is grateful to the following members and supporters for your contributions during the fiscal year 2005-6.  Your generous contributions support the day-to-day operations of the League and such community efforts as Voters Guide, Candidates Forum, voter registration and many more.  Thanks to:
Chris Adler
Linda Allen
Jane Bachman
Helen C. Barron
Winnie H. Benkendorfer
Lois B. Chesney
Cheniere Energy
Citgo Refining
Barbara Clark
Margaret DeVille
Margaret DeVille in memoriam for
  Eunice Dunn
Peggy and Jose Miguel Duran
Pat M. Eisenhauer
Flint Hills Resources
Paul & Mary Haas Foundation
Rene Haas and David Perry		 Bill Hennings, Consulting Engineer
Lois and Bob Huff
Al Rae Huseman
Leon Loeb-Landlord Resources
Crystal and Glenn Lyons
Nelda Martinez
Janie Mumphord
Jacqueline O'Keeffe
Pat Parr
Nan Pillinger
Janis W. Richardson
Amanda and Michael Stukenberg
Valero Energy Foundation
Valero Refining
Clarice and Phil Wallock
Marjorie “Ricky” Walraven
Jack Widder