News flash: Goldman wins first step on his Jones appeal. I was just informed....

Goldman for Mayor - 30 September 2008 - For Immediate Release

(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, issued the following statement in response to an email received from Majorie Clark, the head of the 7th District Democratic Committee:

"I have just received the communication copied below from Chairwoman Clark, which is in response to my request earlier today, such request made as part of my appeal in the Jones endorsement controversy, and also copied below.

As I have said repeatedly, I like and respect Dwight, that is not the issue. But given the challenges facing the next Mayor of Richmond to bring this city together, the public interest is not served, nor Dwight should he win, by any taint that might attached to the process used to choose the winner in this campaign.

Having been Chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party, I know it took a lot of guts and integrity for Chairwoman Clark to take such action. Eventually, everyone, will see that she did the right thing, for the right reasons, and in the end, everyone including Delegate Jones, will realize her actions are in the best interests of Richmond, the Democratic Party and whomever gets the honor of serving as the River City's next chief executive.


-----------------Forwarded Message:
Subj:
Please notify Jones campaign immediately of appeal of endorsement
Date:
9/30/2008 12:30:40 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
From:
Mmclarkdem
To:
levar@vademocrats.org, dmark@vademocrats.org, fleone@spriggs.com
CC:
Klearb, mmclarkdem@yahoo.com
BCC:
GoldmanUSA

I believe that Paul's request is appropriate.

I hope you will notify the Jones campaign, the RCDC and all other campaigns immediately that an appeal is in the works and that claiming a final endorsement decision now may be premature.

Continuing to claim this endorsement, if the process turns out to have been in violation of the party plan, compounds the "smell" of unfairness and political rigging that will cling to the Jones campaign. If the endorsement process were conducted with correct notification of "all interested parties," the outcome would likely be the same; but there would definitely be positive vibes about the fairness. That would be good for Jones and for the RCDC.

The request should come from you at the top, rather than from the district committee chairs who have received the appeal.

Thanks.

Marjorie
804-276-2354



From: GoldmanUSATo: Mmclarkdem, Klearb, fleone@spriggs.com, levar@vademocrats.org, dmark@vademocrats.orgCC: eric@ericpayne.net, jennifer.l.mcclellan@verizon.comSent: 9/30/2008 10:19:35 A.M. Eastern Daylight TimeSubj: Addition to my appeal. Sorry, had the wrong subject on last email.

Dear Majorie, and Barbara:

RE: Addition to my appeal as to (e) action requested:

Given the circumstances, I request, as part of my appeal, that the Jones for Mayor campaign be contacted immediately and asked to stop from referring to Mr. Jones, directly or indirectly, as the endorsed Democratic candidate for Mayor until a decision on my appeal has been made.

This is only fair, not only to the other Democrats running, but to the people of Richmond.

Voting as already started in the Mayor's race.

Accordingly, we need to make sure no voter is under a false impression when he or she makes their decision.

Moreover, until a decision is reached, there is nothing to stop Mr. Jones' campaign from sending out literature, making phone calls and otherwise saying that he is the Democratic-endorsed candidate running with Senator Obama on his official ticket.

This claim can therefore be sent in the next few days to tens of thousands of voters in Richmond.

Should my appeal be upheld - as I believe will be the case - then this incorrect claim would have been communicated to all these tens of thousands of voters.

We all know the analogy to one of those courtroom scenes in Law and Order scenes when the lawyer violates the rules and the Judge tells the jury to "disregard what they heard."

The offending lawyer will smile, knowing that this is not possible.

As I have said repeatedly, I like and respect Dwight, that is not the issue. But given the challenges facing the next Mayor of Richmond to bring this city together, the public interest is not served, nor Dwight should he win, by any taint that might attached to the process used to choose the winner in this campaign.

Sincerely,

Paul Goldman