March 28, 2011

Mrs Deborah Watkins Dallas City Secretary

Mrs. Sonya Jones, Dallas City Elections Administrator

Mr. Brian Frankin Polling Location and Election Judge Manager

Mr. Toni Pippens-Poole Dallas County Elections Administrator

Open Letter to Dallas City and County Elections Officials:

This letter is being written after conversations on Friday March 25 with Brian Franklin, Polling Location and Election Judge Manager, and Sonya Jones Dallas City Election Administrator.

I am a candidate for Dallas City Council in District 2 and this is a formal complaint in regards to the polling location and the election judge in Precinct 3007.  I am formally requesting that you move the 3007 General Election Polling location from Medrano Elementary School and immediately appoint an independent election judge for that precinct.

Precinct 3007 is (by votes cast) the third largest voting precinct in District 2. My opponent is Pauline Medrano, The polling location for 3007 is Medrano Elementary School, the Election Judge for Medrano Elementary School is Ricardo Medrano, and the Precinct Chairman for 3007 is also Ricardo Medrano. I find it highly suspect that when Mr. Medrano did finally recues himself from his election judge position, he did so in favor of a Mr. Armando Cruise, who was then recommended by Councilwoman Pauline Medrano’s office and appointed to the position.  All this smacks of nepotism and lends itself to the possibility of accusations of impropriety. Today I am asking that you take immediate action to eliminate the shadow of impropriety that this situation creates.

It gets worse. Precinct 3007 has been singled out in published news articles as one where accusations of irregularities have occurred. No less than two independent grand jury investigations are underway about this very same subject involving members of the Medrano family. A grand jury is convened as we speak in Rockwall and Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbot has called another grand jury in McKinney to investigate whether members of this same family were involved directly in voter fraud. You have the power to eliminate any and all appearances of impropriety and I am asking for immediate action on your part.

I was informed by both Brian Franklin and Sonya Jones this past Friday that it is within your purview to immediately move the polling location and also take steps to appoint an independent election judge.  This appearance of impropriety in precinct 3007 is unacceptable.  Maintaining the status quo goes against the fundamental principals of democracy and brings into question how free and fair this election can be. Therefore, I am asking that you to immediately intervene to: 1) Move the polling location to Sam Houston Elementary School or any other location in the precinct other than Medrano Elementary School and 2) Immediately take steps to appoint an independent Election Judge to oversee voting at your chosen location on election day.

Dallas voters deserve a free and fair election and only you have the authority to ensure it.

Please inform me of any decision you ultimately make.

Thank you in advance..

Respectfully,