United States News
See other United States News Articles
Title: E-mails show Senate and GOP plotted in secret to redraw districts
Source:
tampabay.com
URL Source: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/article1273743.ece
Published: Feb 4, 2013
Author: Mary Ellen Klas
Post Date: 2013-02-04 20:18:11 by Ferret Mike
Keywords: None
Views: 9858
Comments: 43
TALLAHASSEE — Florida legislative leaders appear to have authorized staff members to use private email accounts and had "brainstorming meetings" with Republican Party consultants to attempt to draw favorable political districts, despite a constitutional ban on such coordination. The allegations arise from a lawsuit challenging the Senate and congressional redistricting that include emails showing how top aides to House Speaker Will Weatherford, Senate President Don Gaetz and several Gaetz consultants were in frequent contact with operatives who drafted and analyzed maps. Redistricting takes place every decade to redraw legislative and congressional district boundaries to ensure equal representation. The emails show that a month after voters in 2010 approved an amendment banning coordination between the party and lawmakers, GOP consultant and Gaetz adviser Rich Heffley called a redistricting "brainstorming" meeting at the chairman's conference room at party headquarters in Tallahassee. Heffley listed the expected participants, including Weatherford's redistricting chief of staff, Alex Kelly; Gaetz's redistricting general counsel, Andy Bardos; Gaetz's district aide Chris Clark and a team of consultants running House and Senate 2012 Republican election campaigns: Frank Terraferma, Joel Springer, Andy Palmer, Marc Reichelderfer, and Pat Bainter. Also attending were lawyers advising the House and Senate on their redistricting efforts, George Meros and Ben Ginsberg. Republican Sens. Andy Gardiner of Orlando and Jack Latvala of Clearwater sent emails using private email accounts to the RPOF consultants. "What does this do to my district?" Gardiner asked in an email to Bainter after the Fair Districts coalition submitted a substitute map during the Senate's special session on redistricting in April. Bainter replied, "... In fact very good. But I have to tell you, this map is little more than a hatchet job cutting all kinds of stuff up." Kirk Pepper, a top aide and political advisor to former House Speaker Dean Cannon, sent an email to Reichelderfer in November 2011 with a link to a congressional map, using his personal Dropbox account. On Jan. 21, 2012, Terraferma messaged Heffley and Reichelderfer, saying "Here is a map…" and an attachment listed as "Frankenstein.jpg." In April 2012, legislative employee John Guthrie, director of the Senate redistricting staff, sent an email with a map attached, using his personal account, to Tony Cortese of the Senate Republican office, who then sent it to Bainter. "Didn't know if you had seen this,'' Cortese wrote Bainter. The Legislature's Senate and congressional maps are being challenged in court by a group of Democrat-leaning plaintiffs and a coalition of voter groups. their lawyers say the emails are a window into what they allege is an illegal attempt at political coordination. The lawsuit was filed last year and could take years to resolve. "This certainly begins to pull back the curtain on the process that had been promised to be non-partisan and transparent,'' said Gerald Greenberg, a Miami attorney representing the plaintiffs. Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and Gaetz, R-Destin, refused to comment on the meeting hosted in party headquarters with their staff, or the emails. Weatherford defended the House's approach. "The House work product resulted in maps that were unanimously upheld by the Florida Supreme Court and by the Department of Justice,'' he said in a statement. "We are proud of those results and believe it was because of our transparency, openness and unwavering compliance with the law." Republican Party lawyers argued in December that the court should quash the subpoenas, suggesting they were "a fishing expedition seeking information that is not relevant." They argued that there was no proof the House or Senate "utilized, considered or much less relied upon any information submitted" by the party officials and consultants. The lawyers for the consultants also noted that there was no attempt to depose any Democrats and accused them of targeting Republicans exclusively. The voters' coalition is alleging the two maps violate the constitutional amendments approved by voters that banned lawmakers from drawing districts that favor any political party or individual. Weatherford and Gaetz steadfastly asserted during the process that they operated with unprecedented openness and devoid of political influence. "For anyone to say that any type of political or incumbent protection was considered in this map is just wrong,'' Weatherford told the House when it adopted its map in January 2012. Last week, the Legislature's attorneys repeatedly attempted to shield the Legislature and the party consultants from producing documents or being questioned in depositions, arguing it was part of the Legislature's "work product." Circuit Court Judge Terry Lewis rejected those arguments and, when the lawyers mentioned the emails, a reporter for the Associated Press requested access to them. The 37-pages admitted into the record are one of only hundreds of documents obtained by the plaintiffs. There is no indication whether the other documents will make their way into the court file. Mary Ellen Klas can be reached at eklas@MiamiHerald.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryEllenKlas
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Comments (1-2) not displayed.
.
.
.
#3. To: Ferret Mike (#2)
Nixon was right to do watergate. The democrats need to be spied on. All you democrats should have chips up your asses and be tracked.
Are you fishing for a reaction, or just drunk? No crimes like this should be tolerated in any Republic like this one.
If we could have secret meetings and get rid of all the democrats that would be a good thing. Free speech right bud. Right to peacefully assemble. Nothing immoral here. Following a true moral code is superior to following mans law.
I am no Democrat.
I am no Democrat. Yeah right you're not a democrat and Obama is a good Christian.
What you propose and support is unethical and violates the spirit of democracy. I think you just want to bait a reaction from me.
I am a Pacific Green. And you don't decide President Obama's religion; he does. He was a Christain long before being elected POTUS. As a pagan, I am not going to judge how good a Christain he is, I just know he is one.
Fuck democracy. I'm for right and wrong. We are a republic.
I know we are a Republic, I just said as much. read for content. And the ends do not justify the means if the means are illegal, amoral, and lack good ethical standing.
Mike you are a fool. You see here is the thing. You think Christ didn't exist and it is a bunch of nonsense. So you think anyone who says they are a christian is one just by the virtue of them saying so. That just isn't true. You will know them by their fruits. Didn't Hitler claim to be a christian too. You're probably dumb or enough of a liar to say he is one too. Foolish Mike.
Exactly the cry of the Taliban.
The Taliban has screwed up morals. They get some stuff wrong but being Muslims they are wrong mostly.
He was definately no Christian. I have read history, and he worked to undermine Christianity, and did not support it.
They and you disagree in the details, but you have the same moral sense and arrogant attitutes.
Obama is doing the same thing. But since you ARE a democrat even if you vote GREENSHIT sometimes, you turn a blind eye to it. Take off your blinders Mike.
Can you give some examples go back up your silly claims?
Fuck off, only an immature jerk would contradict a person about his stated party affiliation. I quite that party in the mid 1990s.
You voted for Obama 4 years ago. You are a democrap.
You don't even have the maturity and decency to believe anything else I say, so do your own research in this department. I have dealt with middle schoolers with more respect of others and consideration than you show me.
And you voted for a pro-abortion while Govenor Romney, a man who supported gay rights in the BSA. Going for your Master Baiter rating?
Get a room, you two!
It is not that I lack decency and maturity. It's just that you come across as a liar or someone semi retarded when you make asinine statements like Obama is a Christian.
I think Romney said he thinks they should allow you queers but he said it is their choice. Democrat Mike.
Indeed. Whne one argues with someone talking like an idiot like this one, the casual observer can have a hard time telling one person from another.
Oh, well, you are being consistently stupid. Sorry dear boy, I am also not gay.
Mike you voted for Obama the mass murderer. Knowing he supported murdering babies after they were born here in America. I would say that is pretty good proof that you are a. stupid or b. a liar or c. evil It is your fault that Obama the murderer is president. Partially your fault. Will you prove you are not evil and Apologize for voting for Obama? Here let me throw you a bone and I will go first. I apologize for voting for Bush in 2000. That was stupid I should have voted my conscience Patrick J. Buchanan.
I know you are not happy Mike.
You remind me of Gomer Pyle.
So now you are a psychologist? ROTFLOL!
So now you are a psychologist? ROTFLOL! I'm just agreeing with what you said in post 27.
But talking to you makes me feel like Sergeant Carter, go figure.
Was that the Sergeants name. I forgot.
Are you going to apologize for voting for Obama. If not you are proud of that vote and an Obama supporter. Repent and I will leave you alone about if for a few days.
More like you are trying to disrespect me by trying to slap a boner in my face. Your hubris has no foundation, and this circular conversation has no point to it.
More like you are trying to disrespect me by trying to slap a boner in my face. Your hubris has no foundation, and this circular conversation has no point to it. So you are a liar. Good night democrat Obama supporter.
Your baiting is unbecoming in a person who is physically an adult.
Mike I'm trying to be genuine with you. I said I was sorry for voting for Bush. He was a horrible President. Obama is even worse, much worse. If you are sorry for voting for him say so. If you are not sorry and proud of that vote then say so. Your silence only shows you are a pussy who wants to sit on both sides of the fence.
You have a strange way to try to be friendly, Stone. calling me a liar and baiting me is no way to make communication fly.
I am being genuine. I didn't say nice. You're obviously still an Obama supporter. No sense of remorse.
Without all the hyperbole and counter questions, that's a fair question, Mike, what say you? just curious....
(“You can't always control who walks into your life but, you can control which window you throw them out of.”)
I enjoyed working on that campaign for him. I apologize for nothing. I met lots of nice folks, and rediscovered the fun of grass roots politics. That was then, this is now. I'm not second guessing 2008. Stone needs better bait.
Neither party should do this sort of thing. You are saying the ends justify the means, and I do not concur.
#4. To: A K A Stone (#3)
#5. To: Ferret Mike (#4)
#6. To: A K A Stone (#3)
" All you democrats..."
#7. To: Ferret Mike (#6)
" All you democrats..."
#8. To: A K A Stone (#5)
#9. To: A K A Stone (#7)
(Edited)
#10. To: Ferret Mike (#8)
What you propose and support is unethical and violates the spirit of democracy.
#11. To: A K A Stone (#10)
#12. To: Ferret Mike (#9)
I am a Pacific Green. And you don't decide President Obama's religion; he does.
#13. To: A K A Stone (#5)
"Following a true moral code..."
#14. To: Ferret Mike (#13)
Exactly the cry of the Taliban.
#15. To: A K A Stone (#12)
"Didn't Hitler claim to be a christian too."
#16. To: A K A Stone (#14)
"The Taliban has screwed up morals."
#17. To: Ferret Mike (#15)
He was definately no Christian. I have read history, and he worked to undermine Christianity, and did not support it.
#18. To: Ferret Mike (#16)
They and you disagree in the details, but you have the same moral sense and arrogant attitutes.
#19. To: A K A Stone (#17)
"But since you ARE a democrat..."
#20. To: Ferret Mike (#19)
I quite that party in the mid 1990s.
#21. To: A K A Stone (#18)
"Can you give some examples go back up your silly claims?"
#22. To: A K A Stone (#20)
"You voted for Obama 4 years ago."
#23. To: Ferret Mike, A K A Stone (#21)
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#24. To: Ferret Mike (#21)
You don't even have the maturity and decency to believe anything else I say,
#25. To: Ferret Mike (#22)
And you voted for a pro-abortion while Govenor Romney, a man who supported gay rights in the BSA.
#26. To: hondo68 (#23)
"Get a room, you two!"
#27. To: A K A Stone (#25)
#28. To: Ferret Mike (#26)
Indeed. Whne one argues with someone talking like an idiot like this one, the casual observer can have a hard time telling one person from another.
#29. To: Ferret Mike (#27)
Oh, well, you are being consistently stupid. Sorry dear boy, I am also not gay.
#30. To: Ferret Mike (#27)
#31. To: A K A Stone (#29)
"I know you are not happy Mike."
#32. To: Ferret Mike (#31)
"I know you are not happy Mike."
#33. To: A K A Stone (#30)
"You remind me of Gomer Pyle."
#34. To: Ferret Mike (#33)
But talking to you makes me feel like Sergeant Carter, go figure.
#35. To: Ferret Mike (#33)
#36. To: A K A Stone (#28)
"Here let me throw you a bone and I will go first."
#37. To: Ferret Mike (#36)
"Here let me throw you a bone and I will go first."
#38. To: A K A Stone (#35)
"Repent and I will leave you alone about if for a few days."
#39. To: Ferret Mike (#38)
#40. To: A K A Stone (#39)
"Mike I'm trying to be genuine with you."
#41. To: Ferret Mike (#40)
#42. To: Ferret Mike, A K A Stone (#40)
A K A Stone "If you are sorry for voting for him (obama) say so. If you are not sorry and proud of that vote then say so."
#43. To: Murron (#42)
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]