From: Peter Diamondstone
To: Deborah Markowitz, Vermont Secretary of State
Cc’d: Kathy DeWolf, Director Elections and Campaign Finance
From: Peter Diamondstone
To: “Deborah Markowitz”
Cc: “Kathy DeWolfe”
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 10:06:15 AM
Subject: party designations
from Peter <>stone
This is an appeal from the Secretary of State’s decision to treat our Socialist Party nominations as “independent” nominations, and to void that decision.
Perhaps the fact that all of us are members of The Socialist Party USA, one of the oldest political parties in the US, the party of Margaret Sanger, Eugene V. Debs, and Helen Keller, will support our request sufficiently to convince you that the Socialist Party nominations are not independent nominations, but as the 1st two lines of the petitions themselves state, these are party nominations.
In the event that you nor the judicial process agree with our position, I designate the the Socialist Party to be my nominating party for the US Senate in the general election.
RESPONSE:
From: “Kathy DeWolfe” <kdewolfe@sec.state.vt.us>
To: “Peter Diamondstone
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 11:18:14 AM
Subject: RE: party designations
HI Peter,
As the socialist party is not organized as a political party in Vermont, the Office of the Secretary of State cannot treat the name “socialist” as a party name but rather as an independent name chosen by a candidate.
I appreciate your response this week as this will be very helpful in allowing us to prepare the general election ballot.
I am confirming that it is your choice to be shown on the General Election ballot for the office of US Senator as “Socialist”.
I would appreciate it very much if you would encourage the other candidates that submitted both a Liberty Union nomination and a socialist petition to let us know the political name to use for the General Election.
I hope you and Doris are enjoying the summer with family.
Best Regards, Kathy
Kathleen S. DeWolfe
Director of Elections & Campaign Finance
Office of the Secretary of State
26 Terrace St.
Montpelier, VT 05609-1101
(802) 828-2304
Visit us at http://www.sec.state.vt.us, click on Elections
RESPONSE:
From: Peter Diamondstone
To: “Kathy DeWolfe”
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 11:49:15 AM
Subject: Re: party designations
from Peter That is not correct. When the Secretary of State replies, if that reply agrees with yours, we will procede to court. Note that my email was sent to the Secretary of State, and you were simply copied as a courtesy.“In the event that you nor the judicial process agree with our position, I designate the the Socialist Party to be my nominating party for the US Senate in the general election.”The word “you” means Sec of State Markowitz to whom my email is addressed. My designation does not become effective until both the Sec of State and the courts decline the relief I am seeking