03.10.10
Vote will be recounted in Williamson County Democratic Party Chair race.
The race to be the next Chair of the Williamson County Democratic Party will be recounted. At the end of election night with just under 5,800 ballots cast in the race only 18 votes separated the leader Greg Windham over Paul Stempko. The day after, Windham posted on his Facebook page that he had been contacted by the Williamson County Elections Office that there were still 144 ballots to be counted. Of those 144 ballots they consisted of both Democratic and Republican ballots, and those ballots are oftentimes not all counted. The additional ballots included overseas and provisional ballots. The overseas ballots, primarily the votes of deployed military personnel, were due Monday, March 8. Provisional ballots must be looked at individually by the Ballot Board. While the potential for enough Democratic votes existed to change the outcome, it was not likely.
The Elections Office posted yesterday the final outcome. With just over 5,800 ballots counted Windham’s lead over Stempko shrunk to 15 votes, from the 18 reported on election night. Stempko said in an email to supporters last night that he will officially request a recount on Monday.
I feel I owe this to my supporters, as well as to erase all doubt as to the integrity of the election night vote count.
I do not take this endeavor lightly.
Stempko said he will honor the final result and support Windham if the result does not change. “I have advised Greg of my intentions,” Stempko said, “and he graciously accepted my reasoning. Obviously (a recount) is not the result either candidate or Democrats in Williamson County wanted. But for the long-term benefit of our party and candidates moving forward it’s best that everyone is confident in the results of this extremely close race, (15 votes out of 5,805 cast).”
Hopefully whichever candidate wins will notice that neither received a “mandate.” The Democratic Party is a diverse party. We value that diversity and embrace it as a source of strength. We also value a good and vigorous debate, and working with differing ideas to bring about a consensus. If done correctly this election and recount may actually expand and strengthen our party, better positioning it to defeat the GOP in this county. This county has been missing accountability in its government for as long as anyone can recall. Reelecting Diana Maldonado, and getting Jim Stauber and Jeff Maurice on the Commissioners Court, and Teresa Duffin and Allyson Rowe to the County Court must be our most important tasks in the months ahead.
Let’s make sure this vote is counted correctly so we can move ahead united.
buddysmith said,
March 10, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Who pays for the recount? Hopefully the Dems are not costing the taxpayers of Williamson County because the “outsider” won the race. But since most liberals like to spend other people’s money, this would not surprise me. Just look at all the money Obama has wasted in the last year.
wcnews said,
March 10, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Slow down Buddy. The candidate requesting the recount pays for it. Besides Democrats pay for their government spending and balance the budget like Clinton did. They don’t leave record deficits behind like Reagen, Bush and Bush did.
doctorj said,
March 11, 2010 at 11:16 am
Dear Dems of WILCO:
There ought to be a law that says if you lose, YOU LOSE!
Whether its by 15 votes or 2.
No recounts. No provisional. No Bueno!
SORRY FOR YA!
Hit the bricks my man, it’s over for you.
What in the hell ever happened to the people have spoken?
This is exactly why Dems are frowned upon in this podunk county. They bitch and moan within their own party with no concept of unity or a clear cut leader to give direction.
Mr. Windham has won the election because the people want him there. Our people. DEMOCRATS WANT HIM THERE!
Come on WILCO, it’s time to catch up on a hundred years or so…
Do you ever think the dems in wilco will ever have a chance to make a difference with a rat like Stempko at the helm?
He makes the screwheaded skunks you’ll face in November look smart…
It’s time to pony up out there. Y’all gotta out Texas them the way Georgie Bush did.
And as for Obama. You got a tax cut, asshole! Quit your bitchin’ and get to work!
-Dr. J
Democrates said,
March 11, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Can’t you just feel the love in this room…
Hey Buddy, how about the 100′s of billions Bush wasted on a war that we had no business starting, you know that little issue known as Iraq!
Dr. J, What exactly do you mean by “Mr. Windham has won the election because the people want him there. Our people. DEMOCRATS WANT HIM THERE!”
Way to stay callsy too!
dembones said,
March 11, 2010 at 1:20 pm
About half voted for Stempko, and about half voted for Windham. Both are decent fellows who want to see Democrats win. I say, let’s double-check the work of the Williamson County Elections Department, who were very late with the count on election night, considering how few votes there were to count. Apparently, some of the election judges didn’t complete their closing procedures correctly, forcing central counters to re-run ballots hastily late at night. All Democrats are asking is to confirm these results, make sure all the votes are counted and then abide by the result.
Both candidates have expressed interest in participating in the party win or lose, and both have said that if they win, they’ll involve the other in key decision-making.
The key takeaway from this election is that there are a lot of Democrats in Williamson County not being reached by the party organization. A lot of the precincts Windham won lack a Democratic precinct chair. The organization needs to grow, include all parts of the county, and the result will be a stronger force in local elections.
donkeydick12 said,
March 11, 2010 at 6:18 pm
so what you’re telling me is that the loser is sore, the party is inept at counting votes and running it’s elections. i got one word for that,,,unacceptable.
looks like the county dems screwed the pooch on this one and the people will have to pay for it as we still don’t have a chair, oh wait, we do! They are canvassing the winner tonight and certifying him the winner. his name is windham btw…
this eye on williamson county is shut
Chato said,
March 11, 2010 at 8:12 pm
I agree with dembones. Paul Stempko’s campaign is footing the bill for this recount – as is his right – under our election laws. I would like to see a recount especially since there are only 14 votes separating Paul & Greg. Let’s make sure all the ballots were accurately reported. Once the ballots are recounted, the winner will be declared and we can get to more pressing matters like getting Diana Maldonado reelected and Jeff Maurice and others elected.
Windham12 said,
March 11, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Members,
A recount is in order and I am sure Paul would be extremely happy if
some people with means helped to pay for it. I hope that, whatever the result, we can agree on our charted course of combined effort in the coming year.
Without unity, our ship will flounder. Together, we can achieve an
amazing future.
Excuse my team if they have been a little hot under the collar. We
have been postponing quite a celebaration and were under the
impression we would carry 60%. You can imagine our disappointment at being so far down after early voting . I went to sleep, soundly, on election night- behind by 200 votes.
Paul and his team are to be congratulated for their hard work,
no matter the outcome. We welcome their continued support within
the base of the party and the EC, in particular. Without all your
efforts, this race wouldn’t have mattered. Without your presence, this
challenge is hopeless. Without your passion, our future is bleak.
The fighting means you care. I appreciate that in a person and a
community. But when it’s over — let us not mention it again.
gidget said,
March 12, 2010 at 1:05 am
Buddysmith, you want to talk about wasting people’s money? Every dime spent to employ the republican Senate and Congress has been a waste.
faithndems said,
March 12, 2010 at 1:28 am
Mr. Windham, for you to not distance yourself from the remarks made by your uninformed, overzealous team is unconsionable. Is this the kind of leadership you will provide for our Party? Are these the people that you want to bring into our Party so that we can appeal to more voters and candidates? Yes, we are a diversified Party but we are not a Party that stoops to personal attacks on each other or our organization. Our future is indeed bleak if you don’t understand the immediate need to be a peacemaker. I don’t believe any of the supporters for Paul Stempko have been “a little hot under the collar” and posting attacks on you save one whom Mr. Stempko personally called and asked to remove his post on Facebook. Your feeble explanation for the attacks on a loyal member of our Party and our Executive Committee are not acceptable. Do the right thing.
donkeydick12 said,
March 12, 2010 at 11:39 am
I’ve known Windham since he was 6 years old. We were the sons of single mothers living in East Temple, the projects. Windham picked me up from the airport after Desert Storm and we got drunk, ending up with tatoos before making it home to Belton. He’s been my friend my whole life and I guess I got a right to be a little perturbed that his first win (one of many to come) is being challenged. 50%+1 vote is usually all it takes.
Did the county report problems? Was it the precincts? Greg never forgets the little guy. While most people call donors and big wigs, Greg is working in the projects, giving back to other kids that grew up in similar circumstance as us. The dirt poor kids with psychotic mothers and runaway dads. I know he has worked hard for that party for two years, reaching out to the periphreal communities, helping people find housing, jobs, and self-esteem. I suggest you all spend a little time with him. I wish I had a camera to follow him around from 5 AM to midnight so that you can see a man in action.
You can bet, when this is put to bed, he’ll quit whatever it is he’s doing as soon as it is possible and put his full force of persuasion into helping that party win. Democrats pull off another win in that county, without the help of the Cult of Personality, Obama, and then you’ve proven something
He can pick up 50 votes just walking in a room. He can pick up a majority if you listen to him, follow his lead, and avoid his wrath. He has a hot temper that can be his undoing. He knows it. Never get in a pissing match with a skunk. I’ll be watching with fingers crossed that it comes out for Greg.
If it doesn’t. Oh well. I am sure about one thing. He never breathes a word about a loss.
doctorj said,
March 12, 2010 at 12:54 pm
faithindems:
You got a lot of nerve calling me overzealous and uninformed. I’m more informed about what takes place in your county than you are. I get out and meet the people from both parties instead of hiding at campaign hq in Round Rock. Try standing in front of the Sun City voting center with an Obama t-shirt on election day, champ.
Ive been made aware of several nasty comments directed at Windham by Stempko’s family and staff during this election. Not to mention the shameful act committed by a volunteer of Stempko’s staff using a Republican ad to post on Facebook and meant to demean Mr. Windham.
You and your supporters are hypocrites.
You tell us to stop asking questions when you ask for a recount or things don’t go your way, then you want Windham to answer all sorts of questions about why he’s running in this race.
It’s typical do as I say, not as I do garbage that makes your whole organization look bad.
I live in a blue county.
You want to see a Democrat, look at my voting record, sunshine.
I’ll keep an eye on Wilco and all the rats nibbling for their cheese…
Someday it might be a place I’d want to live.
dembones said,
March 12, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Windham12,
I appreciate the comments and will “Excuse (your) team if they have been a little hot under the collar.”
However, a scan of the comments above shows a worrying trend. The comments of a few seem to escalate tensions and express outrage incompatible with the situation. As an editor on this blog, we welcome the frank exchange of differing opinions; however, I am troubled by personal attacks and references to Democrats as “rats” (a common Republican nickname for our party). These indicate an animosity that is rarely expressed between Democrats.
Furthermore, the misinformation propagated by one side in this argument must be corrected. No, the Williamson County Democratic Party did not count the votes. That function is performed by the non-partisan Williamson County Elections Department. The recount is entirely paid for by the Stempko campaign, according to law.
Williamson county is not a “podunk” county, but one of the nation’s fastest growing. It is a great place to live, which is why I and 400 thousand others make it their home. Yes, Democrats are “frowned upon” by some, and Republicans and frowned upon by some. As with any large county, there are differences of opinion. This site expresses a very distinctly pro-Democratic ideological opinion, and many thousands appreciate and have come to rely on us to provide that slant.
No, the WCDP has not certified a winner. The WCDP has canvassed the official vote count, which shows Windham the winner by 15 votes. However, after the recount is complete, we will re-canvass that result. All “canvass” means is that the party has made official the count as presented to us by the Elections Dept.
Let’s please maintain a fact-based debate of policy and avoid personal or inflammatory attacks.
doctorj said,
March 12, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Dear Dembones:
You know what the deal with rats is???
They get in your house.
They poop all over the place.
And eventually, your forced to get rid of them.
Take that for what it’s worth and call me Republican again…
I told you to check my voting record, sunshine.
Podunk in terms of size, no.
Podunk in terms of thinking, yes.
It seems to me all of this bickering could have been avoided and the party united with a concession speech from the loser the day after all results were in.
You want to talk to me about recounts and Al Franken.
Ask Al Gore about recounts. Where does it end? With the supreme court of WILCO anointing the winner like GWBush…
NOTHING good ever comes from a recount. It’s bad for the candidates, the party, and most of all, the voter.
Recounts undermine the voters confidence in participation of government and the process of voting in the first place.
The majority of the people do not take part in their right to vote for this reason.
With this selfish act of asking for a recount, you’ve guaranteed one sure thing.
NOBODY WINS!
Democrates said,
March 13, 2010 at 9:21 pm
You know what offends me more than anything else on this thread? Is that I am considered to be a “rat”, a part of the problem. I have stepped up when needed, I have given plenty of money, and I have done my best to work on behalf of the WCDP. And I am now considered a rat by those that supported Windham, because I voted for Stempko! I do take it personally!!
The comments that have been posted since his comment(Windham12) have not stopped and for that matter have become even more offensive.
I call them like I see ‘em. Not so great on the Leadership so far County Chair Elect Windham, you need to get your supporters in line. Or should I say your campaign staff. Yeah Jason, I am talking to you. Greg, you need to step up and shut these yahoos up! Free Speech is one thing, but this out right offensive disregard is something else that only serves to undermine your efforts.
I am a rat, I am podunck in my thinking, I am part of the problem, I am an asshole because I voted for Obama. Everything that your supporters have said that I am are reflective of all of the party as a whole. It seems that the only people that they see fit for Party work is you and themselves! Let’s face it we both know that Donkeydick and DoctorJ don’t even live in Wilco, so its time for you to put on that little leadership coat and fix this issue!
Greg, I am disappointed!! Not because you won the race, not because of the recount, because you felt it ok to justify you supporters in the way you did. The recount was not my idea, but now I am, by proxy considered scum, rat and whatever colorful term by being a dem in Wilco by default because of your admitted defense of these losers.
donkeydick12 said,
March 13, 2010 at 10:11 pm
Whether it’s Al Franken or Georgie Bush, a recount is bad for everyone…
A recount within the party primary is deplorable…
This party of dems in wilco has a hidden agenda, it would seem they’ll stop at nothing to get their way…
Let us bow at the feet of our true masters. Let us make sure the votes get counted correctly. Let us live this election over, and over, again, and again…
Let’s have a recount after this recount. And then another, and another… Let’s hold our breath until we get the winner we want to see in the job. Let’s flip a quarter. Lets roll dice, or have the opponents square off in a heated bowling match. All seem as good as the current process to decide the Dem Party of WILC-HO’s new chair.
Windham12 said,
March 14, 2010 at 9:59 am
Jack, Jason,
I appreciate your defense and understand the angst. We must build unity and steer clear of personal attacks. Understand that my opponent is backed by a man making his living promoting Progressive Candidates in order to ‘Change the Face of Power.”
He has good intentions and we need for the WCDP to be an organization that can promote its diversity.
Mr. Stempko has been a loyal supporter of the party for as long as I have been involved in the WCDP. (2007) He has suffered through the hard times when we had few candidates and zero chance of winning. He is definately not a ‘rat’ and his supporters (the majority of the Executive Committee) are loyal activists which will be imperative to the survival of the organization and its objectives.
End the comments now please and refrain from becoming involved further in the stereotyping. When we argue about who the bigger ‘D’ is, we are losing sight of the common foe…the ‘R’.
Joined together, we make a most formidable vanguard of Progressive Ideals. Seperate, we will continue to languish in obscurity.
I think Paul Stempko is a man of grace and character. I think he was legitimate in his request for a recount. I think my supporters were rash in their statements and could have concealed their emotions.
However, I agree that there are forces working in this predicament that are detrimental to the party’s common goal of winning elections. I will recognize treachery, point out special interest, and defend our party against the trappings of exclusionary forces that may attempt to persuade our directions.
That being said, I apologize to Paul and his supporters for comments that were clearly exagerated and off base. Please. Let us move forward and face the challenges ahead with a sense of solidarity and purpose.
GW
Windham12 said,
March 14, 2010 at 10:39 am
Democrates:
Jack does live in Wilco, he just happens to be serving in Iraq right now.
I don’t know your name, however?
Jason is perfectly fine with anyone that voted for Paul. What he doesn’t like is the e-mails from the EC requesting my resignation. He doesn’t like the EC trying to buck the will of the voters in order for them to have the Chair of ‘their’ choosing. He doesn’t like the fact that only 5 people from the entire ‘EC’ has offered their ‘Congratulations.’ He doesn’t like the insinuations of some that I am somehow a Republican plant.
Jason is a Democrat, of the left-wing sort, that would vote for a yellow dog before he voted for a Republican. He does live in Dallas County, where Democrats win, and he is loud, obnoxious, and successfully contentious. All reasons that make him one of my dearest friends.
I suggest you back down and refrain from calling anyone a ‘yahoo’ or ‘loser’ because these are the people that were making calls to the rural areas that decided the outcome of this election.
Of course my whole team were Obama supporters and new to the political arena in 2008. We made phone banking calls in several counties, working for the President in the primary and then again; in the general. We are thankful for any volunteer that chooses to work in the framework of the party or on their own and would appreciate the support of the entire EC as we assume this endeavor.
wcnews said,
March 16, 2010 at 10:50 am
Thanks to all for the vigorous debate.
I believe it’s great that we have so much passion within our party.
Little constructive at this point is coming from the name-calling, umping together of the EC, and Windham or Stempko supporters as “like-minded”zombies who are slavishly supporting either of these candidates. I think some of us, myself included, while not happy about the situation we all find ourselves in (a recount), want to see the process play out. Once the process is done we will fully embrace the winner and work to bring everyone together so we can move forward and win in November.
Anyone who has worked in Democratic circles in Williamson County knows those on the EC are independent minded Democrats who do not follow elected leaders like sheep, myself included.
I also know that respect is earned and not demanded. There have been few, if any, effective leaders that do not have their followers respect. No matter who wins this race, the winner will have the opportunity to win over their opponents supporters, and will need to so he can move forward as an effective and respected leader that our party needs. How they handle this part may be more important than the election itself.
Myself I have little choice, and will do all I can to work with the next chair. I’m a Democrat in Williamson County committed to seeing our party succeed. As Greg said, the more time we spend arguing amongst ourselves, the less time we can spend focusing on beating Republicans. Once this election is finally over that’s what I will be focused on. I hope you will join me.