Letter to John Kerry authorized by PPC Steering Committee

Senator John Kerry
Senate Office Building

Washington, DC January 9, 2005

Dear Senator Kerry:

As the elected Chair of the Progressive Populist Caucus of the Texas Democratic Party, I am directed by my Steering Committee to address this communication to you.

As activists in our State Party we are working diligently to transform our Party to restore the service of our Party in Texas and in the Nation to the people and this includes the integrity of our electoral processes.

Many on our Steering Committee supported other candidates in the primary but when you prevailed, we aggressively supported your candidacy and worked with dedication to obtain as many votes for the Kerry/Edwards ticket in Texas as possible.

Your failure to stand with the courageous leaders in Congress who believed you when you pledged to assure that every vote was counted shames us all. Your absence on January 6 in the historic challenge to the Ohio electoral votes for purposes of shining a bright light on the flawed process we all endured in 2004 greatly disappoints us.

We regret your absence on January 6 and commend to you the behavior of Representative John Conyers and Senator Barbara Boxer, who led bravely and stood for the people on January 6. We urge your proactive advocacy of the federalization of national voting processes and systems to protect our voting rights.

Respectfully,

Stan Merriman Chair Progressive Populist Caucus of the Texas Democratic Party
2338 Dryden Rd. Houston, TX 77030