By Pat Levinson
Re “Bullet Voting for King Irritates Runnerup Clarke”
City Councilman Jim Clarke is welcome to his opinion on bullet voting. While I work on the Christopher Patrick King campaign, I was never instructed to bullet vote at this month’s Culver City Democratic Club endorsement meeting.
In fact, I didn’t.
I voted for two candidates. Mr. Clarke’s assumption that “I don’t think any of Jeff (Cooper’s) people bullet voted,” is incorrect.
He assumed incorrectly, I should say.
I can speak with authority on that matter since I am the Democratic Club’s Recording Secretary.
Be that as it may, the Democratic Club works diligently to get members, and to get members to attend. Newsletters are sent out through email as well as snail mail.
Only members who have registered 25 days before a vote is taken may participate in a club vote. There is no “showing up and joining and voting” that same day.
Each candidate is welcome to “stack the house” with his or her people, whom they assume will vote for them. That’s what happens on every Election Day in every precinct. “Get out the vote!” is the mantra for every candidate.
I worked at the Los Angeles City Election Polls for over a dozen years. People bullet-voted in almost all instances where more than one choice was allowed. Especially during presidential elections, many people only voted for President. They skipped every other candidate. While I think that is shortsighted, that is still the individual voter’s right.
It is the same right locally. While it was loyal of you, Mr. Clarke, to support Mr. Cooper in that way, he is a political veteran like you. Work harder guys. And don’t assume.
Did I fail to mention that I support Jim Clarke and Christopher King? I also like what Jeff Cooper has done on City Council. I am waiting to hear more from Gary Abrams. The jury is still out…
Ms. Levinson may be contacted at palevinson@ca.rr.com
