ustxtxb_obs_1982_02_12_50_00015-00000_000.pdf

tary of state ruled, they did not have to be reported. That particular ruling caused some hard feelings but brought no legal challenges. Not so for a couple of Strake’s opinions. A House subcommittee charged with overseeing elections activities asked Atty. Gen. Mark White to overrule Strake on two occasions which he did. Most controversial was Strake’s ruling that persons who voted in the Democratic primary could sign petitions for Republican-turned-independent presidential candidate John Anderson, but prohibiting Republcan primary voters from doing the same. The same subcommittee recommended continued “close scrutiny” of the secretary of state’s office “to ascertain if legislative intent is being carried out in each promulgation” of election rules. On Jan. 27, 1981, Common Cause filed complaints with the secretary of state against 18 candidates for failing to file one or more statements of contributions and expenditures required by state law. All of the complaints related to the Nov. 1980 general election. Under the law, Strake’s office was required to notify the candidates of the complaints and request a written response. Then, both the complaint and the response had to be sent to the attorney general and the local district attorney for possible prosecution. A random search of those files shows elections division personnel sending notification to the candidates and officeholders in February. However, notice was not sent to the attorney general or local prosecutors until late September. According to Marston, any tardiness in attending to such matters was blamed on lack of personnel. However, Marston and others familiar with the office noted that Strake’s employees always had time to notify an office holder that someone has looked at his or her file even when no complaint has been filed. In addition, Marston says, the office apparently lost a number of filings, a matter which was embarrassing and annoying to several candidates. Milton Kosa, current director of elections, inadvertently admitted to such losses when he testified before a December meeting of the House elections committee. “We now have everything completely under a controlled system . . . no more of this looking for files and having people come in and pull the file copy and then we can’t locate [it when] we’re supposed to answer public inquiries,” Kosa said. A number of Democrats have expressed relief that Dean has taken over the secretary of state’s office. Although disagreement between Republicans and Democrats is still anticipated, they expect to work with Dean, rather than fight with him. As for the former secretary of state, San Antonio’s Joyce Peters said, “I hope Mr. Strake never gets to be sheriff where he has a gun and a badge. Some people just do not have the temperament for public office.” Nurses’ Environmental Health Watch, 4543932; Northeast Aus. Demos., 2nd Tue., 836-3533; Phogg Foundation, Box 13549, Aus.; Save Barton Creek, every Tue., 472-4104; Sierra Club, 1st Tue., 478-1264; Socialist Party of Tx., 2nd Tue., 4523722; South Aus. Demos., 447-4091; Tx. Abortion Citizens Party, 451-3864; Tx. Consumer Assn., 477-1882; Tx. Mobilization for Survival, Sun., wkly., 474-5877; Travis Audubon Scty., 3rd Thu., 447-7155 or 477-6282; Travis Cty. Demo. Women, every Fri., 453-3243; Travis Cty. YD’s, 453-37%; Univ. Mobilization for Survival, wkly., 476-4503; UT YD’s, 452-8516; West Aus. Demos., 2nd Thu., 454-1291; Zilker Park Posse, 472-1053. SAN ANTONIO Demos. for Action, Research & Education 0351; Fellowship of Reconciliation ACLU, 2246791; Amnesty Int’l., U.S. Group 127, Julia Powell, 828-4141; Women’s Political Caucus, 2nd Tues., 655-3724; Civil Rights Litigation Center, 224-1061; Citizens Concerned About Nuclear Power, 1st & 3rd Weds., 655-0543; Communities Organized for volunteers needed, 4th Wed., 674-0351; LatinAmerican Assistance, alternate Sats., 732-0960; Mxn.-Amn. Demos., 3rd Mon., Walter Martinez, 227-1341; NAACP, 4th Fri., 224-7636; Organizations United for East Side Development, last Tue., 824-4422; People for Peace, 2nd Th., 822-3089; Physicians for Social Responsibility, 1st Mon., Dr. Martin Batiere, 691-0375; Poor People’s Coalition for Human Services, 923-3037; Residents Organized for Better and Beautiful Environmental Demo. League, 1st Thu., 344-1497; S. A. Gay Alliance, last Wed., Metropolitan Commnty. Church, 102 S. Pine; San Antonians for Freedom of Choice, 733-3248; Sierra Club, 3rd Tue., 341-5990; United Citizens Project Planning and Operating Corp. DALLAS ACLU, 651-7897; ACORN, 823-4580; Amn. Friends Service Cmte., 321-8643; American Indian Center, 826-8856; Amnesty Intl., U.S. Group 205, 361-4690; Armadillo Coalition, 1st Wed., 349-1970; AMIGOS, 339-9461; Audubon Society, 341-2534; Bois d’Arc Patriots, 827-2632; Bread for the World, Dist. 3, Joe Haag, 741-1991×298 & 495-1494; Brotherhood of Viet Vet., 224-9750; Brown Berets, 337-4135; Citizens’ Assn. for Sound Energy Fri., 363-2979; Clean Air Coalition, 387-2785; Comanche Peak Life Force, Wed. wkly, 337-5885; Cmte. in Solidarity with the People in El Sal2nd Mon., 528-4233; E. Dal. Nghbrhood Assn., 3rd Mon., 827-1181; Frederick Douglass Voting Council, every Fri., 426-1867; Gray Panthers of Dallas-Fort Worth, 2nd Sat., 227-8332; Love Field Cit. Action Cmte., 526-8481; Low Income Housing Security Cmte., 748-5861; Nghborhood Info. & Action Service, 827-2632; Neighbors United for Quality Ed., 8236713; North Texas Abortion Rights Action 8971; No. Lake Col. Solar Club, 659-5254; Progressive Voters League, 372-8168; Sierra Club, 2nd Wed., 369-5543; Central Civic League, 375-5038; S.E. Dal. Nghbrhood Club, every 4th Sat., 421-7931; Sound 6960; Txns. for Handgun Control, 528-3985; Tx. Cmte. on Natural Resources, 352-8370; Tx. Ten372-6801; War Resisters League, 337-5885; W. Dal. Nghbrhood Group, 3rd Wed., 631-1586. FORT WORTH 924-1401, board meets mthly; Armadillo Coalition, 927-0808; Bread for the World, 924-1440 \(Dist. Regulation, 478-6372; Coalition of Labor Union Women, 469-1202. Dist. 10 Demos., 2nd Sat., 535-7803; First Friday, 1st Fri., 927-0808; F.W. Tenants’ Ccl., 923-5071; IMPACT, \(telephone chain, works largely through progressive Protestant Assn., 2nd & 4th Tue., 335-5405; NOW, 3rd Th., 336-3943; Precinct Workers Cl., 3rd Th., 429-2706; Senatorial Dist. 12 Demos., 2nd Sat. or 2nd Wed., 457-1560; Sierra Club, 3rd Wed., 923-9718; StuCty. Demo Women’s Club, 2nd Sat., 451-8133, 927-5169; Tx. Coalition of Black Demos \(F. W. Caucus, 1st Wed., 336-8700. HOUSTON ACLU, 524-5925; ACORN, 523-6989; Amns. for Demo. Action, 522-9544; Amnesty Intl., Group 23, 868-0707; Brotherhood of Viet. Vet., 728-4857; Cit3343; Concilio de Organizaciones Chicanos, P.O. Box 9, Houston 77001; Demo. Socialist Organizine Cmte., 921-6906; Ecumenical Peaceforce of Houston, 10723 Inwood Dr., 77042; Gay Political Caucus, 1st and 3rd Weds., 521-1000; Harris Cty. Concerned Women, 674-6798; Harris Cty. Demos., quarterly, 528-2057; Houston Area Women’s Center, 528-6798; Lesbian and Gay Demos. of Texas, 521-1000; Mxn.-Amn. Demos., 6944 Navigation, Houston 77011; Mockingbird Alliance, 7471837; NAACP, 1018 Clebourne, Houston 77001; PASO, 6716 Fairfield, Houston 77023; Senate Dist. 15 Demo. Coalition, 862-8431; Tx. Abortion Coalition of Black Demos., 674-0968; Tx. Demos., 667-6194; Toxic Substances Task Force, 1st Tue. & 3rd Wed., 228-0037; UofH YD’s, 749-7347; Westside Demos., 464-2536. AROUND TEXAS Alta Loma: Brotherhood of Viet. Vet., 925-6405. Amarillo: ACLU, 373-7200; Panhandle Environmental Awareness Cmte., 376-8903; Northwest Tx. Clergy and Laity Concerned, 2nd Tue., 373-8668. Bastrop: Central Tx. Lignite Watch, Bastrop Co., 321-5250. Beaumont: ACLU, 898-0743; Amnesty Intl, group 221, Karen Dweyer, 420 Longmeadow, Beaumont 77707. Brotherhood of Viet Vets, 7274873. Brownsville: ACLU, 541-4874. Bryan: ACLU, Box 4523, 77805; Brazos Society for Alternatives to Nuclear Energy, 822-1882. College StaKramer, Box D, 77841. Corpus Christi: American GI Forum, 241-8647; Coastal Bend Chapter Sierra Club, 3rd Tues., 883-0586; Gulf Coast Conservation Assoc., 991-9690; League of Women Voters, 8526443; LULAC, 882-8284; NAACP, 883-2931; NOW, 883-4469; Org. for the Preservation of an UnPol. Caucus, 854-1080. Denton: ACLU, 387-5126. El Paso: ACLU, 545-2990; Amnesty Int’l, Group 189, 584-4869. Lubbock: ACLU, 765-8393. Nat’l Lawyers Guild, 799-2714; NOW, 793-0582; South Plains Alternative Resources Coalition, 762-8950. Midland: Brotherhood of Viet. Vets., 684-3768. Nacogdoches: Pineywoods Coalition, 218 W. Austin St., Nacogdoches. San Juan: ACLU, 787-8171. Seabrook: Galveston Bay Conservation & Preservation Assoc., 471-3119. Temple: Brotherhood of Viet Vets, 773-7987. Waco: ACLU, 755-3611. THE TEXAS OBSERVER 15