MagicOrbitDV

From: "Democratic Party"=

Reply-To: dnc-002MR004JP@mailer.democrats.org

To: "P DuVal"

Subject: Vote NO on Question 3

Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 17:51:09 -0500

GET OUT THE VOTE: Vote NO on Question Three for New= York City

Dear P DuVal,

Tuesday, November 4 is Election Day, and it is= critical that you go to the polls to vote NO on Question 3.

Ballot Question 3 would eliminate Democratic Party= primaries in municipal elections and eliminate your ability to= choose our party's nominee for higher office.

Every leading good government group in the City --= NYPIRG, Common Cause, the Association of the Bar of New York= City, and the League of Women Voters -- as well as newspapers= like the New York Times, New York Post and Newsday all oppose= Question 3. In addition, every major Democrat - including= Senator Schumer, Senator Clinton, Attorney General Spitzer,= Comptroller Hevesi, Rep. Rangel, Rep. Nadler, Rep. Maloney, Rep.= Weiner, Rep. Meeks, Speaker Silver, Sen. Democratic Leader= Paterson and other city and statewide elected Democrats and= former elected officials -- such as Ed Koch and David Dinkins --= all oppose Question 3.

There are several key reasons to Vote NO on Question= 3:

* Academic studies on non-partisan election systems= make clear that they give an advantage to Republicans, the= wealthy, and candidates with high name recognition at the= expense of Democrats, minorities, and candidates of average= means.

* Eliminating party primaries in New York City would= gut our City's public financing system for municipal elections.= Our City's public financing system has helped to level the= playing field between candidates, increase competition and= diversity in city politics, and has reduced the power of money= in our elections here. Adopting Question 3 would seriously= undermine it.

* The process of putting Question 3 on the ballot was= abominable. Mayor Bloomberg handpicked the charter Commission= and essentially gave them their orders. On the day of his= selection -- before a single hearing had been held or the full= commission had been appointed -- the Charter Commission's= Chairman affirmed that the issue would be on the ballot. The= Charter Commission's final report recommending nonpartisan= elections was tailored to meet its preordained outcome.

* Mayor Bloomberg has spent at least $2 million of his= own fortune to buy this change in our city's constitution. He is= outspending us 5 to 1! Imagine if George Bush had the power to= implement a constitutional change by appointing a commission,= giving them their marching orders and financing the result. That= is what the Mayor is doing here.

Finally, if you are like most other Democrats who are= sick of Republicans changing the rules of the game when they= can't win, then you should vote NO on Question 3. There is a= reason why Republicans George Pataki, Rudy Giuliani, and Guy= Molinari support this Republican Mayor's plan -- it will help= Republicans. Please do your part to stop Republicans from= changing the rules to benefit them.

Please pass this along to your friends and neighbors,= and please remember to vote NO on Question 3 tomorrow.

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