Is Crafton out of touch? Reminder about the Davidson Co Juvenline Court Clerk race

July 16 is the first day of early voting in State Primary, but it also happens to be the first day of voting in the County General. In one of the most hotly contested races David Smith and Eric Crafton are vying for Davidson County Juvenile Court Clerk.

Normally we wouldn't draw much attention to a race like this since the work of the Juvenile Court Clerk doesn't have a direct impact on policy related to the equality issues our community cares about. However, it's worth raising the question of whether Davidson County voters should reward someone who has consistently shown himself out of touch with our values with another election win.

Judge for yourself.

*As a Metro Councilman, Eric Crafton voted against the 2009 Metro non-discrimination ordinance on first reading, second reading, and third reading. He wasn't content with quiet opposition. He spoke on the floor against the measure.

*He also led the effort to pass English Only in Metro, an effort that failed by a wide margin in January 2009 and was opposed by TEP.

Has he changed his views after these losses? The evidence is coming in. Earlier this year TEP asked the Council to seek a legal opinion on whether the Metro Human Relations Commission can gather statistics on discrimination in the private sector based on gender identity and provide educational programming on such discrimination. The legal opinion indicated that the Human Relations Commission could, in fact, do so.

*Last month, Councilman Crafton along with five other Council Members wrote a letter (linked at the Tennessean's politics blog) to the Human Relations Commission urging them not to use their authority to document such gender identity discrimination. Not only did they try to oppose the Commission's authority, but they also involved the socially conservative Alliance Defense Fund.

Make sure to know the facts before you vote. You'll have that opportunity July 16-31 during early voting and on August 5, which is Election Day.

-Chris Sanders

Channel 5 Catches Metro Council Members Not Paying Property Taxes

In a great example of local investigative reporting, Channel 5's Phil Williams finds out that four Metro Council members are slow (or have not paid) their property taxes.

Read the story here

Nashville For All of Us out of the gate

Well, the movement to defeat Eric Crafton's English-only ballot measure has a name. Nashville For All of Us--it's got a kind of "Shiny, Happy People" feel to it, but it sends the right message. It's good to see that the serious questions about strategy have begun to be addressed, too. There seems to be discussion about the merits of a full-scale public campaign with yard signs, etc. vs. a targeted get-out-the-vote effort. Metro Councilman Ronnie Steine favors the latter.

"I think you have a real campaign," Steine said. "But I don't know if you have all of those elements. If you believe, as I do, that on Jan. 22 you won't have a very large number of people going to the polls, you don't need a massive countywide public relations campaign. You need to identify those people that will go to vote, and then get them to go vote."

The coalition of business people, clergy, and activists is looking to hire a campaign manager and has already filed with the Davidson County Election Commission.

This is one of the first media stories I've seen that didn't make Crafton the focus. Given the polling that shows the issue is close, more coverage like this, and a good campaign, there is a real chance the measure will be defeated in January.

An unpredictable January vote

The City Paper is reporting that Councilman Eric Crafton's English only measure may be on the ballot on January 22 next year. But what will the turnout be like? The last time we had a January election in Nashville was January 19, 1988 with a 30.58 percent turnout. Granted, it involved a Congressional race, but that is a far greater turnout than I would have expected. No surprise, but January is Nashville's coldest month with an average temperature of 36.2 degrees. More significantly, there are 21 days below freezing. Additionally, it's 2 days after Inauguration Day.

If Nashville voters are politicked out and there's ice on the roads, I can't see turnout above 15 percent. Then it becomes a question of who can turn out the activists. In that scenario, Crafton has the advantage because of his existing list of petition signers.

12,500 jump to the defense of English

Tomorrow Councilman Eric Crafton will turn in his petition with about 12,500 signatures from Davidson County voters, according to the Tennessean.

It's another story of the success of his campaign. Apart from discussing the Council resolution, the piece doesn't really reveal anything about the opposition.

The lawsuit question was raised in the article, but it was presented inconclusively:

Crafton and other supporters of the English-only measure have said that it would encourage those who do not speak English to learn the language and would protect Metro from potential litigation brought by individuals who believe they can demand translation services.

Jim Boulet Jr., executive director of the Springfield-Va.-based English First said he is not aware of any such lawsuits. A Kansas Catholic school has been sued because it banned, in most instances, the use of foreign languages at the school.

Perhaps a lawsuit will prevail after this is all over. But those opposing the measure should become visible immediately after it qualifies for the ballot and start spoiling all the "earned media" Crafton has received.

Steine Resolution passes 25 to 8

Councilman Ronnie Steine's resolution requesting voters not sign the English-only petition and not vote for the ballot measure passed 25 to 8, but not before a little procedural drama. Councilman Foster, while disliking the language of Councilman Crafton's ballot measure, dislikes even more telling voters how to vote. So he not only spoke against the Steine resolution, but he moved to defer it. Steine countered with a tabling motion, which handily disposed of the resolution to defer. It passed 23 to 11.

More later.

10:24 p.m. And we're back. What surprised me was how small the crowd was. Three of us from TEP were there observing. Leaders of the Hispanic community were in attendance, but not in large numbers. The citizens on both sides must be saving their powder for the ballot measure. Council members Steine, Holleman, Barry, and Maynard spoke in favor of the resolution. Steine's first speech got quite a bit of applause, a reaction that also greeted passage of the resolution.

Voting in favor were Garrett, Barry, Tygard, Steine, Maynard, Matthews, Hunt, Murray, Jameson, Coke, Forkum, Ryman, Burch, Page, Moore, Durbin, Gilmore, Langster, Evans, Holleman, McGuire, Toler, Coleman, Todd, and Mitchell.

Voting against were Craddock, Bennett, Gotto, Claiborne, Baker, Crafton, Dominy, and Duvall.

Abstaining were Foster and Wilhoite.

Absent members were Harrison, Jernigan, Stanley, Adkins, and Hodge.

Crafton in the Lead: Part 3

A hat tip to Mr. Kleinheider for this post by Mike Byrd, with which I have to agree. Eric Crafton is still dominating the coverage of the English-only ballot measure. There are certainly tough questions that reporters could be asking about the initiative, including the funding.

The only qualification I would add is that what would help drive the press to ask tough questions is someone, some group standing up and organizing the opposition to Crafton's effort. Sorry to say it again, but it's now the middle of July and we haven't heard a serious peep out of the opposition in weeks. It is not dishonorable to lose; not fighting back is a pathway to regret.

TEP learned the hard way during the marriage amendment campaign that you can never get back the time when you weren't organizing.

Crafton in the Lead--Part 2

Part 1 is located here, if you care.

The City Paper has an extremely revealing look into the two camps on either side of the English-only debate. The title of the article sums it up perfectly: 'English Only' issue presses forward while opponents play waiting game.

Once again, Eric Crafton has dominated the coverage. He has already gathered half the signatures he needs to put the measure on the ballot and more post cards are going out this week. He comes across as optimistic and organized.

“I’m very happy at the tremendous level of support,” Crafton said. “I’ve gotten a lot of donations and a lot of very nice letters. I’m very, very appreciative of all the support we’re getting. This is a citizen-wide effort.”

I'm not sure whether Crafton's opponents come across as naive, disorganized, or what. Here's what Mark Walwyn, chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce had to say:

“We don’t feel it’s necessary for us to try to prevent people from signing it or for us to mobilize our individual members at this point,” Walwyn said. “I think the issue is pretty clear to those who have been following this. I really believe it will fail as it has in the past.“At the right time, we’ll make the right steps and do the right things.”

Translation: There is no plan.

Stephen Fotopulos, the executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, wasn't much more encouraging:

Stephen Fotopulos, the newly named executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, anticipates a “broad and outspoken coalition” against the initiative, should the issue find its way onto the ballot. Fotopulos pointed to the groups who spoke out against the measure when it was before Metro Council a year ago — the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, not to mention then-Mayor Bill Purcell who eventually vetoed legislation.“There are sort of informal conversations of what we’ll do if it is on the ballot,” Fotopulos said. “I think you’ll see leaders all over the city that understand what a negative reflection this will be for the city. Pretty much everyone but Eric Crafton thinks this is a bad idea.

Translation: No one is responsible for leading the fight against the amendment, but a lot of people are talking about how awful it is.

Do Crafton's opponents honestly believe he's the only one who thinks the amendment is a good idea? At this rate, the amendment will not only make it to the ballot, but it will pass. When it does, progressives will be left with their embarrassment over the amendment. But the embarrassment will be all their own for not fighting it when they could have. If they're relying on lawsuits to dismantle the amendment after it passes, then they're in for a fight. Crafton says he already has a D.C. law firm "that will be more than happy to defend any lawsuit for free."

Let's check the score. Crafton has the only mechanism to persuade citizens to sign or not to get the measure on the ballot. Crafton has the only organized effort to engage voters once it gets on the ballot. Crafton has lined up attorneys to defend the amendment once he wins at the ballot. Crafton 3, opponents 0.

Crafton in the lead

Just over 20 days after the Crafton amendment went public, we're in about the same position we were at day one. While editorials and blogs have called him names and speculated about his motives, Councilman Eric Crafton has outcampaigned his opponents and continues to dominate the coverage of the amendment. The other side is too busy mocking him to admit that, of course. But it's true. Remember the website, the robo-calls, and the postcards? Think of any story about the issue. All Eric all the time!

Three lines of counterattack have been opened, but they haven't been developed. Here they are waiting for flesh to be joined to bone.

1. Getting the opposition organized. June 9 was the last time we heard anything about who might be leading the opposition to the amendment. Can you hear the crickets in the background? It's kind of quiet right now.
2. The money trail. Further exploration of this issue might really knock the credibility of the campaign.
3. A stark discussion of the harms that the amendment might bring about. While it's true that Gail Kerr hurts her argument by being so insulting personally to Crafton in the piece, she paints the most vivid picture of the potential harms that the amendment would bring about.

The editorials and the letters and the blog discussions have been helpful and entertaining. But Crafton's amendment will not die the death of a thousand (paper) cuts. Someone is going to have to step up and lead the opposition's campaign.

At last, some good questions about the Crafton amendment

P.J. Tobia has started asking questions about who is paying for Metro Councilman Eric Crafton's effort to amend the charter to secure the embattled English language. Now we're talking. He mostly gets evasions and evolving answers. Is it being done under the auspices of a 501c3? If so, my understanding is that this is allowed since we're not talking about support of a candidate. But I believe, at least at the State level, that those funding ballot measures have to keep a separate bank account and go through some extra filings.

According to the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance, here's who has to file:

1.

Who must file Campaign Financial Disclosure Statements?

Single-Measure Committees. Reports of appointment of treasurers and disclosure of contributions and expenditures are required of: (1) a group of two or more individuals making expenditures to support or oppose any state or local measure in a referendum, (2) a corporation or any other organization making expenditures to support or oppose any state or local measure in a referendum, (3) any committee, club, association or group of persons receiving contributions or making expenditures totaling more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) in a calendar year to support or oppose any state or local measure in a referendum.

Since the group's website is raising money and spending it on robocalls, post cards, and the like, it looks as if they would qualify. Presumably, if the law is followed, we will know who is contributing to Crafton's effort.

Kerr vs Crafton

Tennessean columnist Gail Kerr takes on Metro Councilman Eric Crafton's English-only petition drive. She doesn't mince words.

It is unconstitutional. It is racist. It is wrong. And it will cost your tax dollars when it ends up in court, as it inevitably will.

She devotes the first chunk of her column to talking about what a waste the effort is. Predictable. The most forceful part of the column comes at the end, though.

So the Korean man trying to enroll his child in school? Tough beans. The Hispanic woman calling the police because her husband is beating her? Too bad, so sad. And how about murderer Paul Dennis Reid, who sits on death row thanks to the testimony of a Spanish-speaking man? The lone witness almost bled to death in the Hermitage McDonalds as he played dead until Reid left. He crawled to a phone and dialed 911.

Thank goodness this law didn't exist that night.

It's going to take television commercials with just that message to beat this amendment at the ballot, not messages saying that the measure is not necessary because immigrants are already learning the language. Opponents will have to hammer this amendment by persuading Davidson County voters that it causes real harms.

Purchasing air time takes money and that takes organization. Wouldn't it be better to spend the money of voluntary contributors in an effective campaign than to make the taxpayers pay the costs of defending against a lawsuit? Gail Kerr has already written your copy gratis. Who's going to bring the message to t.v.?

Based on what I've read so far, even though some prominent opponents have been quoted, no one is saying, "We're going to raise the money. We're going to wage a massive campaign to fight this thing." Hopefully, the coverage in the coming weeks will discuss how the opposition will organize.

More questions about the Crafton amendment

Nashville saw a number of interesting developments on Councilman Eric Crafton's English only charter amendment today. The Tennessean discovered the story. The City Paper's Clint Brewer and Mike Byrd traded barbs about the coverage of the campaign. And the Nashville Post put up this rare no-subscription-necessary item about all the usage errors in the post card being sent out that urges people to sign the ballot petition.

But let's get back to the issue of the coverage. As Byrd points out, P.J. Tobia seems to be assembling the largest array of voices opposing the measure. Despite the fact that I believe the editorializing of the Scene, the City Paper, the Post, and the Tennessean do not and will not take Crafton's side, he is still driving the coverage of the story. His simple message that everyone needs to learn English gets repeated day after day. Even when Crafton's opponents say that immigrants know this and are already are learning English, that just amounts to an argument that the amendment is unnecessary. In some ways, it has the effect of reinforcing Crafton's message by making some people wonder why anyone would oppose the amendment.

What the coverage in the mainstream media and in the blogosphere also indicates is that the organization of his campaign is way ahead of the opposition. Poorly worded and punctuated though it is, the post card is going out to thousands of people. The website is up, running, and collecting donations. Robocalls have already begun. (A hat tip to Mr. Kleinheider for posting the link to Southern Beale who received one of the calls.)

The next question that the media should be asking is what the opposition is going to do about it. So far, all I've seen are some well stated public arguments and hints of a law suit if (after?) it passes. The battle of ideas is important, but you can win the battle of ideas and lose the war. Will there be an organized campaign, a referendum committee? If so, who will lead it and become the organizing focus for the opposition?

Round up on the Crafton Charter amendment

Coming in fast are the responses to Councilman Eric Crafton's effort to amend the Metro Nashville charter with a ballot initiative that would make English the official language of Nashville.

Jim Grinstead of Progressive Nashville had this full-blooded retort to the effort.

It's a multi-cultural world and Crafton has yet to realize it. He would rather see families do without necessary services if they cannot ask for them in English. Do people learn faster when they are denied water and sanitary services? Should they ignore the accident victim on the side of the road because they cannot speak English during a 911 call?

Mike Byrd asks why the City Paper isn't asking more questions, particularly about the claim that Crafton's amendment would help immigrants. As we said at Grand Divisions earlier this week, it's the media coverage that will matter in shaping the debate.

Truman Bean takes another view, focusing on the perspective that Crafton is a champion of democracy in jumping over the Council on the issue. He touches on the media issue, too:

Just wait, the Tennessean and their status quo cronies will opine heavily against it.

I wonder how long we'll have to wait. As of Saturday, the Tennessean still has not covered the story. WSMV has. And even though WSMV included a response to Crafton's initiative, it's clear that Crafton is setting the agenda for the coverage so far.

The Nashville Scene's Pith in the Wind quoted Mike Byrd and added their own touch by posting a picture of Godzilla. Let's hope they assign one of their writers an extended piece on Crafton's campaign.

Crafton's Reconquista of Nashville

Councilman Eric Crafton has decided to start a drive to amend the Metro Charter and make English the official language of Nashville. He needs to get just over 10,000 signatures by August in order to put the measure on the November ballot. Here's the text:

Crafton’s charter amendment proposal says, “No person shall have a right to government services in any other language. All meetings of the Metro Council, Boards and Commissions of the Metropolitan Government shall be conducted in English. Nothing in this measure shall be interpreted to conflict with federal or state law.”

As the City Paper points out, former Mayor Bill Purcell vetoed Crafton's attempt to do the same thing by ordinance because it could violate state and federal law. If it would, indeed, violate state and federal law, how exactly does Crafton's charter amendment have any guts left in it? He seems to acknowledge as much with the last sentence of the text.

Here's a challenge to our local media. Please, let's have more than man-on-the-street quotations of people's feelings about immigrants. I hope that as the coverage of Crafton's effort unfolds we'll be reading information about what is really happening on the ground. The coverage should address issues like access to health services, help for crime victims, translators in the public defender's office, and food inspection for restaurants. Do we really want people who don't speak English finding more reasons to avoid dealing with government, especially when it comes to issues of public health and public safety?

For opponents, snarky comments about Crafton's motives will be tempting, almost too tempting to avoid. But if you oppose this amendment, then knock it relentlessly on the dangers it poses.

Since the proposal is a ballot measure, I assume that religious communities can take a side and get involved. Perhaps they can help keep the moral aspect of the debate in the public view and minimize the nastiness that a campaign like this is bound to bring.

Metro school board candidates

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080404/NEWS04/804040405 .

John Summers is running, but not Eric Crafton.

"It tears me up,.." says Crafton

Metro Councilman Eric Crafton will not be running for school board.

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=59369

Warden not running for school board

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=59349

That's what Amy Griffin reports in The City Paper. It's already a heavily contested seat. Will Eric Crafton go for it now? If so, he can't simultaneously serve on Metro Council. Interesting days ahead.

Herenton resignation? Not so fast

Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton says he will stay on as mayor if he isn't named superintendent of Memphis City Schools: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/mar/24/24mayor/ . The Memphis Flyer isn't impressed, comparing Herenton to one of Gild Radner's SNL characters: http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=oid%3A40911

Education leadership is experiencing unprecedented flux at the local level in Tennessee. Herenton isn't the only Tennessee city official thinking of jumping to the school system, though. Nashville Metro Council member Eric Crafton recently announced he's considering a school board bid. Today the City Paper reports he wants term limits for school board members: http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=59248 . Such a move certainly gets people used to hearing his name coupled with the school board slot.