Reply #46: Under the Dome: Election challenge dropped; one remains. [View All]

79th LEGISLATURE

Under the Dome
Election challenge dropped; one remains.

Saturday, January 15, 2005
GOP candidate drops challenge


Republican Eric Opiela on Friday dropped his challenge of his November election loss to Rep. Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles, D-Alice.

Toureilles was sworn in on Tuesday.

Opiele's withdrawal leaves the disputed election between Rep. Hubert Vo, D-Houston, and former GOP Rep. Talmadge Heflin as the only election that is being formally challenged in the House. A committee will review evidence from that election and then report to the full House, which can vote to seat either candidate or call for a new election.

Opiela continued to allege Friday that he discovered more than 1,900 examples of voter fraud but said he dropped the challenge because of political pressure and concerns that the case was headed for costly litigation.

And other Republicans continued to talk the talk, even if they're not willing to walk the walk.

"We are not backing away from the fight to repeal the legacy of election fraud that lingers from a century of Democrat rule in Texas," party chairwoman Tina Benkiser said.


More: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/shared/tx/legislature/stories/01/15UnderTheDome_rs.html