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The City Lights Reporter

 Online News Journal

November  2002 -Volume 6 Issue 4

BDPA "Get Out The Vote" Campaign

Last night was the first online political chat ever held in the State of Nevada .... we made history. Unfortunately due to technical difficulties and time restraints we had a very poor turnout.  I still consider the event a success due to the fact that we accomplished our goal of demonstrating how Internet technology (IT) can be used to enhance our daily lives and help bring the diverse Black online community together in a positive, non-partisan act of self empowerment.  The BDPA is committed to delivering IT excellence to our members, strategic partners, and community.  Last night was just the first of many projects in the works designed to meet that
commitment.

Our stated  purpose in implementing the BDPA-Nevada "Get Out The Vote" campaign is to educate our members and potential voters about the upcoming ballot issues and hopefully motivate them to become active in effecting positive change in our communities. Voting is such a simple act to have such a powerful impact. 

On that note, as we reach out to strengthen the numbers of Black voters, there are two categories we need to be reaching out to:  first, the most obvious and most difficult to reach, are those that are not registered to vote and don't think their vote will count. But equally as important, are those people that vote, just because they have the right to do so, and
NOT necessarily because they strongly support a particular candidate.

As leaders of our community we must lead by example.  Even if it is to late to register we must still reach out to our youth and others to show them the effect of proactive participation in the electoral system.  If they see us walk the walk and not just talk the talk, then they will be motivated and encouraged to prepare themselves for 2004.

It's been said, that some Black folks vote just because our forefathers fought so hard to get Blacks the right to vote. But these people don't care about the issues. There are lots of voters out there like this. We in the BDPA see a need to try to get them interested in the issues. In our opinion, an ill-informed voter is just as bad, if not worse, than someone that doesn't vote at all.

In that regard, BDPA-Nevada "Get Out The Vote" campaign is an ongoing enterprise.  We have seen the effect IT had on the Minnesota 2000 elections.  Jessie Ventura, a virtually unknown and poorly financed candidate credits the Internet and IT with helping him secure the governorship and bringing the disenfranchised and independent voter into the system. We can do the same here in Nevada with the divergent and dispersed Black vote.

As part of our efforts to educate and motivate our members and community to "Get Out The Vote" we will be posting a message every day relative to the upcoming elections for the next five days.  For those that missed the Live Chat we will start by posting the answers that participating Candidates gave to the 10 questions that were asked last night.  Then we will post the names of all 219 Candidates running for office this year and detailed information on the 20 questions that will be listed on the ballot.  We will also post articles and reports on the diverse and changing political attitudes and positions of the national Black voter.  It is hope that the end result of these posts and messages will be to stimulate online conversations and intelligent debate.

We are aware that some of you are receiving our newsgroup at your place of employment.  In an effort to respect corporate and responsible email policies, we are suggesting that those of you that might have a problem please change your group email status to "Digest" mode.  This can easily be done by going to the BDPA-Nevada website (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BDPA-Nevada/) and performing the following instructions;  After signing in click on the "Edit My Membership" link; Click "Daily digest" under the Message Delivery category.  This feature will allow you to receive one email containing all the messages that have been sent within a 24 hour period.  You can even chose the "No email" feature that will allow you to review all messages without receiving any emails at all.  If you have any problems or questions please don't hesitate to contact
me direct at jneusom@yahoo.com.

Lastly, I would like to individually and publicly thank all the Chat Participants, members of the official Organizing Committee, and BDPA members who have contributed to making last nights Live Chat a success.


PARTICIPATING POLITICAL CANDIDATES

Lawrence Weekly
Las Vegas City Councilmen (Moderator)

Morris Arberry Jr. 
State Assemblymen, and candidate for reelection, 7th
District

Joann Wesley
Candidate for State Assembly, 7th District

Lynette Boggs McDonald
City Councilwomen & candidate for the US Congress, 4th
District

Kelvin Atkinson
Candidate for State Assembly, 17th District


The following is a list of the pre-approved questions
that were asked of the participating Candidates last
night;

(1) Online Gaming
(2) Economic Diversification
(3) Community Policing
(4) Education
(5) Tax's
(6) Ballot Questions
(7) National Security/Iraq
(8) Social Security
(9) Technology in Government
(10) Your Background & History


BDPA "Get Out The Vote" ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Uri Clinton
Democratic Caucus for Urban Development

Gene Collins
National Action Network

Dr. William "Bob" Bailey
New Ventures CDC


"Get Out The Vote" CAMPAIGN SUPPORTERS

Lois E. Greene 
Vice President, Bank West of Nevada

Kenneth Matthews 
Manger, Clark County Center for Enterprise Information
Technology

Al Barber 
President, Nevada Minority Contractors Association

Emmit Lamb
Committed 100 Men

Larry James Mosley 
President, 100  Black Men

Louis Overstreet 
President, Urban Chamber of Commerce


Please forward this BDPA messages to your network of online friends and encourage them to participate in this unique online "Get Out The Vote" campaign. Tell them to sign up in the Nevada BDPA to insure that they
receive the latest in Nevada technology news and opportunities. 

Thank you for your support in building our local online community. We Must Share The Knowledge, To Share The Dollars.
---------------------------------------------------------------
The following is Councilwomen Lynette Boggs McDonald's position on the questions that we're asked in our BDPA-Nevada "Get Out The Vote" online discussion.

Our stated  purpose in implementing the BDPA-Nevada "Get Out The Vote" campaign is to educate our members and potential voters about the upcoming ballot issues and hopefully motivate them to become active in effecting positive change in our communities. Voting is such a simple act to have such a powerful impact. 

The BDPA is committed to delivering IT excellence to our members, strategic partners, and community.  our "Get Out The Vote" campaign is just the first of many projects in the works designed to meet that commitment.
---------------------------------------------------------------
COUNCILWOMEN LYNETTE BOGGS MCDONALD

Online Gaming: 
I am opposed to the proliferation of online gaming, as it is too difficult to subject online gaming to the strict regulatory measures that allow traditional gaming to be successful in Nevada.  I opposed Mayor Goodman when he sought to put the City of Las Vegas' seal on an internet gambling site.  I am concerned that children would be able to access gambling online if it was made available, and that it could worsen the problem of compulsive gambling, which is a growing problem.

Economic Diversification: 
I have been striving to achieve economic diversification throughout my career at City Hall, whether as an assistant city manager helping new businesses develop or as a City Councilwoman trying to attract established businesses to our community.  One week after the September 11th attacks I flew to High Point, North Carolina to encourage furniture manufacturers to establish the World Market Center in downtown Las Vegas, which will bring $1 billion in investment and as many as 35,000 new jobs.  I'm also proud to have played a major role in creating the West Las Vegas Enterprise Park. 
Economic diversification is one of the major keys to ensuring our future economic health.

Community Policing: 
The most effective law enforcement programs are those that rely on feedback, input, and participation from the community.  The people who live, work, and raise a family in any given community know best how to approach crime problems that may arise.  Our law enforcement officers must make a commitment to keeping open lines of communication with the people they are serving, and use the resident's input to create a law enforcement presence that is not only effective, but trusted by the community.

Education: 
I am a firm believer in choice in education, and I feel strongly that programs that provide parents with as much choice as possible, such as vouchers, should be a part of the American educational system.  In was part of the first generation of schoolchildren to desegregate and even though I was too young to fully understand it then, what was happening was that people were standing in front of the doors of successful schools and telling children they weren't allowed in. Today, bureaucrats and politicians are standing in the doorways of failing schools and telling kids they aren't allowed OUT.  The solution is not to throw more millions of taxpayer dollars into a bloated and ineffective Washington bureaucracy, but to put education
decisions in the hands of local teachers, school boards, PTAs and, most importantly, parents.  I support the President's No Child Left Behind program, and feel that all other success by which we measure any community begins with a quality education for our children.

Taxes: 
Since September 11th and economic fallout that hit Las Vegas so far, working men and women have been increasingly concerned about the tax burden they, their families, and in many cases their small businesses are enduring.  I believe that Nevada does not get a fair return on the federal tax dollars our citizens pay and that we need a stronger voice in Congress to fight for working families, the self employed, and the small businesses that are the economic backbone of our community. 

Ballot questions: 
Nevadans are being asked to vote on several important ballot issues in this election.  One of them, Question 2, would strengthen the definition of marriage in Nevada as a union that exists only between a man and a woman.  I strongly support this initiative.  It would prevent our state from being forced to recognize alternative unions that might be legal in other states.  Marriage is a cornerstone of our community, and should remain clearly defined as being between a man and a woman only.  Another ballot question, Question 9, would make it legal to possess up to three ounces of marijuana.  I strongly oppose this initiative.  It sends the wrong message to our children on the topic of drug use, and law enforcement officials tell me it
would make their jobs more difficult.

National Security/Iraq: 
I grew up in a military family and at one point in my life lived on the army base that was in closest proximity to Libya.  So I grew up with an understanding and appreciation of the dangers of terrorism and dictatorships.  Saddam Hussein, as long as he is in power, represents a serious threat to the safety of Americans here and abroad.  I believe President Bush has taken a strong but responsible stand in the face of this threat.  I feel strongly that if the President, in counsel with his national defense team, feels that military action against Iraq is warranted in order to protect American lives, he should proceed.

Social Security: 
Social Security is an issue that, perhaps more than any other on the political landscape, has been demagogued and clouded by red herrings and rhetoric.  The current approach must be altered if American workers in their twenties and thirties today are going to have a solvent Social Security system when they get ready to retire.  The Social Security Trust Fund should be off limits to government spending – that, I believe, is the first step.  I do support allowing younger workers the option of investing a small percentage of their earnings in an investment program of their choosing.  We have the same option as employees of the City of Las Vegas, and I think such
flexibility is crucial ensuring a solvent Social Security system for my generation and our country's current workforce.

Technology in Government: 
I believe modern technological advances have the potential to dramatically improve the way government responds to the needs of the citizens.  Every government entity has room to improve, to become more efficient, to streamline services and to be more responsive to the people.  I have led the efforts at City Hall to reduce the paperwork, bureaucracy and red tape that can bog down city projects, and will strive to make Congress more efficient through technology as well.

My background: 
I am a Las Vegas City Councilwoman, the owner of a small business, and a proud mom of a first-grader.  My husband, Steve, is a deputy State Treasurer.  We have lived in Las Vegas for ten years.  I grew up in a military family, as my dad was a career army soldier.  I am a former marketing executive, assistant city manager, and news reporter.  I competed in the 1989 Miss America pageant as Miss Oregon.  I have a Bachelor of Business Arts from the University of Notre Dame and a Masters in Public Administration from UNLV.  If elected, I will be the first African-American Republican woman to ever serve in the United States Congress.

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