This latest political charade by Republican political trickster Onzelo Markum “Takes the Cake.”  Markum has sent out an email to the County Clerk and the news media claiming his client Albert Choate and Democrat Bryan Lamb’s names appeared on the ballot in error in Precinct 331, La Marque.  Letter

His witnesses are two Republicans who claim they discovered this error on a voting machine at Nessler Center on October 30th.  However, neither of these individuals voted at Nessler Center on October 30th.  Records for the voter certificate numbers of the two Republicans provided by Markum indicate that they both voted six days earlier on October 24th. 

I reside in Pct. 331.  I voted early on a senior ballot on paper and the Lamb-Choate race was not on my ballot.  This morning, (Tuesday) my wife and I went to Nessler.  She voted a Pct. 331 ballot on the voting machine.  The commissioner’s race did not appear on her ballot.  Computer experts tell me the Onzelo Markum charge is without merit.

This charge reminds me of a trick Onzelo used earlier this year during the primary election.  He drew up an attack postcard against his client Albert Choate and send it to a hand full of people.  Then he went to the news media accusing Choate’s Republican opponents and the Democratic Party of dirty politics against Choate.

This unsavory action reflects negatively on both Markum and his client.  Markum is trying desperately to mock the tactics of Republican dirty tricksters operating higher up in his party on the state and national levels.

Choate is guilty of bad judgment by hiring a guy like Markum.  He also has demonstrated a lack of guts by allowing a guy like Markum serve as his spokesman.  Democrats do not hide behind others. They speak for themselves.

Lloyd Criss, Chair
Galveston County Democratic Party
409 938-7642