Sent to Pacifica National Board (if I have the address correct) Subject: please end the disenfranchisement To: pnb @ pacifica . org We have already been disenfranchised twice; do not rob us of our lawful representation a third time. I am a WBAI Listener Member who was disenfranchised initially in the LSB election when my repeated requests for a replacement ballot were ignored. I and others had to go to court to prevent Dan Siegel and Casey Peters from closing the election without our votes and without the votes of a substantial number of staff. Dan Siegel and Casey Peters did not respond immediately after we obtained a Temporary Restraining order, by making up for lost time and remedying the situation by issuing replacement ballots immdiately. Instead, they engaged in a series of delaying tactics in the court, the result being that we were disenfranchised again when delegates whose terms had expired in the beginning of December were allowed to select directors to represent WBAI at the PNB meeting in Newark; directors who never would have been chosen had the election been concluded and certified even a month behind schedule. Now, we hear threats to disenfranchise us again. The election has been certified, and legitimate delegates have elected directors to represent WBAI but some people are trying to force acceptance of continuing representation of directors who do not represent the will of the electorate. We did not acquiesce in prior attempts to disenfranchise us and we will not acquiesce again. If this incurs further legal expenses to Pacifica, the responsibility will be that of those current directors who in any way hinder the seating of the directors elected at the April 9 Delegates Assembly. The PNB's own resolution expresses what common sense and justice requires when elections have been so badly mishandled as to delay selection of new directors: "...As soon as feasible after the certification, the LSB or Delegates shall convene a meeting to hold elections for Directors for the remainder of the term, whose term shall begin immediately upon their election..." I urge you to consider carefully these four points: (1) April 23rd is NOT "as soon as feasible after the certification" (2) The LSB has no jurisdiction over the Delegates' Assembly. (3) Accordingly, it is not the business of the LSB to convene a meeting of delegates; it is the delegates who should convene their own meeting. (4) After appropiate notice of an EMERGENCY meeting, a quorum of WBAI delegates did meet (April 9) and elected directors to begin their terms IMMEDIATELY (not on some subsequent date set by a body with no power to set a date for a DELEGATES' ASSEMBLY). Please do the right thing. And please bear in mind that Dan Siegel's "opinion" is contradicted by other legal opinions; moreover, he has previously demonstrated bias at several points in this election. Please note that he calls the April 9 Delegates' Assembly "improper", he dares not call it illegal; if he does, be prepared to foot the bill while a judge sorts it out. If hold-over directors from WBAI are allowed to participate in the PNB meeting this weekend and directors elected at the April 9 delegates' Assembly, are not seated and allowed to participate, be prepared to have ALL of the PNB's actions from that point on declared null and void with all the legal repurcussions that implies. --Frank LeFever