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Travis County Chair Brian Talbot Jr. after voting in local runoffs.

Runoff elections, one of the outcomes of our election system. Whenever any candidate can’t get 50% or more in an election it goes to a runoff election scheduled at a later date. Seems like a pretty reasonable compromise. But is this system really the best we have?

Today I went and early voted in the runoff elections in my area. I’m the kind of person that votes for as many offices as I can, and two of the offices I voted for (ACC Board, and AISD Board) went into a runoff (along with Austin City Council Districts 1,3, and 8). So when I saw this I figured I needed to do my duty and support the people I voted for just only a month ago. So I went to my local polling place early on a Saturday morning, with my daughter in tow. There were four people working the polling station helping me get situated while cooing at my daughter and talking with me about UT and the Big 12 Championship game. I signed the voter roster which only had one other name on it, voted and went on my way. Afterwards I realized me and the other voter will probably be the only people that will vote that day, and there probably won’t be many before or after us.

The truth is runoff elections historically have the lowest voter turn out of all elections. In some elections no one even turns up at all, as was the case in Hall, King, Lynn and McMullen counties for their Democratic primary runoffs this past May. But even with the low turn out polling places still need to be staffed for the early voting period and election day for runoffs. This shows a waste of time, money and resources from our communities for a system that does not even allow for the electorate to vote their conscience.

Well there is a better way, a way we can have runoffs the same day as election day and let voters realistically have more than two choices. The solution I am talking about is Ranked Choice Voting, also known as Instant-Runoff Voting. In this system instead of just holding your nose and picking the “lesser of two evils” or picking the candidate that is least likely to win, you can choose whoever you want and not have your vote thrown away. With Ranked Choice Voting you simply rank the candidates 1,2,3. After the first round of voting if your first-choice candidate is eliminated your vote gets transferred to your second-choice candidate; and so on until you have a a candidate that has 50%+ of the vote.

This system makes for a more equitable elections as it more accurately represents the voice of the people by giving all candidates a shot at winning. It also makes for more civil elections as candidates still want to be a voter’s second or third choice so it encourages them not to be disparaging at each other.

Now Ranked Choice Voting is not without its faults. There are occasions where a less popular candidate wins as opposed to the most popular candidates, such as the 2009 mayoral election in Burlington, VT. But such problems are prevalent in the current system, like with the 2000 and 2016 Presidential Elections.

Overall, Ranked Choice Voting is showing its successes in Maine who just had their first RCV election, and in municipalities across the country. This success can continue starting here in Travis County! We, the American Solidarity Party of Travis County ask that you write your City Council as well as your Mayor to start using Ranked Choice Voting in your local elections.

In Solidarity,

Brian Talbot Jr.
County Chair
American Solidarity Party of Travis County.

Yesterday President Donald Trump asked Attorney General Jefferson Sessions to resign, and yesterday he did. President Trump then appointed Matt Whitaker as Acting Attorney General and boss of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, instead of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

Whitaker is not someone who has a favorable, or even neutral position on Mueller and the Russia Investigation. Whitaker has not recused himself like his predecessor had.

These actions undermine the independence of the investigation, and of our justice system in general.

Today November 8th, citizens all across the nation are taking to the streets in peaceful, non-violent protests to let the President know that we the people will not stand for this injustice. Here in Austin there are protests planned for outside of City Hall at 5 pm. As well as outside the Austin office of Representative Michael McCaul at 5:30 pm. There will also be protests infront of the Williamson County Courthouse in Georgetown and on the Square in San Marcos. Both at 5pm.

I am planning on attending the protest in front of Rep. McCaul’s office, I hope that other Solidaritists will join me or in solidarity at any of the other protests.

In Solidarity,

Brian Talbot,

County Chair-ASPTC

It’s July, and the ASP has declared July the party’s Month of Organization! So what a more fitting time for Texas’ State Convention!

The Texas Chapter of the ASP will hold it’s first State Convention on July 28th in Houston, TX. At the Convention we will ratify bylaws, elect new State Committee members, endorse any candidates for public office, organize and recognize local chapters and have some special guest speakers. Along with get to know each other and grow in community and solidarity.

The event is free and open to all ASP members to come and enjoy. All full voting members of the ASP will have voting privileges at the Convention. The deadline to become a voting member is July 21st.

The Convention will be from 9am-6pm at 12439 Northwest Frwy, Houston, TX 77092
More info about the State Convention can be found here.

Hope to see y’all in Houston!

Brian Talbot Jr.
Texas Vice Chair
Travis County Chair

We need you to help this party get off the ground. To spread solidarity, subsidiarity, social justice, pro-life for the whole life here in Austin. How do we do that? Through a dedicated team of volunteers willing to put themselves out there to spread that message. Taking to the streets at marches and protests, not only for the unborn, but for those being torn from their families while searching for a better life. By building coalitions with others to advocate for practices and policies that are more equitable for all. Most importantly running candidates for public office to put these ideals of pro-life for the whole life, social justice, environmental protection, and creating a peaceful world into real world laws and policies.

“But Brian, why isn’t that being done already?” Simply, it can be too much for one person to do by themselves. That’s why the ASP of Travis County is having it’s first convention next month. Mainly to build a team that is willing to go out and do these things and build solidarity in Austin. I by myself have done a lot to lay down the framework, but now I need a team to help get boots on the ground and build relationships, stand up for whats right, and get candidates on the ballot!

Next months County Convention the County Executive Committee offices of County Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary will be up for election, and Precinct Chairs will be appointed. These positions would require at least an hour a week of member and candidate recruiting, social media management, event planning, and community outreach. It is vital that this team be put together so that we can be a force for real political change in Austin, and not another chapter of an internet debate society. So I ask all ASP members in the Greater Austin area to consider volunteering for one of these positions. If interested please email asptraviscounty@gmail.com with your name and what position you’re interested in. I look forward to hearing from my fellow Solidaritists.

In Solidarity,

Brian Talbot Jr,
County Chair
American Solidarity Party of Travis County

It’s really not too late to run for office in Austin!

The first day to file for candidacy for the Austin City Council/Mayoral races is July 23rd (day after the County Convention) and the last day is August 20th for the November 6th election.

The offices up for election this year are:

• Mayor
• City Council District 1
• City Council District 3
• City Council District 5
• City Council District 8
• City Council District 9

Filling for candidacy is easy and the ASP is there to help you every step of the way.

If interested/wanting more information about running for public office email asptraviscounty@gmail.com