Hey there. Here’s my latest offering and take on a number of items related to nonpartisan issues and voter reform efforts from around the nation. From the Supreme Court ruling on redistricting commissions to the Independent Voter Project petitioning the same Supreme Court -- and everything in between -- it has been a busy couple of weeks.

Thanks for reading.

Jeff

Sure, the confederate flag is a symbol of racism for a lot of people. It should be taken down for that reason. But few people have asked a more basic question: didn't the confederacy lose?

Since when does a country allow its opposition to fly their flag on their property? A flag is not just a symbol of ideologies and purpose, but of entitlement and ownership. When the confederate rebels that tried to leave the United States lost the war, they lost their entitlement and ownership over the property of the United States of America.

A recent conference at the USC Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics hosted by the school's director, Dan Schnur, in collaboration with Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Leadership Institute, provided participants with knowledge about California's political landscape.

With particular focus on women in politics, voter trends, mobilization, and education, panelists discussed their viewpoints and answered questions in order to enhance the participants' skills during the training seminar.

In Delaware County, Pennsylvania, a third candidate, Lisa Esler, has emerged in a special election that will take place on August 4 to fill a vacant seat representing the 161st House District in the state's General Assembly.

In April, recently elected Republican Joe Hackett announced he would be leaving office to return to serving as a detective for the county's Criminal Investigation Division.