RandySF
RandySF's JournalTN-07: GOP Special Election Candidate's Wife Highlighted "Hitler's Wife" Photos
In 2011, Meg Van Epps (née Wrather), wife of GOP special election candidate Matt Van Epps, tweeted a link to a Yahoo News “Upshot” article titled Photos of Hitler’s Wife Stir the Web, writing: “New pictures of Hitler's wife just surfaced. I had never thought about her before or what she must have been like.”
According to the Internet Archive, the article highlighted newly surfaced Life Magazine photos from Eva Braun’s personal album, including one with Adolf Hitler and another showing Braun in blackface dressed as Al Jolson.
The piece outlined Braun’s work and her relationship with Hitler, “a rising star in the Nazi party,” her suicide attempts, and her death alongside him in 1945.
The tweet that appears to ponder what Hitler’s wife was like was shared in 2011. Meg Van Epps profile that shared it shows no activity after 2014. A message in the account’s bio suggests the account was abandoned that year.
https://meidasnews.com/news/gop-special-election-candidates-wife-highlighted-hitlers-wife-photos
How St. Paul's Mayor Lost a 'Safe' Re-election Bid
Until the final weeks of the campaign, Mayor Melvin Carter’s third election as St. Paul mayor seemed assured.
He had plenty of money and the endorsements of both of Minnesota’s U.S. senators and Gov. Tim Walz. Even without much campaigning in the spring and summer, he wielded the advantages of an incumbent, with the mayor using the office to cast himself as a foil to the Trump administration and a leader on gun control in Minnesota.
And he had made his first two runs for the office look easy.
Today, Carter finds himself about to be out of a job after losing his reelection bid to a former staffer, Kaohly Her, a stunning result that will usher in the city’s first Hmong American mayor.
https://www.governing.com/politics/how-st-pauls-mayor-lost-a-safe-re-election-bid
Red Springs election protest centers on disability rights
RED SPRINGS — Duron Burney, who lost the Red Springs mayoral race by two votes in November, is challenging 18 absentee ballots cast by residents in a local assisted-living facility.
The Robeson County Board of Elections sent the election protest to the state board, which could decide whether the votes are valid.
Caroline Sumpter won 360 votes for mayor in the Nov. 4 election, and Burney won 358, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections. Both served on the town’s board of commissioners before they ran for mayor.
In a protest filed with the Robeson County Board of Elections, Burney alleged that employees of Red Springs Assisted Living illegally helped residents request and cast absentee ballots.
https://www.robesonian.com/news/335695/red-springs-election-protest-centers-on-disability-rights
Tarrant board keeps chief appraiser after vote error that skewed 2024 election
The Tarrant Appraisal District board won’t fire the official responsible for a significant error related to the agency’s 2024 board election, the directors determined Monday.
After a monthlong investigation into the incident revealed no new information, chief appraiser Joe Don Bobbitt now faces three corrective actions the board voted on Dec. 1. Bobbitt, who made the error last year while distributing voting power among taxing entities, is hired by the appraisal board and was responsible for verifying the share of votes.
Bobbitt has not returned requests for comment from the Fort Worth Report.
Each year, the county’s taxing entities — including the county, cities, school districts and others — vote to fill five of the nine-member appraisal district board seats. Those entities have voting power based on their share of the appraisal district’s taxing revenue. The more tax revenue an entity produces, the more votes it has.
https://fortworthreport.org/2025/12/01/tarrant-board-keeps-chief-appraiser-after-vote-error-that-skewed-2024-election/
Early voting begins for December runoff election. Everything you need to know
HOUSTON – Early voting starts Monday, Dec. 1, for the Dec. 13 joint runoff elections in Harris County Clerk’s Office.
The Harris County Clerk’s Office is encouraging voters to take advantage of the early voting period to help avoid long lines.
Voters can cast their ballots in person at any vote center in Harris County.
A number of races are on the ballot, including the at‑large seat for Houston City Council Position 4 and a vacancy for a trustee seat at Houston Community College (HCC), among others.
https://www.click2houston.com/news/politics/2025/12/01/early-voting-begins-for-december-runoff-election-everything-you-need-to-know/
Judge in Mount Olive election challenge to issue ruling after Dec. 15
COLLINS, Miss. (WDAM) - Testimony concluded Monday in a case challenging the results of the mayoral election in Mount Olive last summer.
Special appointed judge Lamar Pickard now is expected to make a ruling in a couple of weeks.
Former Mount Olive alderwoman Marcia Hull is contesting her loss in the June 3 election to incumbent mayor Cliff Kelly.
Hull is suing Kelly, Mount Olive City Clerk Breyon Magee and the city’s election commission.
https://www.wdam.com/2025/12/01/judge-mount-olive-election-challenge-issue-ruling-after-dec-15/?outputType=amp
Down to the Wire: Pocatello Mayor Run-off Election is Tuesday
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — After months of anticipation, Tuesday is the run-off election for the mayor's race in Pocatello. The November general election determined that the race would advance to a run-off between Greg Cates and Mark Dahlquist.
Local News 8 caught up with both of them Monday to find out what they want voters to know before the big day.
"I would say what I bring to the table is experience," said Mark Dahquist. "My campaign slogan all along has been experience for a change. I've been a manager. I've been a CEO. I've been in leadership positions for more than three decades. Taking over at City Hall, it's a big responsibility."
Greg Cates shared his final thoughts for voters. "I just want people to know I'm really the only candidate with a clear, actionable plan to lower taxes, you know, to strengthen our economy, to bring better-paying jobs here, reform our police department, and clean up the city, so if you want change, people need to, you know, just got to vote for it."
https://localnews8.com/news/2025/12/01/down-to-the-wire-pocatello-mayor-run-off-election-is-tuesday/#google_vignette
Chatham Sheriff Mike Roberson (D) announces he will not seek re-election
Pittsboro, NC – For close to 40 years, I have had the privilege of serving the people of North Carolina in many ways as a first responder, and for the last 10 years, I have been deeply honored to serve Chatham County as your Sheriff. This work has brought some of the greatest joys of my life, along with difficult days that tested me in every way. Through each moment — good or hard — my love for this county and my commitment to keeping our community safe have never wavered.
I am forever grateful to the people of Chatham County for placing your trust in me. Serving as your Sheriff is truly the greatest professional honor of my life. I am surrounded by remarkable men and women who show up every day with courage, compassion, and a genuine desire to protect others. They step into danger so others don’t have to, and I could not be prouder of their service or their character.
My family is the steady foundation beneath me throughout this journey. They have understood the long days and nights, the missed dinners, and the heavy responsibility that comes with this badge. Their support has carried me more times than I can count. I especially want to thank my wife, Annette, who spent infinite days serving along beside me as well as being the heart of our home. She kept everything together so I could serve as your Sheriff. Her strength and patience have been extraordinary.
Over the years, I have worked with purpose of building a Sheriff’s Office that reflects the very best in professionalism, integrity, and innovation. From perfect detention inspections to major advancements in technology, stronger training, expanded victim services, and National Accreditation, this office is more prepared than ever to meet the needs of our citizens. I am proud of the team we have built … men and women who deeply care for this community and who are ready to lead it into the future. They truly are the best in the state … Literally!
https://chathamjournal.com/2025/12/01/chatham-sheriff-mike-roberson-announces-he-will-not-seek-re-election/amp/
Prescott's Karen Gleason wins mayoral race as write-in candidate
PRESCOTT, Wash. – Karen Gleason is set to become the new mayor of Prescott after a remarkable election win as a write-in candidate.
Gleason edged out the incumbent by just three votes, a rare outcome in election. She is currently awaiting the official certificate from Walla Walla County Elections to confirm her victory, which she will then deliver to city hall.
Gleason's journey to the mayor's office began with a simple belief: "If I'm not willing to sit in the hot seat and try to make those changes myself, I have no room to complain," she said.
Her decision to run was spurred by her experience on the city council, where she heard residents' calls for fresh ideas and more involvement.
https://www.nbcrightnow.com/elections/prescotts-karen-gleason-wins-mayoral-race-as-write-in-candidate/article_47cd2592-b373-490b-9027-57db9264973f.html
Mike Johnson's red alert on members quitting Congress
Members of the House of Representatives are quitting Congress at a record rate, with Republican retirements and resignations outpacing Democrats by a nearly 2-to-1 ratio in the first 11 months of the year.
Why it matters: In previous cycles, the party with more departures tends to lose seats — if not the majority.
Call it the congressional JOLTS rate. Like its BLS counterpart, a high reading for one party doesn't predict a House flip any more than a bad JOLTS number calls a recession.
But it's not a great sign for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who needs to worry that early GOP retirements could strip him of his gavel this year.
https://www.axios.com/2025/12/02/congress-retirements-mike-johnson-republicans
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