Election Conference in Ohio

AfD Co-Chair Cliff Arnebeck is working with Bob Fitrakis, editor of the Columbus Free Press, to organize a national election conference in Columbus. The conference is scheduled for the weekend of October 14 at Columbus State Community College. It has been endorsed by the AfD national council, and Alliance founder Ronnie Dugger will be delivering a keynote speech. Election finance reform activist Doris "Granny D" Haddock, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, and the producer of "American Blackout," a look at the systemic disenfranchisement of Black voters, have also committed to attend. Other filmmakers who documented the 2004 election are expected to attend and show their films as well.

The conference is intended to focus national attention on real debates, with an emphasis on debate coverage through independent media. Webcasting these events would allow voters to access debates at their convenience on the internet. Organizers have already set up independent internet media video stream coverage of the conference.

The conference will also focus on shaping "clean money" campaign funding initiatives: Ohio public campaign funding activists recently hosted Granny D, who spoke on OSU radio about the need for public funding in order to keep officials honest and accountable to the voters. Her visit marks a new beginning for the statewide effort to make Ohio the #4 state to adopt clean money. You can hear her speech here.