When you last heard from us about the Eureka Springs Domestic Partnership Registry, we thought the registry had been blocked by a successful referendum petition. Turns out, that's not so.

The petition was declared to be «insufficient» today by MJ Sell, City Clerk/Treasurer of Eureka Springs. Yes, opponent Rev. Phillip Wilson and his merry band of canvassers did manage to collect enough signatures to bring the issue to a vote. But the petition itself was improperly prepared--a legal fact that renders all signatures moot.

Sell presented her decision, with supporting code annotations, to the Carroll County Election Commission. In part, Sell's decision reads, «I declare that the petition is not sufficient for placement on a special election ballot because the ballot title is not presented, copies of Ordinance 2052 were not attached to the petitions for signers to review prior to signing, and a special election is not requested by the petition.»

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OMC - Which these days stands for «Oh My Cod!»

Seems the fundies are still fishing for signatures for a referendum petition to put the Domestic Partnership Registry on hold. Again.

Last week, they turned in their names to the Eureka Springs City Clerk for certification. The next step of the process would have been to have the said City Clerk give the petitions to the Election Commission. then a date for the election would be set after the commission certified a valid petition.

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Citizen activists in Eureka Springs, AR have announced the formation of a new project, «Com3,» which is dedicated to ensuring a win for civil rights in the upcoming referendum vote on Eureka Springs Ordinance 2052, the Domestic Partnership Registry.

Organizers Marie Howard, Trella Laughlin and Barbara Lightner plan voter registration and education activities, plus an effort to get out the vote. Citizen and supporter input and participation are sought. See the announcement of Com3's purpose for details on how you can help.

Popularity: 9% [?]

(Eureka Springs, AR) Blockage of the state's first Domestic Partnership Registry--scheduled to take effect June 22--has left advocates more determined than ever to see the measure implemented later this summer.

The ordinance creating the registry was unanimously approved May 14 by the Eureka Springs City Council, after two months of deliberation and citizen input. But anti-gay minister Philip Wilson halted the effective date late last week by submitting to the city clerk 147 signatures from opponents, three more than the minimum required to force a referendum on the issue August 14.

Though disappointed by the delay, proponents are confident a majority of the resort town's voters will ratify the measure. Early broad-based support from hundreds of residents, tourists, church groups and dozens of local businesses, suggest the effort to circumvent the city council's approval will fail at the polls.

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