It looks like the anti-gay activists have realized that suing over the razor-thin margin that kept the new domestic partnership law off the ballot last week—the campaign fell 116 signatures short of the 55,179 required to put a referendum on the ballot—would be futile. It also looks like they’re working on a repeal initiative.

From David Crowe:

While disappointing and suspect, the decision whether to challenge in court or pursue another course, must be an informed and thoughtful process. The goal is to place these two culture redefining and defiant bills on the ballot in November of 2008. There is still time and there are ways to do that.

Since the only way to challenge the decision is to go to court with a lawsuit, we must weigh the time and costs involved as well as the predisposition of the Marion County and Oregon State Court System. All legal advice we have received thus far, is that the court system is not sympathetic to our cause and in some cases the judges are known to be hostile.

The experience of one attorney on this same issue is that it would take a year for final ruling on the case, and probably not in our favor. So what will we have gained to leave it to a few people and then not get it on the ballot at all?

The remaining option appears to be an initiative requiring 82,000 signatures, which if reached, as in 2004, would place both laws on the November 2008 ballot for repeal. Having obtained 63,000 names and addresses with the current effort, to which we could mail the petition apart from the bills, and being able come January 1, 2008, to download petitions online to sign and return, the 82,000 signatures, plus an additional 20,000 to ensure a victory in the Elections Division, is attainable.

Far more Oregonians now realize what the governor and legislature have done, and they will be more than eager to sign these petitions. Many more churches, now that they know about these bills and what is at stake, are likely to participate.

(The entire letter—including the repeal intitiative game plan—is after the cut.)

Most Oregonians who are concerned by the legislature's action to circumvent their vote in 2004 in the matter of marriage between a man and a woman, know by now that the petition signature drive to give Oregonians the right to vote on this circumvention, was determined by the Oregon Elections Division on Monday, October 8th, to have failed by 116 signatures.

55,179 valid signatures were required and Concerned Oregonians along with Defense of Marriage and Family Again turned in nearly 63,000 signatures.

They also know from past signature petition efforts that the signature validation process in Oregon seems to invalidate many valid signatures, thus denying a nearly sacred right in America, that of having your vote counted, and they do not approve. A signature on a petition is in essence a 'VOTE.'

Challenging the Elections Division decision
While disappointing and suspect, the decision whether to challenge in court or pursue another course, must be an informed and thoughtful process. The goal is to place these two culture redefining and defiant bills on the ballot in November of 2008. There is still time and there are ways to do that.
Since the only way to challenge the decision is to go to court with a lawsuit, we must weigh the time and costs involved as well as the predisposition of the Marion County and Oregon State Court System. All legal advice we have received thus far, is that the court system is not sympathetic to our cause and in some cases the judges are known to be hostile.

The experience of one attorney on this same issue is that it would take a year for final ruling on the case, and probably not in our favor. So what will we have gained to leave it to a few people and then not get it on the ballot at all?

Where do we go from here?
The remaining option appears to be an initiative requiring 82,000 signatures, which if reached, as in 2004, would place both laws on the November 2008 ballot for repeal. Having obtained 63,000 names and addresses with the current effort, to which we could mail the petition apart from the bills, and being able come January 1, 2008, to download petitions online to sign and return, the 82,000 signatures, plus an additional 20,000 to ensure a victory in the Elections Division, is attainable.
Far more Oregonians now realize what the governor and legislature have done, and they will be more than eager to sign these petitions. Many more churches, now that they know about these bills and what is at stake, are likely to participate.

Getting Started
Since the wording of the initiative must be crafted, and several attornies are stepping forward to ensure that is done wisely, and since the state approval process will take 2-3 months, that leaves 3-5 months in 2008 to secure the needed petition signatures by the July deadline. With an established database of signers, online petition availability, and a more seasoned team, we can place these bills on the ballot.
Please pray for wisdom as we conduct our research, seek wise counsel, and continue to seek the LORD as we honor and exalt both Him and the institutions he has ordained.

David Crowe