Troubling News about John Gideon, Electronic Voting Reform Activist from VotersUnite

[garybeck]

(x-posted on ER Reform)

John Gideon is a hero, activist, and one of the great leaders of the Electronic Voting reform movement. He is the writer of Daily Voting News, and a regular contributor to Bradblog. Please send your thoughts and prayers his way.

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Blogged by Brad Friedman on 4/27/2009 12:29PM
News About Our Friend John Gideon...
Some troubling news came in last night concerning John Gideon, my
friend, colleague, frequent BRAD BLOG guest blogger and the
years-long publisher of the indispensable "Daily Voting News". Allow
me to defer to the announcement just released by Ellen Theisen,
John's partner at VotersUnite.org...

From: Ellen Theisen
Date: Mon Apr. 27, 2009 11:18am PT
Subject: To John Gideon's friends

Our friend and colleague, John Gideon collapsed in his home on Sunday
morning where he was discovered by his family and rushed to the
hospital.

Medical staff told me last night (Sunday) that he was in "very
critical condition". And today he remains in the ICU, with a
preliminary diagnosis of meningitis.

Brad Friedman and I have been in regular contact with John's family,
and I'm leaving now to go to the hospital in Seattle, which is the
best neurological facility in the entire region.

Starting tomorrow, some of us will be taking steps to cobble together
a perhaps somewhat truncated version of the "Daily Voting News" in
order to attempt to fill his shoes until his return. But as you all
know, they are very big shoes to fill.

Please send your good thoughts to John and his family. I will, of
course, keep you updated as I learn anything more.

Ellen Theisen
Co-Director
www.VotersUnite.Org

[BeFree]

1. Indeed

A real hero. I wish him all the best and look for his speedy return.

[GregD]

2. I just spoke with Ellen, and the news is not good.

Please think good thoughts. I'm afraid we have lost a hero. The reports from the hospital room are not at all encouraging.

I met John back in 2003 when Verified Voting was in its early days. John had worked previously with Bev at BBV.org and he joined the VV team. He became the news coordinator and posted voting news to the VV site daily. In 2004 the VV team imploded. My role was terminated, Ellen Theisen resigned in response within the hour. John stayed on for a few more months.

Ellen launched VotersUnite.org, and when John left VV he joined Ellen. For a period of time Ellen had to seperate herself from VU because she had come up with a non-electronic voting assistance strategy http://www.vote-pad.us and it was necessary to not have the conflict of interest as a "vendor". John took over the reigns of VU. Ellen has since dropped her focus on VotePad and returned to a role at VU.

John has published the Daily Voting News in one form or another for almost 5 years. He has become a remarkably well-informed speaker on the topic. He retired from the US Navy, and if I recall correctly he was involved in work on a nuclear submarine.

A giant of a man (around 6'6" or taller and built like a redwood tree) John is a hero and a patriot. He will be missed.

[GregD]

3. Evening kick

This is really sad. Both the news of John's sudden health failure, and for this thread to gain no apparent interest.

[Greybnk48]

4. K&R and thank you John for all of your good work.

[Fly by night]

5. John Gideon is one of the kindest and most committed people I have ever known.

This is so sad to open my DU evening with. I have known John well since 2005, have shared meals with him on the Left Coast and election integrity skirmishes ("if we never stop fighting, ...") all over the country.

John has been as available an all-encompassing election integrity info-master as one could have hoped for, getting us needed info in a few hours, if not a few minutes, on numerous occasions.

He has also been a personal friend, someone I shipped two cases of organic berry jam from my Tennessee farm to this December for him to share with his Ecotopia kith and kin.

Although I did not know it, it comes as no surprise that John was retired military. When it comes to his country, John has brooked no bullshit but he has kep
My thoughts and prayers are with John this evening.

K&R

[yowzayowzayowza]

6. K&R. n/t

[GregD]

7. I posted a few photos of John that I have in my files

http://www.votersunite.org/johngideon.asp

Here's John at a VV meeting in April


One of his favorite activities was his summer fishing trip to Alaska. This was June 2008.

[Mnemosyne]

8. I am so sad to hear this about Mr. Gideon; really good man. n/t

[emlev]

9. I have a candle burning for John

There are many kind words for him in the comments at The BRAD BLOG as well.

John's steadiness and dependability has been a real gift to the election integrity movement.

I sure hope he pulls through!

[Wilms]

10. In Memoriam: John Gideon, 1947 - 2009

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x512861