By Lindy Li, APRIL 3, 2016
Friends and loved ones,
After three days and evenings fighting in Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court, I have withdrawn from the Congressional race in PA-6 for 2016. I’m truly sorry I couldn’t hold onto our dream. My heart is in pieces.
Lindy Li and Beatrice Lee pose for a picture(file photo).
Through your efforts, we gathered around 2,500 signatures, well over the 1,000 signatures a Congressional candidate needs to appear on the ballot. Although some of our signatures were void due to errors that are common among candidate petitions,… during the court proceedings, I learned of a much greater problem: one of our notaries failed to keep a notary log that is required by law. This oversight disqualified a significant portion of our signatures, placing us below the legal requirement. I take full responsibility for what happened.
We were ahead in the polls and had the support of Americans not only in PA-6 but also around Pennsylvania and America, raising over half a million dollars from citizens who scrimped and saved to realize our vision for our incredible country. I could never have imagined that our battle would be in a courtroom, rather than in the court of public opinion. I ask myself now: If I had known a year ago that this would happen, would I still have run? My answer is an unwavering “yes.” Victory is measured in the number of people that were touched and inspired — by that count, we have many more than 1,000.
This episode leaves me with no bitterness or resentment — only love. The judge presiding over the hearing said he had never before been so moved in an election case, as a parade of supporters bravely took the stand on our campaign’s behalf. When the court adjourned, I embraced with warmth those who sought to end our campaign. While disappointed, I wish my opponent the very best and will devote my time now to supporting other candidates and serving our community.
This campaign was a labor of love. I will run for public office again to serve our country and hope you will remain with me. Thank you so much for sharing this journey with me.
亲爱的李林笛支持者们：
今天，我们遗憾地告诉大家，就在李林笛全力以赴迎战初选，而且民调大幅领先对手的情况下，由于她在当地雇用的专业竞选团队的技术错误和我们监督不够，意外导致她不能参加今年国会议员的初选。我们李林笛华人助选团队的全体理事和您的心情一样，感到格外的痛心和惋惜。
李林笛的民主党内初选对手，以候选人名列选票所必需的联署请愿签名（Petition signature) 不符规定为由，将李林笛告上法院。经过法院多日比对审核，证实联署书确有多处疏漏，不符要求。根据宾州法律，国会参选人如果要名列初选选票，必须获得1000份以上的合格选民联署请愿，李林笛团队提交了2470份，但是被认证的有效联署没有达到法定的1000份，从而失去了候选人的资格。
虽然李林笛表示愿意为她用人不察、监督不力承担全部责任，但做为李林笛华人助选团理事会的全体成员，我们在此勇于承担我们应有的责任，诚恳地向她的支持者们道歉。
关于李林笛退出本次竞选后募捐资产的处理，我们将遵循美国选举惯例和相关法律，在对募捐资产作出详尽准确统计后，尽快做出一个完整的对募捐人负责的善后办法。
我们衷心感谢你们给予李林笛强有力的精神支持和慷慨捐助！“李林笛”已经成为一个华人青年一代投身公共服务的响亮的名字；“李林笛精神”业已成为一个带动华人参政议政的新精神；李林笛全国各地热情的支持者们已成为“点亮下一代年轻人心中的梦想”的一股势不可挡的浪潮！从这个意义上讲，我们可以骄傲地说，李林笛这一年的竞选是相当成功的，对华人社会参政议政的推动功不可没！
虽然李林笛的努力意外地遭遇挫折，但是她从没气馁，从未言放弃，她继续投身公共服务的决心没有丝毫的减退。为此，我们理事会郑重承诺将长期坚定地支持李林笛继续投入公共服务，并长期坚定地支持华人的议政参政大业。我们相信有您的继续支持和参与，我们一定能够一同实现华人社会的百年梦想。
李林笛华人助选团理事会
2016年4月2日，星期六