My weekly column for The Stranger is now up
I was pleased to get some quotes for the column during a brief phone interview with Sam Reed. He was very gracious and also had some refreshingly tough things to say about the situation in King County. Here are some quotes that didn't make it into The Stranger --
I asked him if he's seen in his years as an election officials any problems like what we're seeing in King County this year. He said that although other counties have made mistakes in their elections at various times "the combination of them in King County is unprecedented", and that "rather than admitting to a mistake they essentially covered it up. This has happened a few times ... it seems to be the organizational culture ... to cover things up". He also emphasized how important it is to account for ballots. This is a basic part of the "Elections 101" training course his office runs for county elections administrators "you have to know how many ballots you have" and that it's "fundamental to good elections management".
Indeed.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at April 14, 2005 06:31 PM | Email This"A stupid man cannot learn, an ignorant man has not had the opportunity to learn, but a foolish man is able to learn, has the opportunity, and does not do it." ~ Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
If Mr. Reed still in favors Vote By Mail fraud, I say no.
Posted by: Splatter on April 14, 2005 07:34 PMThe jury is out on Mr. Reed, until the Court challenge is complete. The judges will listen to him, as the judgments in the previous court hearings on the election recount all were in agreement with Reed's opinion. As far as election reform goes, he is mostly out to lunch.
He neglects to press for photo ID and favors vote by mail elections - As I said, he is a slippery fellow and I would hesitate to vote for him again at this time.
Dear Mr. L***
Although I understand your frustrations regarding our recent election, please understand that the Office of the Secretary of State does not have the regulatory authority necessary to investigate discrepancies occurring at the county level. All investigations must be made with the cooperation of the counties. Without the cooperation of the entire King County Council and King County Executive Ron Sims, Secretary Reed cannot and will not investigate any mistakes occurring within King County's jurisdiction.
Secretary Reed was constitutionally mandated to certify the election results in December. If Secretary Reed had not certified the election, he would have eliminated the right of the Republicans to contest. The Republicans have contested the election and taken it to court. Under Washington State Law, it is now in the hands of the courts to determine if the errors the plaintiffs site are enough evidence to set aside the election results. If a new election should be the outcome of the court challenge, the Office of the Secretary of State will do everything in its power to ensure that a revote is fairly administered under Washington State law and election rules.
Sincerely
Ingrid G. Pharris
Constituent Relations Assistant
Office of the Secretary of State
All well and good. Ms. Harris was forced to certify the election, since she like Reed hadn't the power to do anything else. I have no objection with Harris' action and, if Reed is equally powerless, I have no problem with Reed.
What may be forgotten is that the position of Florida SoS was eliminated after Harris. Katharine was the last. Probably because the position was as useful as---bicycle shorts for fish. So should Reed's elected position--SoS--be eliminated as was Harris's? If the SoS has no authority or true regulatory power, what good is it being an elected position? If the SoS cannot enforce WA State voting regulations, then why should any county bother to pay attention to them?
I am saving my ire for McKenna, not Reed. If McKenna does not instigate an investigation into the irregularities at KC elections, then he deserves to be kicked out of office in the next cycle. Apparently Reed is just a eunuch, so let's eliminate the SoS position and save a few bucks.
Posted by: iconoclast on April 14, 2005 10:15 PMI must join those who are skeptical of Sam Reed....
He has had the power to stop the watering down of the election laws over recent years - yet did nothing. He sided with the Democrats during the hand recount - to have those bogus absentee ballots added to the totals. (Hello?? He allowed more ballots to be added to a HAND RECOUNT!!!!) He should have been the one to lead the charge against King County 5 months ago...Heck! 5 YEARS ago! He never has....never will.
I would not get cozy with the guy....
Don't know?
Neither do I, but I think we are about to find out.
Posted by: Jericho on April 14, 2005 10:26 PMSam, you you can't 'fill' Bill's shoes!
If a surgeon botched an operation this badly, would he not face crimmial litigation?
Especially, if, when asked, he said 'AW, it's good enough.'
But the thing I find suspicious is that Mr. Reed was so seemingly willing to jump of the Fraudoire bandwagon of this sham "electoral reform" commission. Serving as Fraudoire's Commissar on that lousy, stinking pile of washwash crap is a black stain on anyone's record. It should have been obvious that the purpose of that "commission" was to deflect attention from an illegitimate governor and lend credibility to a flawed process. Being Commissar of such a charade is more an indictment of character than a testament to it.
Posted by: Interested Observer on April 15, 2005 06:51 AM"the Office of the Secretary of State will do everything in its power to ensure that a revote
is fairly administered under Washington State law and election rules."
SoS Reed is trying to sell us a room full of nothing but hot air.
He will never get my vote, again.
Spot on.
Posted by: Amused by liberals on April 15, 2005 10:18 AM