My head is beginning to hurt from all of this, but every time I turn around Dean Logan pulls yet another stunt that appears designed to eliminate transparency and public oversight.
Tim Borders, the nominal plaintiff in the governor's election contest lawsuit and a Republican elections observer, just sent this e-mail:
According to ... Maria Seal [chief elections observer for King County GOP], probably for the first time in her 25 years of experience, the Republican Party has been excluded from making key staff appointments in King County Elections. In the past, we had our own people on the King County payroll that filled vacancies for Republican pollworkers. (They were forced to fill many vacancies with Democrats, especially in Seattle, but that is another story.)--
This election cycle, however, the Republican Party has been shut out of the process.
One problem is that many people are willing to claim that they are Republicans, but they are in fact Democrats. For purposes of party identification, REALS takes people at their word. One Seattle resident named Helen Snyder worked at Horizon House (precinct 43-1782) in 2004 as a Republican poll judge. I have chosen her as an example because she claimed that she was a Republican, but PDC reports show that she donated thousands of dollars to Democrats and the DNC in 2004. In this case, Helen was the only "Republican" at her one-precinct polling place in the 2004 election cycle.Actually, I've already asked to be transferred from SCCC. I don't wish to be the only Republican at any polling place, especially after Ron Sims' goons smeared me in the press. Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at August 19, 2005 12:03 AM | Email ThisIf people are willing to lie about their party affiliation, in order to be assigned as pollworkers, what else might they be willing to do?
Helen was not assigned to work this year by the GOP. However, if she were to call up the Elections office, and ask to work as a Republican, REALS might boot out her Republican replacement (a legitimate Republican named Erik Tomren) and reassign him to another polling place, since Erik resides in a neighboring precinct, while Helen lives in 43-1782.If this hypothetical scenario were to occur, it would leave us with the same predicament as before: no legitimate Republican poll judge at Horizon House.
This could happen throughout King County, as in 2004.Despite our best efforts, most Seattle polling places are shortstaffed--for example, Stefan is the only Republican assigned to the Seattle Central Community College polling place, which has eight precincts. If Stefan were to call in sick, or if he were reassigned to his home polling place, someone other than a Republican in REALS would decide who fills that vacancy.
This change is yet another indication that Ron Sims must be quite worried about his re-election chances, and Dean Logan must be worried about his job. They are willing to do whatever it takes to win.
Meanwhile, we have a story in the Weekly that suggests that the Republicans might try to sabotage the upcoming primary! What an outrage.
I wouldn't be surprised if an angry mob of moonbats stormed the SCCC polling place and attacked you.
Logan has proved himself to be a good engineer of elections. No reason to believe this one will be any different.
Posted by: Jeff B. on August 19, 2005 12:21 AMIf there is enough protest made on this issue people will help out. We'll see just how motivated Vance and the party really are. BTW- the root word for ignorance is ignore. It is what the Republicans are choosing to do?
Mel
Democrats still point fingers at Florida, but at least they investigated and corrected their problems. Their most recent election was supposedly much better.
Where is any kind of an unbiased investigation in Washington? Where are the MSM reporters, the County Prosecutors, the Federal investigations?!? Anybody to stand up for the Constitutional Rights of Washatonians to free and fair elections? This is....(there aren't words bad enough for this situation). It's like a REALLY BAD "B" movie, the kind where viewers would be yelling "that could never happen, no in this country," and "the writers of this script were smoking crack."
Posted by: dl on August 19, 2005 08:32 AMWhat are you being so thin skinned about - are you objecting to being called an "election gadfly" are you denying that Vance has made comments about harassing King County - are you denying that your site has served as a sounding board for any number of Republicans who have adovcated some form of disruption of elections.
Given the insults you banter about on a daily basis, I'm surprised you would take offense to the comments made about you by King County officals.
You've made this bed - now you have to lay in it. Instead of engaging in thoughtful reasoned discussion about issues facing King County and the state you've constantly taken extreme, dishonest and unsupported positions. Congratulations. You are on the radar screen - and you are there in a manner of your own creating.
Cheers,
Russ
Russ, you don't mention any criteria by which to measure extremism, dishonesty, and unsupported-ness, other than you "feel" (or perhaps even "think") that way. Is not your summary of Stefan's volunteer research an extreme, dishonest and unsupported position? Could you (or would you) apply your same criteria to Logan, Sims, and even Gregoire?
And turning away to more serious topics-- is there nothing that can be done by Pierce county residents to help out?
Apparently, in your dictionary, "harass" means demand accountability and responsible, legal behavior. And "disruption of elections" means following up improper behavior with whistleblowing and appropriate legal action. I am sorry that you feel we are "harassing" your election officials and "disrupting elections".
And as far as I am concerned, the issue of fair, open, and accountable elections is the ONLY issue that is important in this upcoming election and the next few elections. See, the others issues can't matter until we get this issue resolved. We need a properly run election department so that when we put the issues before the people, we can trust the result that the election department declares.
Posted by: Jonathan Gardner on August 19, 2005 11:04 AMYour first step in cleaning house up there is finding a way to break through Seattlites' reality avoidance shield. Wish I new how but I don't - the problem is even worse in Portland.
Posted by: Viacalx on August 19, 2005 11:32 AMWhat do our State and County elections laws state about this? I remember Judge Bridges asking a lot of questions of the Democrats about Republican access during November's fiasco.
I believe it is against state and federal law to discriminate against one party during an election....and I think choosing poll workers or excluding them on the basis of their party falls under this.
Does anyone have this information handy?
Posted by: Deborah on August 19, 2005 05:16 PMI'd think a smart girl like you would have the initiative and savvy to get her own info on this. Just like you did on the "foriegn sounding names project".
Losing you touch????
Posted by: Unkl Witz on August 19, 2005 09:59 PMState Law is not my specialty!
I like to profile poster's personalities.
Keep posting.... and I'll get a picture of you!
;)
Posted by: Deborah on August 19, 2005 10:41 PMIf you want a pic, just send me one of yours and I'll send you one of mine.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on August 20, 2005 07:46 AMA *photo* is not the kind of picture I'm talking about....And you probably wouldn't appreciate the profile I've created on you so far.....You are revealing yourself to be a very sad person - and I care about that...
(Lucky for you - this is just a hobby of mine...;) )
Posted by: Deborah on August 20, 2005 10:57 AMCan't say that my family, friends, or co-workers would describe me as sad.
You might want to take up a new hobby Deb. Try model railroading or some sort of recreational sport.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on August 20, 2005 01:45 PMWow Unkl...
Now - THAT is a revealing statement!
Notice how you did not list yourself among those who woudn't describe you as sad? Who would know *you* more than yourself? Could it be - that by listing your friends, relatives and coworkers - (and not yourself) - you are striving to maintain a perception of happiness among them? I think that it matters more to you to be perceived by others as a happy person - than it does to actually be happy.
You work on the principle of perception... To you - it doesn't matter who you truly are - it matters more who and what you are perceived to be!
That would certainly make one a sad person.
Just be yourself! Laugh! ;D
Posted by: Deborah on August 21, 2005 12:38 AMI hear ya!
Most of what Stefan uncovers in our crooked elections system...makes me sad too!
Sometimes I wonder if any of this crap can be corrected......then a slight correction occurs and my faith is restored!
You have it easier! All you have to do is stop visiting this blog! And your saddness will go away! If I stop visiting this blog - I may miss the opportunity to participate in another small victory for those who seek honesty in our elections.....That would really make me sad.
Posted by: Deborah on August 21, 2005 08:08 PMDeb, you seem to be a kindred spirit, albiet one from the opposite side of the aisle. I too wonder if any of this crap can be corrected. We might differ on what "this crap" consists of. But the bottom line is we both fear for the future and want to improve it.
That is our common humanity.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on August 22, 2005 07:42 PM"But the bottom line is we both fear for the future and want to improve it.
That is our common humanity."
Yep! Fear and hope! Those are indeed universal!
It's scary that we can agree on something....but it's not sad.... ;)
Posted by: Deborah on August 22, 2005 10:31 PM