We now have recent on-the-record statements from both Ron Sims and Dean Logan which pretty much commit them both to Logan's resignation.
From this morning's Seattle Times article about the latest mess in King County Elections:
Sims, who has generally kept a low profile during months of controversy over King County's handling of the election, took center stage yesterday as he talked about a "no-tolerance" policy on sloppy work in the election office.Here is what Dean Logan said at Julia Patterson's town hall meeting in Kent last Thursday:
...
"We're saying when the standard operating procedures of King County Records and Elections are not followed, I have a no-tolerance position, and I've conveyed that.
the reconciliation documentation for this election was not up to the standard it should be, and I have acknowledged thatand
[the election] was certified, based on the documentation that was prepared and presented to the canvassing boardDean Logan was ultimately responsible for producing the sub-standard reconciliation documentation . Not only that, but as a member of the canvassing board, he was also reponsible for certifying the election. The law on certification even implicitly directs him to re-reconcile the results until the returns "can be ascertained with reasonable certainty". Nevertheless, he certified the returns anyway, even though he should have known his own staff's reconciliation was sub-standard and the numbers didn't add up. Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at April 06, 2005 10:24 AM | Email This
I believe that many other people could do the same sloppy job, but would be willing to do it for half that salary. At least we'd be saving money!
Posted by: Michele on April 6, 2005 11:02 AMAt the same time, it's hard to see how they can avoid it.
Posted by: Timothy on April 6, 2005 11:09 AMStart with Sims, and throw them all out.
Keep the custodians, to clean up the mess.
Keep your story straight.
Posted by: Andy_ on April 6, 2005 12:00 PM"Anticipation is the greatest form of pleasure"
Let him dangle for a while:-)
Posted by: Ken Muller on April 6, 2005 12:04 PMBut alas, I'm don't work for KC Elections and I'm not in a member of the WEA.
Posted by: smoke on April 6, 2005 12:09 PMRecords and Elections is merely a division of the Department, I believe there are 8 divisions run by Paul Tanaka including ETHICS.
Posted by: David on April 6, 2005 12:19 PM29A.84.010 > 29A.84.030
RCW 29A.84.020
Violations by officers.
Every officer who willfully violates RCW 29A.56.110 through 29A.56.270, for the violation of which no penalty is prescribed in this title or who willfully fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
[2003 c 111 § 2102; 1965 c 9 §29.82.210 . Prior: 1953 c 113 § 1; prior: 1913 c 146 § 16, part; RRS § 5365, part. Formerly RCW 29.82.210.]
29A.84.680 > 29A.84.720
RCW 29A.84.711
Documents regarding nomination, election, candidacy--Frauds and falsehoods.
Every person who:
(1) Knowingly and falsely issues a certificate of nomination or election; or
(2) Knowingly provides false information on a certificate which must be filed with an elections officer under chapter 29A.20 RCW, is guilty of a class C felony punishable under RCW 9A.20.021.
[2004 c 271 § 186.]
RCW 29A.84.720
Officers -- Violations generally.
Every person charged with the performance of any duty under the provisions of any law of this state relating to elections, including primaries, or the provisions of any charter or ordinance of any city or town of this state relating to elections who willfully neglects or refuses to perform such duty, or who, in the performance of such duty, or in his or her official capacity, knowingly or fraudulently violates any of the provisions of law relating to such duty, is guilty of a class C felony punishable under RCW 9A.20.021 and shall forfeit his or her office.
[2003 c 111 § 2138. Prior: 1991 c 81 § 10; 1965 c 9 § 29.85.170; prior: (i) 1889 p 412 § 32; RRS § 5297. (ii) 1911 c 89 § 1, part; Code 1881 § 912; 1877 p 205 § 2; RRS § 5392. Formerly RCW 29.85.170.]
And let's not forget the cost of the two recounts that most likely should have never really taken place. I think we will later discover that the election was never close enough to warrant the first recount.
And what about the cost of the initial campaign itself? We have been robbed in so many ways. Our party has better ways to spend money.
So who pays the bill for the hand recount after the courts and the feds get to the bottom of this? I hope the state (i.e all of us) hasn't paid back the Fraudoire campaign yet.
You KNOW the Democrats are running scared when they start to sacrifice their own! The demand for Logan's resignation would not have made the news if the Liberal Dems didn't want it to!
I believe they are throwing him out there to pacify the people..(and to blow smoke..)
But let's be very clear here - removing Logan alone will do nothing to solve the election problems! This was an organized effort of fraud and/or incompetence - but in NO WAY were all of these problems, errors and the *F* word born of random chaos. There were just too many seasoned and experienced election officials involved in this in too many counties - and the fact that they all belong to the same DEMOCRAT Party DOES mean something!.....Hello?
It's hard to grasp....hard to believe...(we've been so conditioned by the Peecee crowd and attorneys - to NOT state the obvious....) But there is nothing protected or politically correct about the Democrat Party purposely screwing up our election process! And for the years they've been pulling this off - THEIR PARTY has mysteriously won elections with unpopular candidates and have overturned highly supported initiatives.....
Some people actually need the building to fall on their head before they move....
Posted by: Deborah on April 6, 2005 10:20 PM