* Handy had never heard the term "voter crediting" throughout the election.
[ As Handy acknwoledged earlier, he's a "public sector manager", a career bureaucrat. He is not any kind of an expert on how elections are supposed to be run. ]
Foreman: is one of your roles to be a cheerleader for the state's county auditors?
Handy: my style is one of positive reinforcement. I am proud of them. [In a nutshell, yes he's a cheerleader].
Characterizes Way/Fell's fraudulent ballot report as a "mistake" ... but calls it "serious", not "inadvertent" because it was deliberate.
Foreman: is the Secretary of State neutral in this contest?
Handy: we want correct application of law. We want complete record of facts. We do not anticipate taking a position. [craven bureaucrats. Don't give a whit about quality control --Ed.]
Handy: position on felon votes: [I paraphrase] they're illegal but relies on Hill v. Howell to say that once a felon vote is in the ballot box, and we don't give a f*ck if they threw the election.
Foreman: what's the SoS policy position on proportional deduction?
Handy: using circumstantial evidence is appropriate. parties should present evidence accepted by scientific community. Not taking a position on proportional deduction. [I paraphrase] The SoS Office is too useless to suggest a remedy to correct for illegal votes. We simply don't give a f*ck if illegal votes change the outcome of an election.
Handy: "I'm not aware of a statute or a rule that requires crediting to occur prior to certification" [the guy's ignorant]
Foreman: quotes from WAC 434-240-270 [absentee ballot audit trail]
Handy: some have incorporated into reconiliation... admits that it is used to prevent double voting.... "even with crediting in poll site environment, you'll prevent people from crediting both absentee and provisional"
Foreman: [I summarize] isn't the reconciliation supposed to be done prior to certification in order to prevent double voting, stuffed ballot boxes, removal of ballots.
Handy: yes, yes and yes
Foreman: if election workers, like Nicole Way and Garth Fell were aware of problems with the reconciliation, that the number of ballots accepted didn't balance with the number of ballots issued, should they have reported that to the canvassing board prior to certification?
Handy: yes
Handy: reconciliation is required prior to certification, but isn't required to be reported to Secretary of State.
[Bob Williams of Evergreen Freedom Foundation e-mails that crediting of absentee ballots is required before certification, in order to prevent double voting by provisional, see: WAC 434-240-250
The special ballot shall be securely retained until all absentee ballots have been received and credited.]
Foreman: is it true that as early as January 28, you and Dean Logan and King County prosecutor were approaching the crediting issue from the same perspective?
Handy: I think we were pretty close.
Handy: I think the reconciliation issue raised by the Republicans is completely unfounded. (should have read crediting). Every county needs to reconcile number of ballots received with counted.
Foreman points out Handy's errors and ommissions in his correspondence with King County. From my perspective, he's destroying Handy's credibility.
Foreman posts email between Handy and King County suggesting that [falsely]discrediting the Republican crediting claims could help severely undermine confidence in the R's other claims.
Foreman: "and you're neutral in this case?"
Handy: yes
Good grief!
Posted by: Susan B. Anthony on May 31, 2005 11:12 AMAsk a fly on a dung heap what he is dealing with. Do flies make mistakes? With that logic, I guess 9-11 was a "building structural failure."
I hope they all get "sheet metal vocational training." (pressing license plates in the 'poky.')
Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on May 31, 2005 11:21 AMGroan.
Posted by: Dogbert on May 31, 2005 11:51 AM
Handy would make a great Asst. Vice-President in Training for one of those PayDay Loan/Check Cashing places.
This guy is getting skewered!!
Posted by: BananaLand (aka Iguana) on May 31, 2005 11:53 AMHa ha ha ha
Posted by: BananaLand (aka Iguana) on May 31, 2005 12:00 PMThis is like the WWF. I hope it gets better after lunch.
Posted by: JRR on May 31, 2005 12:02 PMJust keep him out of our missle silos. We don't need "inadvertent," "mistake" or other "handy descriptions."
Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on May 31, 2005 12:02 PMI can think of no better poster boy for everything that is apallingly wrong in Olympia.
Posted by: John W. Nelson on May 31, 2005 12:03 PMI was once a witness in court and our lawyers told me to answer honestly, but not to volunteer additional information. It doesn't appear that Nick had the same advice.....
Posted by: Jack on May 31, 2005 12:04 PMLet's start an innitiative to rename the state BananaLandia.
We should rename the Governor to Bananor and the legislature to Bananaslature.
Posted by: BananaLand (aka Iguana) on May 31, 2005 12:07 PMNow we know why the democrats have no problem with Reed.
"If [Judge Bridges] says we have to show how individual voters voted, we lose," Virginia-based Republican lawyer Mark Braden said Friday afternoon.
Of course, Judge Bridges hasn't said that the "proportional reduction" method of vote elimination will be allowed by trial's end.
Bridges has to agree with the Republicans' statistical analysis of how illegal votes were cast (an analysis since weakened by the Seattle Times' investigation of individual felon voters) in order to agree that election errors gave the governorship to Gregoire.
If Bridges does not agree that Rossi's data is sound or that statistical vote reduction is an appropriate remedy...then Rossi will have only the state Supreme Court to rule on the matters of law in this waning case.
Posted by: The_Gent on May 31, 2005 12:14 PMWe lost a bunch of them: Williams, Carlson, we'll see about Rossi....
Posted by: Dogbert on May 31, 2005 12:15 PMHandy is the epitome of all that's wrong with government workers . . . who couldn't exist in the private sector.
Posted by: Jim Thomasson on May 31, 2005 12:16 PMGreat clinic on cross-examination here, too. We've seen everything short of Handy going into tick-tock.
Posted by: Thoan on May 31, 2005 12:20 PMAnd then only getting 45%; or was it 40%?
The judge will be making history. It seems he has enough anecdotal info to throw this election out. The challenge is to make some mathematical sense out of it, which I don't see how he can.
It is like trying to define "what is port"? Well, the answer is "you will know it when you see it". Same goes here, or should go here, "were there enough errors to invalidate the election?". The answer is "yes, because it is obvious". I don't think the judge should do the math stuff, because the Supremes might nit-pick it to death and miss the forest from the trees.
Posted by: swatter on May 31, 2005 12:23 PMClips from this link: http://www.washingtonports.org/members_only/newroundups/july2004/072904.htm
Nick Handy, former executive director of the Port of Olympia, is now director of elections under Secretary of State Sam Reed.
"This is a significant election for a lot of reasons. One is that it's the first presidential election since problems surfaced in Florida," {Blucher!} Handy said. "After Florida, {Blucher!} there are more doubts and questions of how the election is administered.
"The state of Washington has never had problems like Florida, {Blucher!} but every state was impacted by the issues that came out of Florida. It's our job to increase public confidence in the election system."
Handy was port director for eight years before his tenure came to a tumultuous end in December.
The controversy centered on an increase in the pension obligation owed by the port to the state Retirement Systems because of an $80,000 balloon payment due to Handy.
In January, he worked as a lobbyist during the legislative session for Reed's office, earning $19,950 for a three-month stint.
A string of high-level departures from Reed's office persuaded him to hire Handy permanently, Reed said.
Dean Logan left for the top elections position with King County, where his salary increased from $85,000 to $115,000 a year.
Bill Huennekens followed Logan to King County, and Patrick McDonald was called up in the Army Reserve.
"As far as I'm concerned, this (hiring Handy) is what's best for the people of Washington state," Reed said. "To be able to get someone young, talented and with leadership ability is very fortunate."
Reed and Handy have a long relationship -- politically and as friends.
Both have long family ties to the Wenatchee area and have worked on numerous campaigns together.
"In an election year, I'll donate $1,500 to $2,000 for 10 or 12 different candidates," Handy said. "I'm a generous giver to candidates of both parties."
As director of elections, Handy takes a politically neutral position.
He started the job May 10 with an annual salary of $85,000. He earned $98,000 a year as port executive director.
Handy has experience working for elected officials at the port. He also ran for statewide office, commissioner of public lands, in 1992. He lost in the primary.
Handy acknowledged that he is new to the intricacies of running an election from the secretary of state's perspective, but he downplayed his inexperience.
"Director of elections is a leadership, management position," he said. "I have a staff of very skilled technical people that understand the ins and outs of the election process."
The job parallels his experience at the port, Handy said.
"I didn't know a lot about shipping, aviation or the marine terminal when I started," he said. "I had people at the port that I relied on, and I provided the leadership."
Their talking points memo was accepted by the judge as fact. He quoted from it in ruling that voter crediting is a post-election administrative exercise that has nothing to do with the authenticity of the election results.
Unfortunately, the GOP lawyers still haven't made plain that "voter crediting" is being used by Handy, Logan, etc., to mean something other than the voter crediting required by statute and regulation during the conduct of the election and the canvassing process prior to certification.
Handy and his buddies use "voter crediting" to refer to the updating of voter registration records to show the date of the last election in which each individual voted, but that's not what "voter crediting" is.
Maybe after the trial someone can hand the GOP lawyers copies of the statutes and regulations and force them to read and understand them -- but first hand them an iron glove to put on the hand they tend to use in slapping their foreheads when recognizing that they've made a bonehead mistake.
Posted by: Micajah on May 31, 2005 12:27 PMDid those come out??
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on May 31, 2005 12:28 PMThat is scary.
Posted by: BananaLand (aka Iguana) on May 31, 2005 12:30 PMThese yo yo's were hired by Sims in preparation for his run for the governor's mansion... Didn't end up happening but what would be their next best outcome: another democrat winning.
Over the last 5 months in particular it has been a "whatever it takes" mentality to cover-up, hide, lie, and minimize. From bogus Election reports, bullSh*t testimony before the county council, and the withholding evidence, to flimsy internal investigations. This email from Handy continues to prove a conscious effort for a cover up.
It is too bad the MSM doesn't do their job in holding these criminals accountable for their actions.
Wow! First Handy expresses that illegal votes should be counted if they make it into the voting system...then he says voter crediting can be done after certification - even when Foreman reads him the WAC about it!
But the bombshell email proving Handy's political bias against the Republicans and their case - caused irreparable damage to the Dems case! It shows that the SoS office was indeed partisan (toward the Democrats) and THAT finding alone - brings implications that the election was pushed on through - errors, fraud and all - by the SoS office! And THAT is what the Judge is going to look at in the rest of the Dems case! And THAT just royaly screwed them!
There is no way to unring this bell!
I suspect Dean Logan's testimony will be just as - (or more) revealing - at least on cross-examination!
Bring on the popcorn!
Posted by: Deborah on May 31, 2005 12:48 PMPosted by dano"
Sorry Dano, we here in WA do not Register our Party affiliation when registering to Vote.... I aggree with you that it would make it more clear..I also feel that we should represent our party affiliation when registering to vote...But that has been a big contraversy in this state for many years.. But if we knew who was who it would make things alot easier when it comes to different aspects of our Party's in WA
"Sam was left without an elections director six months from the presidential election and with seven months left on his term if he's not re-elected," Handy said. "Going into a third national search to try and hire someone for what might be four or five months didn't make sense."
Handy was offered the job.
"As far as I'm concerned, this is what's best for the people of Washington state," Reed said. "To be able to get someone young, talented and with leadership ability is very fortunate."
Reed and Handy have a long relationship -- politically and as friends.
Both have long family ties to the Wenatchee area and have worked on numerous campaigns together. They recruited and managed the campaigns for former Thurston County prosecutor Bernardean Broadus and county auditor Kim Wyman.
Handy has supported Reed's election in the past.
"I've been behind Sam all the way for more than 30 years," Handy said.
Handy said Reed is one of several people to whom he has given financial support in their run for elected office.
"In an election year, I'll donate $1,500 to $2,000 for 10 or 12 different candidates," Handy said. "I'm a generous giver to candidates of both parties."
Reed said Handy's political contributions, which date back to long before Handy took his current post, had no bearing on Handy getting the elections job.
"I wouldn't choose someone for such a vital position because of a donation four years ago," Reed said.
As director of elections, Handy takes a politically neutral position.
He started the job May 10 with an annual salary of $85,000. He earned $98,000 a year as port executive director.
Handy has experience working for elected officials at the port. He also ran for statewide office, commissioner of public lands, in 1992. He lost in the primary.
Paula Casey, his wife, is a Superior Court judge. She is up for re-election in the fall, seeking her sixth four-year term.
Handy acknowledged that he is new to the intricacies of running an election from the secretary of state's perspective, but he downplayed his inexperience.
"Director of elections is a leadership, management position," he said. "I have a staff of very skilled technical people that understand the ins and outs of the election process."
The job parallels his experience at the port, Handy said.
"I didn't know a lot about shipping, aviation or the marine terminal when I started," he said. "I had people at the port that I relied on, and I provided the leadership."
As for his future in the elections job: "I really don't have any expectations for how long I'll be in the position," Handy said. "My first goal is to make it through the general election, then the end of Sam's term in December. If he's re-elected, then I'll re-evaluate my options."
He hoped that by discrediting one Republican claim, the Republican's other claims would be undermined. He didn't just think that would happen, he HOPED it would.
Thank you Dems, for calling such an idiot to the stand, and displayin him for all to see! And good job Foreman!
Posted by: California Dreamer on May 31, 2005 01:00 PM
expect this will be a major issue raised by the Republicans as they have built their entire public affairs campaign ("Every Vote Should Have a Voter") around this theme and have worked it hard. If we can successfully demonstrate that this is an unfounded claim, I would hope that this would severely undermine the confidence of the court in the other R claims."
Foreman: "You want to severely undermine the confidence of this honorable court ."
Handy: "There are some claims that I believe have been pursued by the Republicans that I do not believe are valid claims."
Handy said Republicans were "manipulating information" to undermine public confidence in the election.
Earlier, Handy had told Foreman that the Secretary of State's office is neutral in the election lawsuit.
Foreman: "You're neutral?"
When Handy said again that the office was neutral, Foreman barked, "How can you say that? You are under oath."
At that point Democratic Party attorney Jenny Durkan objected, Bridges sustained, and the court broke for lunch until 1:15.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTED 11:55 AM Tuesday
Posted by: Ted on May 31, 2005 01:01 PMNicole Way testified about many registrations without signatures......
Several months ago a thread by Stefan talked about voter registration dates being changed and there was a letter from an King County worker talking about they were severely backlogged trying to put voter registrations into the computer and that boxes of registrations just "disappeared" and they were told not to worry about them.........
Interesting facts that now to seem to be connected!
Posted by: sgmmac on May 31, 2005 01:03 PMPosted by: California Dreamer on May 31, 2005 01:04 PM
He has stated that he must fly to Olympia to pick up his family and fly to Boston tonight.
Posted by: Skeptical on May 31, 2005 01:13 PM;-)
P.S. I can understand why Jennifer Dunn named her son Reagan. But Nixon as a first name? Egads!
P.P.S. My little brother is dating a woman who has a 6-year-old daughter from a previous marriage whose first name is Reagan. If they get married, she will be Reagan Nixon.
Posted by: Rep. Toby Nixon on May 31, 2005 01:39 PMCan't quite picture this guy with a pipe wrench (although I suppose he can throw a monkey wrench in the works...)
Posted by: Dogbert on May 31, 2005 02:20 PMOops! Too late!!!
Posted by: alphabet soup on May 31, 2005 04:58 PM