DEPARTMENTS
ANTI-WAR
DEATH PENALTY
ELECTIONS
ENVIRONMENT
GLBT ISSUES
HEMP
INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
REVIEWS
|
Departments Election Issues My report from Hocking County, July 5, 2005: An update on Sherole Eaton's unfolding Story Weeks before this incident, immediately following the election, Ms. Eaton was commended by Hocking BOE Board member, Gerry Robinette (D), for her outstanding performance in executing her duties as Asst. BOE Director. After Lisa Schwartze (R) left her duties as Hocking BOE Director for her maternity leave last October, Eaton, nearly single-handedly, oversaw the 2004 election in Hocking County, winning the diminuitive Eaton praise from her superiors. Yesterday, in this most recent meeting of the Hocking County BOE, another side of the board members who elected to fire Eaton, was revealed. The serious matter of Hocking BOE Director, Lisa Schwartze's abusing her office of the Hocking County Board of Elections by engaging in Republican fundraising from the Hocking BOE offices, raised eyebrows from the 25 cloistered people who crowded this meeting. Apparently, Schwartze planned and executed a Silent Chinese Auction, a Republican Party fundraiser, from the offices of the Hocking County Board of Elections. The auction was admitted as part of a meeting agenda item. When questioned regarding Schwartze's activities regarding this, she became quite defensive in response, claiming that she did not deserve to be "attacked." Ohio Backbone Campaign, organizer Dave Hickman wrote in his recent report on this meeting: "Upon hearing Schwartze's admission, concerned citizens called for investigation. Schwartze dismissed accusations as "personal attacks" but was countered by Evan Davis who stated expectations for BOE officials to uphold the law should not be defined as personal attacks." That was indeed a dramatic moment as a bigger picture of the affairs of the Hocking County Board of elections emerged. A decision to "discuss" this matter was carried over as an agenda item for their next meeting of the board. Meanwhile, we wait with bated breath in anticipation. The other shining moment in the meeting that will stick with me, is when everyone in the room shouted in rebuttal to Gerry Robinette's flimsy retort that there was "no evidence" that any such thing as an illegal Republican fundraiser "had taken place." Mocking laughter could then be heard erupting from the crowd. The meeting record will reveal that Lisa had just admitted there WAS a silent Chinese Auction having been carried out through the Hocking County BOE offices. Robinette's retort was surprising considering Schwartze's statements were already a matter of record. Gerry Robinette must not be a very good listener. Lame attempts to obfuscate the truth, at this point, seemed "after the fact", at best. I agree though, with Hocking County Director Gerry Robinette's (D) statement that "all politics should stop at the door" at the Board of Elections offices in Hocking County. Yes, not only is this recommended, it is the law. If I had had the chance to speak at this meeting, I would have made sure to comment that not only was partisan politics invited into the Hocking County BOE with a red carpet, it was enabled in a grand way. The fact that it is ILLEGAL for BOE Directors to engage in partisan political fundraising while on the job, must have eluded Hocking County BOE Director Lisa Schwartze, who felt comfortable breaking the law in her decision to initiate this type of activity out of a Board of Elections office. Other things were brought to my attention regarding things Eaton witnessed while serving as Asst. Hocking BOE Director. Schwartze is alleged to have paid the said auction's caterer with a check, right from the office of the Hocking BOE, according to Eaton. Also, it should be noted that the Hocking BOE was being used to "store items being auctioned off" for the fundraiser. According to sources, it should be noted the Hocking County Republican Party has some ninety-thousand dollars in its coffers presently. In addition, meeting minutes from May 19, being public record, reveal the board violated the Health Insurance Accountability Act in disclosing Eaton's private medical information within these meeting minutes. Furthermore, off the $1928.03 In the invoice expense totals listed in these May 19 minutes, reveal that $900 dollars was owed to Triad GSI. My question is, what did The Hocking County Board of Elections actually get for the money? The phrase I would use to describe the modus operandi of the Hocking County Board of Elections is "sloppy ineptitude." For example, also, never been properly addressed by this self-ruling body of the Hocking County Board of Elections, is the matter of Susan Hughes (D) "rehiring" herself without the board's approval. This move by Mrs. Hughes might be construed as an attempt by Hughes to maintain her health insurance as a legitimate employee of the Hocking County BOE. If Hughes did not follow protocol in the act of rehiring herself without board approval while "retired", should any decisions she has made since her "rehiring" be considered legally binding? That is the sixty-four-thousand dollar question. I editorialize: An investigation is in order into the actions of the Hocking County BOE, I would say. In my humble opinion, the Hocking County BOE's misdirected effort to fire Sherole Eaton should backfire on the lot of them. Where incompetence and such corruption is enabled and rewarded to those who stray from the law, knowingly or not, how can we expect justice to be served for Sherole Eaton in such an environment? It is time for Secretary of State Blackwell to answer to the illegal actions of Lisa Schwartze, and the abuse of her office, according to the rule of law. My overall impression of the Hocking County Board of Elections is that they look as thick as thieves, and exhibit a glaring incompetence in managing the simplest of tasks such as following the rule of law. Even an effort as simple as taking legible meeting notes, and following rules of order, seems beyond the leadership capabilities of this board. It appears as if they are simply accustomed to doing things in their own way, rule of law be damned. Heaven help Ohio voters if this conduct is allowed in our Ohio Boards of Elections. In all reasonable assessment, Sherole Eaton might seem the ONLY employee on this board worth retaining. She alone has acted with honesty and integrity in assisting the electors of Hocking County. Sherole Eaton should be reinstated in her former position with the Hocking County Board of Elections, while the lot of the rest of them should be fired. In the least, that is my considered opinion. |
|
Recent Election Issues Articles An open letter to the Election Assistance Commission Diebold hack proven in county test! Diebold Inc. in a tailspin after resignation of CEO and filing of a class action fraud lawsuit Orr thinks machines make voting simpler, more secure Diebold "hack test" - Sec. State / Black Box Lawyer square off With new legislation, Ohio Republicans plan holiday burial for American Democracy Important daily voting news Poll shock Ohio's Diebold Debacle: New machines call election results into question Diebold attempts to evade election transparency laws Supreme Court stabs another GOP knife into US democracy by upholding ex-felon vote ban Has American Democracy died an electronic death in Ohio 2005's referenda defeats? What John Kerry definitely said about 2004’s stolen election and why it's killing American democracy Scrap the "secret" ballot - return to open voting Clarification of NEDA's withdrawal of Ohio exit poll paper Clarification of NEDA's withdrawal of Ohio exit poll paper Watergate-style money laundering indictments stoke Ohio's stolen election fires Powerful Government Accountability Office report confirms key 2004 stolen election findings Did you erase your own vote? Why can't the left face the Stolen Elections of 2004 & 2008? Carter/Baker Report can't face how the GOP stole America's 2004 election & is rigging 2008 Two Steps Forward, One Step Back FEMA Chief Brown Paid Millions in False Claims to Help Bush Win Fla. Votes Ohio recount lawsuit set for trial; election workers indicted Ohio Governor's ethics violations expose money trail to stolen 2004 election Diebold's failure in California Did the GOP steal another Ohio Election? Conyers-Kaptur seek special counsel for Noe probe Dramatic new charges deepen link between Ohio's "Coingate," Voinovich mob connections, and the theft of the 2004 election None dare call it stolen - Ohio, the election, and America's servile press Civic Engagement and the Restoration of Community from a voter activist’s view My report from Hocking County, July 5, 2005: An update on Sherole Eaton's unfolding Story Handbook for Ohio Voter Activists, Version 2.0 Direct testimony: Presented to Election Assessment Hearing Log Cabin Republicans in Ohio With a limp election theft report, Dems prove why they're unworthy Voting problems and uncounted votes in Lucas County, Ohio The DNC 2004 Election Report: An indictment of incompetence Corporate control of the election process Introduction: Did George W. Bush steal America's 2004 election? Voter Confidence Committee Calls For Rejection of CA Special Election Activists from 25 states lobby for paper ballots on June 9 and 10 Fear of riffraff Electoral Politics and the War: Lessons from 2004 and What the Anti-War Movement Should do in 2006 Optical scan machines hacked in Florida Does ES&S really want to sell the Automark machines? Attack on election board whistleblower and leaked Blackwell threats re-fire Ohio's election theft scandal Franklin County, Ohio Election Procedures – April and May 2005 Carter Gets It – But Will His Electoral Commission? Voter Perceptions and Political Deceptions: Federal, Ohio and Knox Electoral reform groups call for James Baker's resignation from electoral reform commission National Conference on Election Reform Opens with Civil Rights Panel View from Another Planet Democrats! Paper “Trails” Aren’t Good Enough. Count The Damn Ballots! Democrats, Paper ‘Trails’ Aren’t Good Enough; Count The Damn Ballots! Scientific Analysis Suggests Presidential Vote Counts May Have Been Altered As Blackwell Says, Ohio’s in 2004 was a National Model Understanding the difference between paper ballots and paper audit trails Save Our Democracy Republicans maneuvering to get Voting Rights Act killed Legal filing highlights Blackwell's hypocrisy in Ohio recount case Selma 40 Years Later Exit Poll Madness - Analyst Steve Freeman & Company Offer False Choice Libertarians To Testify in Ohio House: Modernize Ohio's Election Laws The New Voting Rights Movement Begins Here Today Voting in America The Mighty Texas Strike Force Blackwell presidential election sanctions briefs Representative Conyers and others file amicus brief in Ohio Supreme Court Congresswoman Tubbs Jones Outraged at Blackwell's Failure to Appear During House Administration Hearing Ohio Attorney-General's attack on election protection attorneys draws mountain of documentation on state's stolen election, including new study on exit polls Prominent Statisticians Refute 'Explanation' of 2004 U.S. Exit Poll Discrepancies in New Edison/Mitofsky Report and Urge Investigation of U.S. Presidential Election Results The last man to concede... Report on Washington DC, January 6, 2005 Arkansas in 2004: Did Bush Really Win? New links Voting Problems and Uncounted Votes in Lucas County, Ohio Plan B: Parallel Elections & Signed Ballots Open Letter to Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro from Representative John Conyers, Jr. Open Letter to Warren Mitofsky and Larry Rosin from Representative John Conyers, Jr. Ohio's GOP Attorney General launches revenge attack on Election Protection legal team What are they hiding in New Mexico? In the Shadow of Dr. King, counting the vote remains a civil rights issue Did the “Liberal Media” Get the 2004 Election All Wrong?
'COUNT EVERY VOTE. EVERY VOTE COUNTS' Moss v. Bush moves on and movement continues Rally Continues Drive for Democracy Estimated vote count in Ohio January 6 Washington, D.C. rally report Together, we moved three mountains What the election challenge means Progressive Democrats lead historic voting rights protest as Congress ratifies flawed 2004 Electoral College tally Arnebeck letter to Congress re Presidential Electoral Challenge Senator Barbara Boxer, D-CA and Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-OH contested the election The "Crime of November 2": The human side of how Bush stole Ohio, and why Congress must investigate rather than ratify the Electoral College (Part Two of Two) Status Report of the House Judiciary Committee Democratic Staff Seven key reasons why the vote must be challenged at the electoral college Ten preliminary reasons why the Bush vote does not compute, and why Congress must investigate rather than certify the Electoral College (Part One of Two) Verified election contest petitions and documents in Ohio Supreme Court Distribution of voting machines by county in Ohio Did We Bounce An Election? Presidential election congressional hearing transcript Read Election Issues Articles by Year: |
FREE PRESS EMAIL UPDATE
Donate to the Free Press Election Protection Fund to help us investigate and monitor election fraud in this year's election.
FOLLOW US ON
twitter
facebook
SEARCH THE FREEPRESS
1021 E. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43205 | 614.253.2571 | truth@freepress.org
All content © 1970-2012 The Columbus Free Press
Disclaimer