Investigation complete: Kathy Nickolaus violated state law, but not on purpose

[lutefisk]

Apparently, Nickolaus is just a harmless screw-up. No harm done...

In the report, Verhoff said that Nickolaus' failure to post the election results from Brookfield "appears to be either an honest mistake or ineffectiveness."

He added, "her conduct does not appear to rise to the level of conduct that can be described as willful neglect or a refusal to comply with the law." ...

As a result of the investigation, Nickolaus must change the way she reports election results. That includes releasing detailed results on election night, rather than only one countywide total.


http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/capitol-report/article_9ab0985e-e9e7-11e0-bce2-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1ZGVjLCzZ

(edit) Here is a link to the more complete official report by the G.A.B.:

http://gab.wi.gov/node/2034

[dembotoz]

1. did not realize the gun was loaded even as she reloaded 3 or 4 times

[Yon_Yonson]

10. 'Pleased' isn't the word! NEOCON Clerk Kathy has to rebuild trust and that gonna happen when hell

... freezes over!

'Pleased' isn't the word

Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus needs to concentrate on rebuilding the trust of voters. She can start by detailing how she is changing her ways.
Sept. 29, 2011

Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus said in a statement that she is "pleased" that a state investigation found that her counting error in last spring's Supreme Court race was simply "an honest mistake." We have no doubt that it was, but Nickolaus needs to pay attention to a couple of other items in the documents released this week.

She should be focusing on rebuilding the trust of voters by detailing to the public just what she's doing to avoid future mistakes.

While the report by the Government Accountability Board did say that Nickolaus' error in omitting Brookfield returns in her initial report did not constitute criminal misconduct, it also pointed out that she did violate state election law. It also said her error was "an honest mistake or ineffectiveness" and that her failure to report the error to the GAB showed a "lapse in judgment."

That speaks to her competence as clerk, which has been seriously called into question by her actions and this report.

Just as important was the assessment of GAB Board Chair Thomas H. Barland in a letter to Nickolaus that was critical of her actions and deserves quoting at length:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/pleased-isnt-the-word-130817418.html

[midnight]

2. When electronically stolen elections happen they never leave a trail to indicate

there has been a theft do they? These investigations do not show the intent of the voter.... and when the vote is casted it can be manipulated from another location....

[hayrow]

3. Nothing like being a Republican in our country

Although the skunk broke the law, she will not be prosecuted because she didn't do it on purpose? Try that next time you get pulled over for speeding, drunk driving, shop lifting, etc., etc., etc. Yet another example of Republicans being more equal than every one else.

[karnac]

8. I commit a misdemeanor at least once every couple of days, a felony once a month.

If I thoroughly examine my life as I live it, I find that It is true. Thankfully for my conscience it is rarely intentional. Lucky for me, nobody hates me enough puts me under such intense scrutiny that i might have violated some statute, rule or law . I would probably have to serve several lifetimes in the pokey If i was called to account for every single error I've made.

I wonder how many of us are in the same boat.

[hayrow]

9. Has the system ever investigated your actions, determined you committed a crime, and then....

decided not to prosecute you because you are ignorant?

Me neither.

That only happens if you are a Republican.

[Sabriel]

4. Since when is incompetence a defense?

"Your honor, I did not know I had to keep accurate books for my department. So sorry!"

[jtrockville]

7. Since the top US attorney used it as a defense for unlawful dismissals.

http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174769/tomgram%3A_swanson,_will_we_ever_see_the_last_of_gonzales/

[Yon_Yonson]

5. Justice denied is corruption personified

[Mnemosyne]

6. ffs...