After Ohio’s recount rigging convictions in Cuyahoga-is Coshocton County next? Fitrakis & Wassserman

[kpete]

After Ohio’s recount rigging convictions in Cuyahoga, is Coshocton County next?
by Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman
March 6, 2007

After the recent convictions of two Cuyahoga County Board of Election workers for felony recount tampering, Republican County Prosecutor Robert Batchelor is stonewalling efforts to investigate similar well-documented charges in Coshocton County, Ohio.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (BOE) third-ranking employee and an assistant manager were each convicted of a felony count of negligent misconduct and a misdemeanor count of failing to perform their duties during the 2004 recount. The convictions stemmed from the secret pre-counting of precincts prior to the lawfully required open recount. The convicted election workers only allowed the pre-counted precincts that matched the official results to be used in the recount. This caused the special prosecutor to tell the jury that the election recount was “rigged” in Cuyahoga.

Testimony and eyewitness reports document similar activity in several Ohio counties regarding the illegal rigging of the 2004 recount.

much more at:
http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/19/2007/2462

[mod mom]

1. Why the Dem Party didn't challenge the hell out of Ohio in '04, especially after

what occurred in 2000, is beyond me. It took (in this case) Green Party member, Tim Kettler (who some of you will remember ran for SOS in '06) to fight for Dem votes. Although the GOP is who stole the election and fixed the recount, I hold the Dem Party and media to blame for not investigating. John Conyers, the CBC and Dem House Judiciary staff were the only ones who listened and have archived the evidence. I was appalled at the disparaging remarks and brush off that many of us who participated in the investigation received from our own party. It was an eye opening event in my life. I will NEVER again vote straight Dem ticket, but will only vote and work for Dems who represent the party and not corporate interest and party hierachy. I still believe the OH Dem Party needs a purge and needs to be re-built from the ground up.

I only wish Howard Dean had been DNC chair during the '04 election because I believe he never would have let this be swept under the proverbial rug. Until we get truly verifiable and fair elections, we will continue to live in a developed banana republic.

[mod mom]

2. BTW...Free Press is co-hosting a FCC Hearing on 3/7 on "Future of Media"

In case anyone is interested:

March 7, 2007
Future of Media Town Meeting-FCC Public Hearing in Columbus

5:30pm. There will be a fact-finding public hearing by members of the FCC. Commissioners Adelstein, Copps & McDowell will be in attendance. The topic of discussion is Media Consolidation. Within this topic of conversation is the ability for people to bring up related topics of interest, including the role of video franchising as it provides for public access and localism in our media system, and how their communities are affected by increasing media consolidation in the hands of fewer and fewer entities. (Of prime importance are the effects of recent rule making decisions by the FCC which, if allowed to stand, will make the operations of hundreds of access channels around the nation impossible, and result in their closure, much like what happened to a number of centers in Texas last year).

The hearing will feature opening remarks from FCC Commissioners Michael Copps, Johnathan Adelstein, and Robert McDowell and a lengthy period for public testimony. All public testimony will be recorded and officially submitted to the FCC for consideration. Come prepared to speak your mind. This public hearing is one of the public’s few chances to speak out against Big Media before FCC Chairman Kevin Martin moves to lift the last significant limits to runaway media consolidation.

Sponsors: Free Press, Consumer's Union, Common Cause, United Church of Christ Office of Communications, Metropolitan Church Council, Ohio PIRG, and Ohio Citizen Action Any and all citizens interested in the state of our media system are encouraged to attend.

Location:Broad Street Presbyterian Church, 760 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio
Phone:[phone]