Sunday, June 29, 2008

Brew Gets a Response From Huck

Posted By on Sun, Jun 29, 2008 at 8:17 PM

Elections are back on the table for the Pima County Board of Supervisors at the meeting this Tuesday, July 1.

Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry sent out a memo to the supes for discussion on where Pima County will go with new elections procedures, much based on the opinions provided by Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer.

Brewer, if you recall, sent out a press release and a letter to Huckelberry with such snarky fanfare, Huck and the supervisors were wondering what kind of a real politics was being played out regarding state election issues and in particulr Pima County.

With not much fanfare and in a far different tone than that the Brew's, Huck returned the favor with a letter of his own on Jan. 27. While county administrator could have easily returned a letter asking, "What the hell is going on," we have instead:

I am now enclosing my final recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for discussion and direction on July 1, 2008. We would appreciate any comments you deem appropriate.

We appreciate your thorough and lengthy response and review of our report detailed in your 11-page letter of June 5, 2008. We do not consider the recommendations to be problematic, unnecessary, or unjustifiable. We certainly respect your opinions and comments and will make adjustments as appropriate in final action items recommended to the Board of Supervisors on this matter.

So there Brew--take that!

Well Huck writes that for now, they won't be scanning ballots and will continue to use touchscreen machines for disabled voters, and until changes come from the Legislature, the county will continue with its plan to training elections volunteers and do background checks.

And yes, Brew, face it--your office sent the RTA file to the wrong office and has no record of where it was sent.

In the end it would seem Pima County wins, even if it is a bit battle scarred, since after all, county officials are making changes based on disucssions with election-integrity activists and party officials.

Brewer, however, continues to sit on her procedures manual, shouting no changes need to be made, because the law is the law.

At the July 1 Pima County supes meeting, the county will formally put in place on element of its plan--an elections commission. The commission will consists of one member appointed by each board member, one member appointed by Huck, and the county's technology director, Dr. John Moffatt, serving as an ex-officio, non-voting member. In addition, the chair of each political party will also serve on the commission.

In the end, perhaps by next year, Brew will realize she could use an elections commission of her own--or at least a revised procedures manual.