Blogged by Brad Friedman from Boulder, CO…
“I don’t want to preside over the dismantling of voter services that have been successful and accurate,” LA County Registrar of Voters Conny McCormack tells the LA Times this morning. “I suppose I do take that personally.”
McCormack’s systems were “dismantled” after ES&S, one of her vendors, refused to supply its source code in time for testing of her paper-based InkaVote Plus system, and after her other vendor Diebold’s touch-screen machines were disallowed for use because they were found vulnerable to hacking. Only one such machine will now be allowed per polling place in order to marginally meet federal disability voter accessibility standards, and the paper trails from those machines, as per Bowen’s orders, will have to be 100% hand-counted.
Though that didn’t keep McCormack from signaling, in a Bush-style signing statement, that she didn’t think she had to actually count them prior to the final certification of the election. In a a statement [PDF] posted on the LA County Registrar’s website in reply to Bowen’s order, McCormack wrote, “However, it is important to clarify that the SOS Order does not require the 100% manual count audit to occur prior to completion of the official results certification.”
The link to that document from the front page of the site has now been replaced by McCormack’s resignation statement.
The LA Times Hector Becerra goes on to report that McCormack “angrily accused Bowen of unfairly attacking the voting machines to gain political points.”
While we’re not sure what “political points” Bowen gains (she was elected last November on the promise of doing exactly what she’s done, won’t have to run again for another three years, and has come under considerable criticism in the media for her courageous, principled stand), it’s little surprise that McCormack, who has been fighting for the voting machine companies instead of the voters for years — even appearing on a Diebold sales brochure to sing the company’s praises — would bug out of the nation’s largest county just a month before the first Presidential Primary Election in 2008, leaving the voters to whatever may happen.
McCormack’s official statement of retirement [PDF] didn’t mention her anger at Bowen for taking away her toys and those of the companies she’s concerned about. Rather she claimed…
I have been approached by several foundations and, at this stage of life, am interested in shifting my energies and experience to election administration research and consulting both within the U.S. and worldwide.
So the question we pose to you is…
{democracy:8}
Let us know your opinion. The BRAD BLOG will, of course, let you know when we find out. It shouldn’t be long. Something tells us, McCormack already knows where she’s going from here…
UPDATE: I’m told the print edition version of Becerra’s LA Times story on Conny was longer than the one posted on the web as linked above. In the carbon based version, there is a quote from yours truly, as Becerra interviewed by phone for reaction to McCormack’s announcement late yesterday:
Way to go, Brad! One step at a time toward getting out the truth and returning power of democracy to the people.
What, no “all of the above” option? Seriously – why wouldn’t she become a lobbyist working for all of these crooks?
That’s what the ETC lobbying option above is for, NewJesusTimes.
(NOTE: Sequoia’s Michelle Shafer currently is lead spokesman for that industry consortium group, but there’s always room for more! Michelle probably needs a break from making stuff up.)
I’m sure she’d like to work for Diebold, et al, but that would be too obvious at this point and she would be easily criticized for it. I think she’ll go to work as a lobbyist. That way she can get kickbacks from all of the voting system vendors instead of just one or two.
But the really important question is who will take her place…
Hey! How do I know that my vote counted? Is there a paper backup? hee hee
Good for you Brad. You’ve done an amazing job reporting on this stuff. I can’t believe how these people are still trying to disregard the SOS!
Actually, dear Conny will probably start working for disgraced former San Bernardino County RoV, Scott Konopasek as a consultant in his firm, Election Solutions. San Bernardino County Supes came up with their own election solution when they gave Scott his walking papers. It will be easy, because Scott’s brother is married to Conny’s sister. Was there any conflict of interest when Conny hired Scott as a consultant to LA County in the past? RoV’s are a tight little group in the shallow end of the genetic pool.
Congrats Brad on speaking truth to power and achieving some real results with all your hard work. You should feel proud of what you’ve accomplished so far.
– Tom 🙂
Conny could run for congress or S o S or write a book about her methods of running elections.
She hired Dean Logan as her second in command last year. He is from Kings County WA where lots of trouble occurred during the recount of the governor’s race in 2004. We are now trying to stop his promotion. In not hiring from her very experienced minority and female staff she bypassed some very qualified people.
#6
Yes, we want a paper trail for this “poll”! Is she working for you now Brad? hawhawhee! btw, I think she’d make an excellent actress or news anchor. Fox news is hiring.
Notsurprised #7
Wow, that gives rise to a new election term: “election incest”.
Anyone know what happens when you cross a Diebold EVM, Senator Craig (R-Closet), and a commode?
I voted “Premier/DIEBOLD”.
Dredd: How about Larry Craig(R-eacharound)?
I voted for “Other Foundation supporting voting machine company interests.” And who I have in mind is USAID/NED …in Paraguay (but she could also work directly for the election theft industry there). I actually have very good reasons for thinking this. Say, a recess appointment as “Ambassador-at-large for Election Theft” in areas of the world where Bushite interests are in deep doo-doo, like South America.
Bush’s USAID/NED has been trying to educate people down there in “democracy.” Lots and lots of your tax dollars going to that purpose–supporting rightwing political parties and paramilitary death squads, and destabilizing good governments that actually care about their people. Election theft machines could save the Bushites a lot of time and trouble.
If you want to read my other thoughts along this line, I posted some more at the Bradblog McCormack threat at DU:
http://www.democraticundergroun...ss/duboard.php?
az=view_all&address=203×481442
#11
Dweezil Zappa?
What a rude thing to say about Dweezil.
Actually I vote the S.S. (Blackwater,) but it wasn’t on the list. Seig heil!
#16
It was neospin shtick all Glenn Beckish like. Frank would have laughed…sorry, saw Baby Snakes again last night…
Remember this gem from CNN Crossfire? A timeless masterpiece.
Frank tore them up.
I like the part when poster boy for Valium tells him he needs to get out more