Joe McDevitt

Freeholder-at-Large

6/20/2008

 

Dear Ed,

I am disappointed that you chose not to attend our Freeholder meeting on Tuesday, June 17^th.  In the past, your brother Jim, the County Sherriff and Mr. Carney, the County Surrogate, frequented our chambers when they were seeking a raise in salary or to answer questions pertaining to their budget or staff.  I have been informed by our legal counsel  that you are not legally required to appear before our body.  However, I do believe as a constitutional officer, you should make every effort to  attend our next Board meeting scheduled on Tuesday, July 1, 2008.

I have received letters from county committee candidates complaining about their position on the ballot.  One candidate went on to say that, “If there was a column Z he might have been placed there.” In lieu of the court decision rendered against you on April 29, 2008  I would have thought you would be more careful while placing candidates on the official ballot.  A perfect example was Dennis Munoz and his place on the Primary Election ballot.

During our last meeting, Lisa Strothers, an Election Board Commissioner for 19 years stated, “This ballot was the most confusing ballot she has ever examined.”  She further stated, “The second page of the absentee ballot looked like a page taken from a phone book.”  When asked if she saw the official ballot before it was printed her response was, “No.”  This makes me ponder, did the Clerk’s office want a ballot that caused confusion, is the County Clerk incompetent, or did the Clerk honestly drop the ball? I would like to think the latter, but your silence in this matter is leading me to question whether it was a mistake or incompetence on your part.

In just a few months, your office will have the sole responsibility of counting ballots, both electronically and in the absentee form, for the next President of the United States. This burden must not be taken lightly by you or your staff.  I recommend that your office, the Board of Elections, and the Superintendent of Elections meet monthly to iron out any kinks that might cause embarrassment or misrepresentation of the people’s will.  If the process is transparent, the will of the people will be heard.

 Please feel free to contact me at anytime to discuss this matter further.  I look forward to your presence at our next Freeholder meeting on July 1, 2008.

 

                                                                            Sincerely

 

                                                                           Joe McDevitt

                                                                           Freeholder At Large

                                                                           609-645-5900