Brunner caught with hand in Campaign Fund Cookie Jar

It looks likes Ohio Secratary of State, Jennifer Brunner (D) may have been caught with her hand in the campaign finance cookie-jar.

A tip of King's Crown to Matt at Weapons of Mass Discussion...

There is only one word that properly describes the explanations coming out of Jen Brunner & her campaign on this issue of campaign expenditures from her Secretary of State account in the final days of its existence:

Preposterous

Merriam-Webster defines "preposterous" as follows: contrary to nature, reason, or common sense: absurd

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/06/06/copy/brunner_spending.ART_ART_06-06-09_A1_1RE3J2R.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

All I can say is that this better be Day #1 of a multitude of daily stories until Jennifer Lee comes up with a plausible explanation instead of the fairy tale they are telling at this point in time.

Yesterday she said, "If there's a problem, we'll fix it." The word "problem" is very far off base because it is singular and not plural. Jenny: The appropriate word to use in that situation would have been "problems."

I would have to say it is a "problem" when you used to defend people who used their campaign funds illegally as an elections law attorney, then you were a judge & now you hold the position of head honcho over all things legal or illegal in the world of campaign finance. You either don't know the law which is a "problem" or you know the law, knowingly broke it and did not think you would get caught breaking it which is a "problem" or you have had no idea about what is and is not going on with your campaign and that is also a "problem." Yep, no matter how you look at this situation it is a "problem."

I think it is a "problem" when $15,500 was spent on office equipment, supplies and cell phones and neither you nor any of your staff have any idea where the office equipment, supplies and cell phones are or who is using them. That is the biggest bunch of barnacles I may ever have heard in this lifetime. Let's put that up to the smell test. Assuming you or your staff went to Staples & Best Buy that $15,500 could have bought the following:

5 HP Pavilion Laptops for a total of $4,000
5 Deluxe Computer desks for a total of $1,250
10 boxes of paper at $430
2 Canon Rebel Campaign Cameras for total of $1,160
1 Epson Scanner for $220
1 Canon VIXIA camcorder for $750
5 HP PC Bundles for total of $4,150
1 Xerox Color printer/copier/fax $550
4 Printer cartridges for the All in One $900
4 Blackberry Storms for a current Verizon customer for $2,000 at Best Buy
Total of $15,420

That is what $15,500 will buy you between Staples & Verizon (assuming you were already a Verizon customer) at Best Buy.

Of the thousands of people who will read this blog post on Sunday I would like to hear from anyone who could buy the above 44 different items (some high-end ticket items & some that take up quite a bit of space) and not have any idea where they are less
than four months after you bought them.

Is there anyone out there who would not know where these $15,500 worth of items were?

Anyone??? Bueller...Bueller...Anyone??? Bueller???

Nope. I didn't think so.

Yes, Jen. You have a problem.

A big problem.

I guess my problems thus far are why is this not in EVERY newspaper in the state?

Is this a Tom Charles issue or a Phil Richter issue or a Ron O'Brien issue??? Where are they?

If Monty Will got whacked for $125,000 and Ray Miller got cotton balls thrown at him (i.e. a $1,000 fine) then what will these infractions equal up to fine-wise? $5,000? $25,000? $100,000?

I mean she can't plead she doesn't know the law. Since she could not plead that then she plead that her campaign broke the law, she knew nothing about them breaking the law and now she is going to investigate and (my guess is for apprearance's sake) heads (not her own) are going to roll.

Right now Pia Brady (Brunner's spokeswoman who needs to go to Amanda Worst's spokeperson camp this summer so she can learn to lie to the press better) says she does not know where the office equipment or office supplies are nor does she know where the cell phones are or who is using them.

My guess is Jen probably also will have a "problem" if the press does the leg work to see the actual space that Brunner has been using, ascertain what class the space is and then price it at market value. My guess is the law firm has been charging a
premium for said space.

Finally, Brunner said she has been busy doing her job as secretary of state and campaigning for the Senate and will "talk to her staff" to clear up questions about campaign fund expenditures.

Ha ha ha ha ha hee hee hee hee hee hee hee...oh stop...stop...you are killing me. That was a good one, Jennifer Lee.

What job are you doing as Secretary of State? Seriously. It is an odd-numbered year and the primaries are over. The only thing you really have in your lap right now that is active is the Husted residency issue and you are very, very smartly sitting on it and doing absolutely nothing with it since the press is not calling you on being 100%
political and sitting on it the way you are.

There is no plausible reason you or your office can give now that it is June that could give you a reason for not declaring a verdict on the Husted residency issue.

This SHOULD be a "problem" for you, but up until this point in time it is not.

So you don't have any elections to deal with until November, you are dragging your feet on the Husted residency issue and you are not looking in on what your SOS or Senate campaigns were doing or are currently doing...what job are you doing with your SOS hat on? I think a lot of people would love to know the answer to that.

• Will Brunner get a pass on this law-breaking maneuver or will the press and the appropriate authorities investigate???

• Will Brunner continue to get a pass on being political with this Husted residency issue???

I don't know why Matt is so upset - on TV last night, Brunner said she will be investigating herself. That should give us a a sigh of relief. Yeah Right!

More Democrats looking at Voinovich's Seat

The democrats looking to take the Senate seat held by Senator George Voinovich, who will be retiring when his term is up, are coming out of the woodwork. The two known Democrats for this seat are - Lt. Governor Lee Fisher and SecRATary of State Jennifer Brunner. Rev. Strickland has publicly endorsed his flunky Fisher.

Now tossing their hat in the ring for the democrats is the former vice-Mayor of Cincy - State Representative Tyrone K. Yates (D-33rd District). Also, Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, a former State Rep., is showing his interest and has started a 527 named - Peter Lawson Jones for America.

With hardly any name recognition outside their hometowns, I doubt either of these guys could even be considered a serious challenger against Fisher or Brunner - but it will make the democrat primary for Voinovich's seat interesting and enjoyable to watch.

While I did not vote for him, Peter Lawson Jones is the one Cuy. Co. Commissioner who has consistently voted against much of the BS being shoveled here. Though I would not want him as our Senator.

On the Republican side, I believe Rob Portman is the only declared candidate. John Kasich has not declared his intentions of running for this seat or for Governor. Many in our party want Kasich as Governor - I think he would be good in either position.

And lastly, a couple weeks ago I heard a blurb on the radio that Tom Ganley of the Ganley Car Dealerships has voiced some interest for the seat. Outside of Cuyahoga County, Ganley would face the same name recognition problems as PLJ and Yates.

OH State Senator Ray Miller's Campaign Finance Fiasco

Go get 'em girl!

SoS Jennifer Brunnehilda, like a buzzard circling dead meat, Ohio's Wicked Witch of the South has hopped on her broom & is circling State Senator Ray Miller (D) like the road kill that he will soon be...

State Sen. Ray Miller continues to be dogged by questions about his campaign accounting and spending a week after the Ohio secretary of state's office filed a fresh complaint against him with the Ohio Elections Commission.

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner's office is still looking for an explanation for reimbursement checks written to Miller from his campaign and for a series of rent payments that his campaign made to help cover the costs of his private office across from the Statehouse.

The letter that Brunner's office sent to Miller on Friday is the latest in a multiyear effort by the office to piece together what the Columbus Democrat has been spending his money on, and whether there was illegal conversion of campaign money for personal use. (Columbus Dispatch)

Here's what shocks me most...

There appears to be a record or lack of records on - unaccounted campaign spending, questionable expenses, questionable reimbursements, possible phony checks & a birthday party for his wife.

No, not that there is another Democrat in OH that adds like Rev. Strickland - but that how did Obama miss this guy for a Cabinet postition!

Cuyahoga County BOE & New Voting Machines - AGAIN!

Cuyahoga residents - assume the position AGAIN! It is time for another "Voting Booth" boning...

The Cuyahoga County "Bored" of Elections is reviewing voting equipment to replace the illegal central count scanners, the county was forced to lease from ES&S for this past primary election.

And here we are AGAIN...

From the PD --

The winner will supply the county its third voting system to be used in the last three major elections. More than $22 million in county and federal tax dollars have been spent on machines since 2005.

The board might lease equipment this time because many newer voting machines presented on Friday won't be certified for use in Ohio before the election.

The companies -- Premier Election Solutions, Election Systems & Software and HartInterCivic -- provided a range of options to consider, including lease, purchase and lease-with-intent-to-buy plans. Costs ranged from $1.7 million to $15.7 million.

The central count scanners and equipment leased for the primary was done by illegally awarding ES&S the contract under orders from Ohio Stormtrooper of State - Fuhrer Brunnehilda.

Why do I feel it was illegal?

First - when using optical scanners, per HAVA, a scanner is to be at EACH precinct so it is assured the ballot was filled out properly by the voter. The intent of this is so each voter knows their ballot was properly filled out, will be counted and not rejected when it reaches downtown - the central scanner.

Furthermore, in Brunnehilda recommended AGAINST central based scanning in her federally funded Everest Report.... (bold added)

Based on the EVEREST report, Brunner made a number of recommendations to Governor Ted Strickland and Ohio legislators, including elimination of DREs, a move to centralized ballot counting, institution of "no-fault" absentee voting, and development of new early and election-day voting centers. (Source: Computer World 1/14/08)

Second - The contract was awarded using the "sole provider" clause in ORC 307.86 -

• (B)(1) The purchase consists of supplies or a replacement or supplemental part or parts for a product or equipment owned or leased by the county, and the only source of supply for the supplies, part, or parts is limited to a single supplier.

ES&S was NOT the "sole provider" of this equipment. Fuhrer Brunnehilda ruled the Premier Election Solutions (formerly Diebold) touch screens we were using, were no longer allowed to be used in Cuyahoga County.

The other 87 counties in OH were allowed to use P.E.S. touch screen machines but were forced to also offer paper ballots for ES&S optical scan machines. Fuhrer Brunnehilda never decertified the use of P.E.S. as a supplier in Ohio and never decertified their touch screen equipment or the P.E.S. optical scan equipment.

Even in light of this, our county commissioners leased central-based scanners, which are not allowed by law, from ES&S as a "sole provider" - when they were not!

Immediately after the awarding of this contract I sent a letter to Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason asking that he appoint a "special prosecutor" to investigate the legalities of awarding this contract.

I also requested that he conduct a criminal investigation as to why BOE Director Jane Platten began removing the old equipment 2 weeks prior to Brunnehilda issuing her directive. After several weeks & numerous calls to the prosecutors office - the day before the primary I received my answer... Ha Ha - Not a chance, sorry for your luck!

The Propaganda Dealer (Plain Dealer) article continues with...

Scanners leased for that balloting -- for $1.5 million from ES&S -- replaced $21 million touch-screen voting machines, made by Premier, that were scrapped in December.

For fall, the board is shopping for "precinct-based" scanners that notify voters at the polls if their ballots contain errors. The central-count method was banned because it doesn't give that alert.

There is a slight chance the county still can use the central-count method. Three of the four board members -- excluding Rob Frost -- sent a letter to Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, urging her to ask lawmakers to permit central-count voting in November. Permission would give the board more choices, and members could retain equipment used in March at a discount.

Did RPCC Chairman & BOE member Rob Frost grow a set of 'nads & BOE Chairman Jeff Hastings lose his?

Though Frost has not been portrayed in the best of light on here recently, and rightfully so, I believe in giving credit where credit is due... Frost is right for not joining this ridiculous request!

This leads me to many questions that Brunnehilda and county officials must be forced to answer -

1. If ES&S is the only approved sole provider of this equipment - why are we entertaining bids from other companies?

2. Why are you now allowing the same companies that were not allowed to bid for the lease of optical equipment in the primary election bid in this lease or purchase?

3. Can you please specify the date(s) any of these companies had their optical scanning equipment certified, decertified and/or recertified?

4. If precinct based scanners were not to be used, by law, in the primary or the general election - why are you requesting to use them again?

5. Will the residents of Cuyahoga County at least get kissed in this latest screwing?

Why do I feel the answer for #5 will be the same as the one from Mason.... Ha Ha - Not a chance, sorry for your luck!

Democrats on Cuyahoga County BOE get suckered by Furher Brunnehilda

After being hoodwinked into supporting Fuhrer Brunnehilda's blitzkrieg of the Kuyahoga Kounty "Bored" of Elections - Democrat Board member, Sandy McNair is looking for the recent JFK (Just fooled Kuyahoga) Award winner to be the "Thought Police."

The mindless McNair does not realize they been had! Had by the election Nazi herself!

From The PD --

About 17,100 Republicans and 3,000 Democrats in Cuyahoga County switched parties in the March 4 primary, the county Board of Elections found during an investigation of whether voters lied when they signed affidavits pledging allegiance to their new party.

But Ohio's elections chief warned Tuesday against prosecuting any of these 20,119 "crossover" voters because doing so could be a violation of free-speech rights.

"I would be very hesitant to move forward in a criminal investigation," Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner said before giving a speech at John Carroll University. "At what point are you going to start getting into censorship?" More...

I cannot believe that after goose-stepping through Cuyahoga County and threatening election board members across Ohio that Fuhrer Brunnehilda would be concerned at all about violating free-speech or worried about censorship. She censored every persons voice that spoke out against her brown shirt tactics and manipulation of these past elections.

Furher Brunnehilda has accomplished the first task of getting Hillary elected - she stole the Ohio primary for her. This is why she will refuse to address any cross over votes.

Funny how the Democrats were blind in not seeing how Brunner's actions directly influenced their primary for the benefit of fellow gal pal Hillahag. Now they cry foul because O'Dumbo lost the Ohio primary.

Ohio GOP Cries Foul!

Ohio GOP Deputy Chairman Kevin DeWine is crying over spilled milk - AGAIN! Dewine issued a statement that the Ohio GOP will ask political hack, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason to investigate the transporting of ballots.

I have to ask - Deputy Chairman DeSwine, why the sudden interest in Cuyahoga County?

You guys did not seem to care when Brunnehilda launched her attack using GOP Chairman Bob Bennett's head as a spring board... why now?

You guys said nothing when Brunnehilda illegally forced our county to scrap $23 million in voting equipment.... why now?

From Openers --

According to Ohio Revised Code Section 3505.25(E), ballots are required to be transported by "members of different political parties," the statement said. But county elections officials now acknowledge those guidelines were not followed, it stated.

The chairman of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections acknowledged to reporters that it appears ballots were not transported today in accordance with state law, the GOP said.

"This is a serious breach of ballot security," said Ohio Republican Party Deputy Chairman Kevin DeWine." Jennifer Brunner took full responsibility for implementing these policies in Cuyahoga County, and she failed to follow through on the basic procedures for protecting the vote. An investigation of this neglect is critical to restoring voter confidence."

Attached to the GOP's e-mailed new release were five photographs that the GOP statement said " demonstrate the unsecure ballot collection process, including loosely taped cardboard boxes, the chaotic ballot counting process and ballot collection forms clearly indicating Republicans were not involved in the transportation of ballots.

The statement said that a Republican observer at the central count location reports 10% of the boxes of ballots arriving are showing stickers not affixed over the slots (meaning ballots could conceivably be inserted). Officials have cut down the access to the observers and they are not allowed in and around the process.

You have to wonder if the state party is even paying attention....

Chairman of the Cuyahoga County BOE, Jeff Hastings, was on Fox acknowledging this "minor"infraction. Jeff stated he was unaware of the specific incident at the time, but it does not suprise him. Jeff indicated that he was not concerned over security.... even though they were all democrats transporting the ballots - each person is sworn and he has no reason to believe they would do anything illegal.

Unless something came up after this interview questioning the security of these ballots being transported - I fail to see the problem. I believe we (Republicans) only had one contested primary for republicans in Cuyahoga County - District 10 with Jim Trakas being challenged by the mentally challenged Jason Werner. Helen Keller can count thise votes and see Trakas easily defeated Werner (Thank God & Good job Jim!).

If he wants to cry, he should cry to Bennett. He is the one that caused the events to allow the start of Furher Brunnehilda's gestapo tactics.

ACLU file suit against Furher Brunnehilda & Optical Scanners

Well it is about damn time somebody did something about this!

The partisan dripping, blatantly corrupt, and abuse of power move to optical scanners by Furher Brunnehilda is being challenged in court by the ACLU.

The Go* *amn ACLU!!! Yeah the ACLU! Read it again - the ACLU! Not the RPCC, the ORP or any republican/conservative group - THE ACLU!

From the PD --

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio filed a federal lawsuit today in an attempt to block Cuyahoga County from switching to a paper ballot voting system before the March 4 primary.

If the ACLU is successful, Cuyahoga County might not be able to hold a primary, Board of Elections Chairman Jeff Hastings said. The county already is deep into its transition to a new voting system and returning to the touch-screen system before the primary would be nearly impossible, he said.

The lawsuit, which names Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner as the defendant, argues that Cuyahoga County's new voting system is illegal because it doesn't give voters a chance to fix mistakes on their ballots.

"A system that protects every vote equally is not a luxury, it's a constitutional right," ACLU staff attorney Carrie Davis said in a written statement. More....

Glad someone is challenging the Furher, but I notice there is not too much attention being paid to the conflict of interest with Tom Hayes, E.S. & S. and the Cuyahoga County BOE. Not to mention the legalities of awarding a $3 million no-bid contract to the company, Hayes & E.S. & S., that drafted the report that Furher Brunnehilda is basing her decision on to scrap the current system and use theirs!

The RPCC has two (2) members on the Cuyahoga County BOE. One of them being RPCC Chairman, Rob Frost, the other Jeff Hastings. While Frost & Hastings were not happy with the directive of Furher Brunnehilda, they did nothing more than give lip service.

There is an RPCC meeting to reappoint one of these guys on the Cuyahoga County BOE tonight - I am going loaded for RINO's! Guess who will be LOUDLY voting NO!

Third Cuyahoga BOE member resigns - Bennett still hangs on

From the PD Breaking News -

A third member of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections resigned today, leaving just one holdout to fight an attempt by Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner to oust the entire board.

The latest to depart is Sally Florkiewicz, a former chairwoman of the county Republican Party. Her term was to expire in 2012. Two Democrats -- Edward Coaxum and labor leader Loree Soggs -- resigned last week.

The remaining board member is Chairman Bob Bennett, chairman of the Ohio Republican Party. Brunner has begun a process aimed at firing Bennett. She has cited the conviction of two elections workers on recount-rigging charges.

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Well this is a good sign, who know's why all of a sudden Sally opened her eyes and stopped being blindly led by the nose by Bennett.

I really can't wait to hear how this battle will help our party.

The only losers in this battle will be the voters of Cuyahoga County!

Cuyahoga Board of Elections ordered to step down

Just seen this on the PD's Breaking News:

Posted by Mark Naymik March 19, 2007 08:50AM
Categories: Breaking News

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner asked for the resignation of all four Cuyahoga County elections board members Sunday evening. She will move to fire them if they don't agree to leave by the close of business on Wednesday.

Brunner said the two Democrats, Edward Coaxum and Loree Soggs, originally agreed to resign if asked but now appear unwilling to do so. Republicans Sally Florkiewicz and board Chairman Bob Bennett plan to fight the order. Bennitt is holding a news conference in Columbus today, where he says he will take the secretary of state to court.

She said she decided ask the board to resign after a Cuyahoga County judge sentenced two board of elections workers to 18 months in prison for rigging a recount of the 2004 presidential election. A year and a half behind bars is the maximum punishment allowed by law. More....

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So much for Bennett doing what's right!

I could see being upset that Brunner is going to fire him, but he should have stepped down as chairmen to allow a republican to be named Executive Director.

How any of the practices of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections could be defended are beyond me.

To be quite honest, all the board members should be ashamed of what they allowed to happen at the board! They should have all stepped down without having to be asked.

"Black Eye" Blackwell At It Again

Once again Ken Blackwell's childish behavior gives democrats more reasons to complain about Bad Republicans!

The Plain Dealer reported --- business owners can take heart that 50,000 letters left behind by former Secretary of State and failed Republican candidate for governor Ken Blackwell are finally arriving in mailboxes throughout Ohio.

The letters, dated Jan. 4 and signed by Blackwell, advise businesses that their articles of incorporation have been canceled because they either haven't filed corporate tax returns or paid their tax bills.

NEW Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, blames the delay on Blackwell, saying her staff discovered the letters on Jan. 17 and contends that Blackwell's office destroyed envelopes...

"This is something that was supposed to be completed before we ever came into office," said Patrick Gallaway, a spokesman for Brunner.

And here is the typical Blackwell response --

Blackwell's former chief deputy said that no senior managers authorized the destruction of any envelopes.... "There's no way," Monty Lobb said.

"It's unfortunate - she just continues to play politics." He said Brunner fired the manager who had been overseeing the mailings...

"It makes no logical sense why he would sabotage something," Lobb said.

No logical sense? Nothing Ken Blackwell did during the election made sense, why would he start now!

Why would he sabotage something? Because Blackwell is a poor loser, childish, vindictive, and still blames his embarrassing loss on everyone but himself.

Gallaway said the office had the letters but no envelopes. "We were told they did have envelopes and they were somehow taken out of here and disposed of," he said.....

It is pretty sad when I believe a democrat over a republican! But in light of Blackwell's actions during and after the election, I could never believe the man again.

How a man conducts himself in victory and in defeat is a good measure of their character.

Unfortunately, his conduct during the campaign and after the election, makes me happy Blackwell did not win. This is not a man we want leading our party as he has no leadership skills!

Mr Blackwell's columns on Town Hall are nothing more then pretty conservative catch phrases that try to justify the reasons of his loss.

And since he intends to remain in Ohio politics "Black Eye" Blackwell will do nothing but continue to divide and do irreparable harm to our party.

KING