Crist chooses new Secretary of State - Kurt Browning

[soup]

New sec of state

By STEVE BOUSQUET and DAVID DECAMP
Published December 15, 2006


TALLAHASSEE - Gov.-elect Charlie Crist on Thursday chose Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Kurt Browning to be secretary of state, taking charge of Florida's voting systems at a time when they are again under close national scrutiny.

Browning, 48, becomes the first elections expert to head the agency since Florida voters made it an executive branch department in 2003.

Browning has opposed the need for a paper audit trail on electronic voting machines, which Crist supports, but the appointee quickly put himself in line with his new boss.

"As the incoming secretary, I need to be open about all the technology that's out there," Browning said. "I believe that voters need to have a high level of confidence in their voting systems."

Browning, whose county is one of 15 using touch screen machines, has consistently defended the reliability of the electronic units.

>more:
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/12/15/State/New_sec_of_state.shtml

Wish I hadn't lost all my bookmarks when my old computer kicked the bucket on Election Day. I'm sure there were several cites for Browning's "Paper? We don't need no steenking paper!".

Have to wonder - Knowing that Browning is a strong supporter of the electronic machines sans paper, and Crist saying he supports paper verification - - - Why would he chose Browning for the job? Doesn't there seem to be a bit of a "wtf?" factor involved here?

*sigh

edit for clarity - need more coffee..