Ohio Secretary of State pulls plug on Cuyahoga County BOE Chairman Bennett

[eomer]

Secretary of state pulls plug on Bennett

Election board chief violated policy, according to Brunner

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Mark Naymik
Plain Dealer Politics Writer

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner suspended Cuyahoga County Board of Elections Chairman Bob Bennett on Tuesday, saying that he violated board policy recently by requesting that the board extend a contract with public-relations executive David Hopcraft.

The move comes one day after Brunner placed the elections board under administrative oversight because it is without enough members to muster a quorum required to conduct business.

Three of the four members resigned last month after Brunner threatened to fire them for poor oversight of recent elections.

Bennett, a Republican and state GOP chairman, has refused to step down and has sued to stop Brunner. A hearing on a request for a restraining order is scheduled for this morning in Columbus.

The suspension cuts off Bennett's salary and benefits and bars him from the board offices.

-snip-

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1175675420302590.xml&coll=2

[AndyA]

1. It's about time. Ohio elections in recent years have been a loose interpretation

of the actual.

So much corruption and manipulation. These people should face charges for tampering with an election, at the very least.

[eleny]

2. Kicked & Recommended - This posting tells us such good news for Ohio and the nation!

[Botany]

3. I loves me some Brunner!

She is really working on cleaning up Ohio and is dedicated to "outing" any
past crimes in 2004 & 2006.

Bennett did not want to go quietly and so Brunner is going to "gut and clean
him" publicly. She knows where some of the bodies are buried from the past
elections. I know she is reading and talking to some of the real knowledgeable
people about the 2004 & 2006 elections in Ohio.

Blackwell's future is going to be really bumpy.

real life e mail I got from Brunner

Dear xxxx,

Just a note to thank you for supporting me in my race for Ohio
Secretary of State. One of the unexpected benefits of the campaign
has been running into high school class mates I haven't seen for years as
I traveled the state.

Your son, XXX, is a great warrior of democracy, and I am impressed
with how dedicated he has been to helping candidates like Mary Jo Kilroy
and his knowledge of voter protection issues.

Thank you again, and hope this holiday is a good one for you and your
family.

Jennifer Brunner

[rumpel]

4. By the end of the day we'll know

how the restraining order hearing will pan out..

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

5. hard work by Ohio voters has paid off

Ohio voter activists are some hard working people.

We need to remember how important it is to get good people
in every office, all the way down to county commissioner and county BOEs.

[L. Coyote]

6. This is a quick response to Bennett's now mute lawsuit to keep his cushy job

Cuyahoga County elections board chairman sues to keep his job
ASSOCIATED PRESS - Friday, March 30, 2007 - toledoblade.com
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2719564&mesg_id=2790223

CLEVELAND — The chairman of the embattled election board in Ohio’s most populous county has sued the state elections officer to keep his position.

Robert Bennett, head of the state Republican Party...
.....

The lawsuit ... alleges the law that Brunner, a Democrat, is using to remove him is unconstitutionally vague.

The complaint also said Brunner, elected in November, cannot take action to remove Bennett based on conduct that occurred before she took office in January.

==========

Well, now he has been dismissed for more recent actions, so last week's filing is mute. Nonetheless, he can still be held to account for previous actions. Such as, answering how the Kerry-Bush vote-switching happened with Cuyahoga punch card voting.

[L. Coyote]

7. Bennett hearing delayed at Bennett's request. April 16, 9 a.m. Euclid City Hall.

Removal hearing for Cuyahoga elections chariman delayed one week
Associated Press - http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/17038596.htm

CLEVELAND - The removal hearing for Cuyahoga County board of elections chairman Bob Bennett has been delayed one week at the request of his attorney.

.... The hearing will take place at 9 a.m. April 16 at Euclid City Hall, Brunner's spokesman Jeff Ortega said....

......

Bennett has argued that Brunner's actions are political harassment and that she is trying the help her party in the 2008 presidential election. The state clinched re-election for President Bush in 2004.

[riqster]

8. Bob Bennett has always seemed like a idiot....

...but he has gotten away with a lot of shit for a long time, which argues against idiocy. I won't pop the cork for a while yet.

Meanwhile, we keep working around the state...