A late 4:45PM update from the Coos County Clerk shows the position one commission race narrowing. Bob Main leads Fred Messerle 12,458 to 12,439. The margin of 19 votes 49.74% to 49.66% will trigger an automatic hand recount of all ballots unless dozens of ballots still being verified move one candidate ahead by more than 1/5 of 1% of the total ballots cast for both candidates. The latest update can be found at county elections website.
According to Teri Turri, ballots without signatures, or with illegible signatures or with over votes (where too many candidates were chosen in one category) are verified with the voter over the next ten days. Once this process is over, the results will be certified and a clear winner declared or a recount is triggered. Historically, hand recounts do not often change the results of the machine count but changes can go in either direction. Don’t expect anything close to a decision in position one for up to ten days from yesterday.
So, because voting machines we don’t even use were corrupted in another state, and a worker in another county alters two ballots, we should naturally be suspect of our own County Clerk regardless of any evidence whatsoever, because there’s no way Fred Messerle could win a fair election. That it?
Yes, I’d say somebody’s panties are twisted alright.
Look, our county has many problems. The Clerk’s office is not one of them.
To those with twisted panties because I had the gall to question T.T volunteering for Fred’s board, involved in the attempted ransacking of the political process in Coos County, which I think is a valid question which has NOTHING to do with her honesty or her professionalism, which has all to do with her obvious political leanings, then there is the following, so stop acting like it isn’t happening right here in Oregon. There’s money on the line, and futures to protect. This county is rotten to it’s core, if you guys have a better way to clean it up, we’re all ears.
Deanna Swenson (Facebook)
Topics: Clackamas County ♦ Deanna Swenson ♦ republican candidates
An election worker in Oregon is facing a criminal investigation for allegedly altering multiple ballots to benefit Republican candidates.
RELATED: PA voting machine ‘taken out of service’ for flipping votes to Romney
In a press release on Monday, Clackamas County spokesperson Tim Heider said that 55-year-old Deanna Swenson had been “relieved of duty immediately after the alleged ballot tampering was discovered.”
Swenson, who was registered as a Republican, was accused of filling in a Republican straight ticket on ballots where voters did not specify a choice.
Contacted by Willamette Week, Swenson tearfully insisted that it was “only the two” ballots that had been altered.
The Oregon Department of Justice began an investigation last week after an elections official reportedly observed ballots being altered
Raw Story (http://s.tt/1sglR)
I think we can all agree that the Coos County Elections staff do a superb job regardless of who they individually support in any race or on any measure. It is a tough job made worse by the suspicions raised at the national level over things like electronic voting machines and hanging chads. Knowing Teri and other members of the staff I can say with confidence they take the job very seriously and with integrity and anyone may observe the count if they choose. The World newspaper editorial board on the other hand, well, that’s another story…
Thanks for straightening that out, MG. You are absolutely correct about the County Clerk’s office. However, given the comments here, I’m not sure that “we all” agree about that. Ron B is right to raise the appeal of a conspiracy that confirms one’s sneaking suspicions among some critics.
As for the World, it is a private enterprise and operates under an entirely different model and standard from the CC. I’m not saying it is not above reproach or criticism. Certainly not. But just because one disagrees with its editorial positions doesn’t mean it is up to no good. No one would mistake the World for the New York Times, but thank our lucky stars that it’s not the Statesman either. Given it’s resources and mission, it does a pretty fair job.
That is all I’ve ever heard as well M, but I’m not the only one questioning her volunteering to be on Fred’s board, in fact it’s the first time I’ve ever heard anyone question her. It’s curious the responses to my simply asking a question about her choosing to be on one of these ‘boards’, in light of what just happened in Oregon already, some of us are uneasy about this count.
What facts are there to present? The discussion concerns allegations made about the County Clerk’s honesty and character. The “facts” are the County Clerk is responsible for the election process. By law. If you or that other idiot themguys can do it better run for office. Of course, only you know better. You need to get out of your parent’s basement more often.
Mark & Ron…yawn…same old stuff, you sound like Fred & Cam’s mouthpieces. Are you sitting at the same computer?
Congrats, it only took you 3 comments before resorting to the nazi comparisons..the last refuge of those who have offered no facts, but like to spread the insults around to deflect from their obvious deficiencies. Typical of the Coos County dim bulbs we have so many of.
Mark, it ain’t worth it. Salmonologist apparently has the insight none of the rest of the planet has access to. The same type who whines, bitches and moans about how someone does their job while, at the same time, being unwilling to assist in the process. I can hear his accusations of communism and nazism coming in the next comment. It’s ALL a conspiracy. It has to be.
If Messerle wins this election it will be because he gets more votes. End of story. To suggest otherwise without so much as a scintilla of a shadow of a shred of evidence is beyond outrageous and an affront to our democracy. Millions of Fox viewers were shocked to discover that what they believed to be true turned out to be factually incorrect.
Don’t join them. Argue the issues, not the facts.
Ron & Mark, once again proving that ignorance is bliss. Must be nice to have the time to scold people for not trusting our local election process and suggest that we “roll up our sleeves” and volunteer. I work 50-60 hours a week, I am one of those chumps that pay for the follies of the BOC, and I do not have the time over the next 10 days to ensure that our local officials are doing their job. That is the sad truth for many of us not sucking of the gov’t teat.
Ms. Turi has made vague, uncomfortable statements over the past year that lead me to believe she is susceptible to Fred & Cam’s whims, and when you consider that Fred and Cam are the dirtiest players around, why in the hell would I think that they will all act honestly and above-board? The damage these two APPOINTED commissioners have done over the past 18 months is an astounding travesty and Coos County will suffer and pay for it for quite a while. In fact, I’m willing to bet that after a “thorough and exhaustive” recount, Fred will be the winner! Surprise!
And it’s hard to “confront the person suspected of breaking the law”, when neither Fred nor Cam even KNOW what the law is, and then do everything they can to avoid actually being questioned on their actions. Thank the heavens above that the slimy piece of excrement known as Cam Parry will be gone soon (no offense to excrement), and Fred will fight tooth and nail to make sure that somehow, some way, regardless of the truth, he will bully himself into position 1 and keep screwing us over for the next couple of years.
If you have been paying attention to their actions, and not just parroting their lies, you would realize that they are not worthy of our trust, and you do yourself a disservice by aligning yourself with this group of charlatans.
Salmonologist,
I work as many hours if not more than you. I parrot no one. I align myself with no one. I do, however, take exception to some goon babbling moron such as yourself finding conspiracy in everything. Why not just wrap your head in aluminim foil, you should be safe then. It’s hard to confront a person you suspect of breaking the law? Leave the pink panties at the door and walk the walk. How much service do you provide to the community except to sit back and whine over issues you refuse to take part in. You seem to have enough time on your hands to write the biggest blog I’ve seen on this site for quite a while.
Ron is right, Kay. If you don’t “trust” our local election process, you should volunteer to be a poll watcher. You’ll find little or nothing to complain or worry about. It’s a great way to participate in our democracy.
Who accused anyone of breaking the law Ron Black? A little touchy today?
If you think me wrong for not trusting these guys who ram-rodded this change in local government, and who have a rep. in every board in this county, I can’t help you. If you have a particular beef with something I say, let’s talk about it, but don’t tell me to trust this gang in Coos County.
I you wish to accuse someone of breaking the law why not confront the person? File charges. Make your case. You MIGHT try rolling up your sleeves and volunteering to help. That way you could keep a closer eye on things.
Oh yes, how uncouth of me to infer anything else. NO one should question what goes on in Coos County offices, I know the rules.
Just another natterer I suppose. I’m sure NO one working in elections would EVER change a ballot would they Ron? Excuse me? Read much news?
Teri Turri is the County Clerk. One of her duties is to supervise the election process. I believe she can volunteer, as a private citizen, for most anything she wants.
Terri T is in charge? Wasn’t she a ‘volunteer’ and participated in Fred’s sham committee, to change the government?
Wow, that’s handy.
Surprise surprise surprise as Gomer says.