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Friday, January 28, 2022

Not-so-special Assembly Meeting to Certify Election Fiasco

 

 

I’m sitting here at the “oh so” special meeting of the Anchorage Assembly which was called to certify the vote in the debacle formerly known as the Anchorage Municipal election, and it’s just like a Norman Rockwell painting. You know, the one with Tom Sawyer whitewashing the fence.

It was a month ago today when more than half of the precincts ran out of ballots, voters were turned away from the polls and sent on wild goose chases across the city in an attempt to vote. Sometimes they were able to, and sometimes they weren’t.

Then we learned that the Deputy Clerk, Jacqueline Duke had told poll workers they’d be getting fewer ballots than usual this year, and if the security seals were broken on the notoriously hackable Diebold AccuVote optical scanners, not to worry about it. They break all the time, she said. Just stick a new seal on.

And then we learned that the group of IT professionals that used to check out all the equipment before elections was disbanded not so long ago. And of course the Municipal Election Coordinator’s position has been sitting vacant for a couple years.

And the Election Commission says nothing to see here. They recommend no special investigation, no recount, no do-over, no reprimands. It was all just an accident.

And then Jacqueline Duke said that we can all “get as conspiracy theory as you want.”

And Ernie Hall got rid of Harriet Drummond from the Assembly’s Ethics & Elections committee chair position in favor of putting Mayoral lackey Adam Trombley as the chair. But no worries. Candidate Paul Honeman is on it too, because as long as we have two people on it with blatant conflicts of interest, everyone will be totally OK with that.

You’ve got the idea. And if you need any specifics, or reminders, you can look HERE, and at the great resource page on Bent Alaska.

Today, to give us some indication of the action the Assembly will take, we got a report from attorney Tim Petumenos (of Palin whitewash fame), and a letter to the Assembly from Ernie Hall (soon to be of election whitewash fame).

 

Ooooo. Shhhh. Here they come now, bringing in the buckets and brushes. They look so cute in their bare feet, and rolled up overalls. Tim Petumenos is here in the front row, and I saw Kathleen Plunkett, School Board candidate. Don Smith from the School Board is here. Gwen Mathew and the Election Commission are here, and so is the Municipal Clerk Barbara Gruenstein and the now infamous Deputy Municipal Clerk Jacqueline Duke. Harriet Drummond is out of state, but present by phone. I see Wendy Isbell and Dana Klein, two of the Magnificent 10…

Ready? Let’s see what happens.

******************************************

5:02

Harriet Drummond moves to allow public testimony before the vote to certify. Ernie Hall refused to allow it. An angry voter stood and shouted his outrage. “How dare you?!” he asked. Hall called security and had him removed.

5:10

Petumenos is speaking. Calls the Municipal Attorney’s opinion “more than adequate.”

Wow. He’s selling this with all he’s got. The fact that we have a citizen group advising us speaks to our democracy, not the fact that volunteers don’t know everything about election law. We’re being patriotic, not relying on a volunteer commission to tell us what’s really going on.

5:15

As I stand before you today with all the controversy and all the people that have listened to it, we sit today with not one contest before the Assembly, and that’s significant. They sat in the office and couldn’t think of any reason not to certify. It would be vulnerable to legal challenges from winners if they refuse to certify the election.

You can change the personnel. You can change how things are done. The election is certified and behind you, and your options are wide open. All I have attempted to do is segregate those two forms of authority you have. By no means do I mean to suggest to you that a citizen who wants to bring their concerns to you should be shut up, but they cannot interfere with your quasi-judicial responsibility tonight.

5:18

Hall is asking about audience participation and opportunity to comment. Can you guide us in that today?

The process of certifying the election is set with respect to a specific timetable and procedure. Controlling the nature and quality of evidence that comes forward. A citizen who wants to contest an election must sign an official election contest. A candidate, or ten citizens prepared to back up their claims.

(Note – the application for recount filed today by ten citizens was a petition for recount, not an election contest)

It is antithetical to our system that we take our information in chaos. It doesn’t mean that in our second role as Assemby members to reform, we can’t.

Hall is thanking Petumenos. “I know you did this on a tight schedule.”

5:22

Traini makes a move to certify after the results of the recount…

Gwen Mathew Election commissioner is speaking now and introducing the commission.

Ossiander is asking Mathew about recommendations. She said a huge problem was that voters are uneducated about where and how to vote.

Then she went on about how amazing the Diebold machines are. She reported that there were NO reports of broken seals. Wendy Isbell who reported multiple times, including to the Election Commission that a seal was not only broken, but appeared “evenly cut” was here. She stoo and said, “That’s a lie!” She said she reported it, and repeated loudly, “That’s a lie!” Security was called and took her out. Wow.

She said that she’s watched the YouTube videos that some recommended, and said they were “dramatic” but she remained unconvinced. Even if they could be hacked, she has no reason to believe that anyone would have the motive, the opportunity and the expertise to do it.

Ossiander says she looks forward to learning more about the machines.

(There was much more from Mathew, that I will transcribe)

Bill Starr is going on and on apologizing for not being a better legislator. It keeps him up at night. He promises to do better in the future. He’ll be planning to vote for certification, because it’s clear what their role is and he’s done his homework.

Patrick Flynn:

Harkens back to the meeting of April 10 when Hall correctly apologized – they failed the Election commission, the Clerk’s office, and the public. They are reasonably upset. We need to try to regain their trust. I know you’ve been working hard to get an independent counsel. Another thing you could do is a total hand count. Our covey of lawyers said we can’t to do a hand count. Told we couldn’t to a revote if we wanted to. I can vote to uphold the law or I can vote to do what’s right. The law is wrong. (I believe he said he’d vote noy to certify but I’m not sure…)

Paul Honeman is also apologizing. People have called him about being locked out of polling places. One voter disenfranchised is too much. Mr. Flynn had it right. You can find attorneys to argue either way. There is bad language in the code. Finds irony in that the government has to hire attorney to protect them from people who are trying to make them do the right thing. He doesn’t know how he will vote, but will probably have to go with the law as it stands.

Chris Birch:

Thanking poll workers, thanking Clerk’s office for effort, outreach, and training. (PLEASE.) The real challenge we had here was that we had a mistake. It was just a monumental screw up and we’ll do our best to improve on that next year. I have not seen any evidence of conspiracy. Haven’t seen where any contests were close. From looking at the numbers, there isn’t a material change. Thanks you to Mr. Petumenos. He’ll be voting yes to certify because it’s the right thing to do. We do have a duty and I think we’ve done a lot of work with more yet to do.

Elvi:

Election was not run competently. I took an oath to represent the people of this community and I’m going to do the right thing and vote not to certify.

Traini:

Thanks to the Clerk’s office for a good job. “You did nothing wrong.” (Derisive snickering from the audience) He’ll vote to certify the election.

Trombley:

Just read a biography of John Adams who said we are a nation of laws. So he’s voting for certification.

Ossiander:

If the recount shows another winner, what happens? Does the other person win, even if we certify otherwise? Asks Wheeler.

Wheeler: Defers to Petumenos.

Petumenos: The new data rulels.

Ossiander says this has been extraordinarily painful and embarrassing. When things get emotional and difficult it’s the time you slow down and pay attention to process and to follow the rules carefully. People have been frustrated by the pace (too slow?). No matter how the vote turns out tonight, efforts will continue. Changes will be made.

Hall: I have to obey the law. A lot of people spent time writing our code. We need to do work on Title 28. During my tenure as chair we will promise you that this is never going to happen in this community again. Ever.

Drummond: (phone)

Appreciates Hall’s efforts to find an independent investigator. If her request (and Elvi’s) to help find one had gone through, we might know if there was malfeasance. She will err on the side of caution and is voting no.

VOTE:

The vote is certified by a vote of 8 to 3. No votes are Drummond, Gray-Jackson, and Flynn.

Yes votes – Traini, Honeman, Hall, Johnston, Starr, Trombley, Ossiander, Birch.

Working with recount applicant Hal Gazaway. Appreciate that the group stepped up and asked for this. Trying to get this done, but he didn’t have the authority to do it. It will be a hand count, and will put at ease everyone’s mind “one way or another.”

Adjourned.

Comments

comments

Comments
34 Responses to “Not-so-special Assembly Meeting to Certify Election Fiasco”
  1. John says:

    Dick Traini’s motion said to “certify subject to a recount” I don’t think he said subject to a recount of only 15 precincts.

  2. mike from iowa says:

    There are none so blind as those who will not see.

  3. Writing from Alaska says:

    PS Elvi for President…. well, really would rather keep her here with us, but you get the idea. Harriet for Secretary of State, and Patrick Flynn for VP. Thanks, guys.

  4. Really? says:

    .You really can’t make this stuff up. Thank you AKM for keeping us all updated. You are amazingly diligent. I don’t live in Anchorage but I do care what happens there. These last couple of months have been quite the whirl-wind of critical thinking type issues. I was so hoping Prop 5 would pass. I think the 3 assembly members , Gray-Jackson, Drummond and Flynn deserve a “thumbs up” for voting how they did.
    I have been pleasantly amazed at how supportive the mudpups that live in “other places” , not Alaska, have been regarding the April 3 vote and the “issues” coming from it. I get a kick out of everyone’s comments.

  5. Thanks for the re-cap. I was the guy that was escorted out after asking “How dare you?!” when Mr. Hall used “Chair Privilege” (what the hell is that?) to block a vote on a motion made and seconded (thank you Harriet Drummond & Elvi Gray-Jackson). I doubt the motion would have passed but at least we would have the rest of the rats on record with Hall denying the rights of citizens to participate in OUR government. It’s funny when it fit the conservative agenda they allowed testimony for days on end from people bused in from the Valley to testify against the equal rights amendment passed by the assembly then vetoed by Sullivan. Yeah, I remember. But they wouldn’t give me 3 minutes to say what a travesty the election was. They would have been better off letting me speak my piece then, because now I won’t shut up – ever.

    Your comment about the stark contrast in the testimony for Ordinance 64 compared to this issue echoes what I’ve been ranting all night. Thank you. And I’m glad you won’t shut up. 🙂 AKM

    • Zyxomma says:

      Thank you, Robert Cortez. I’m in NYC, but I can smell the stench from Anchorage from here. I’m so glad you won’t ever shut up. Again, thank you.

    • Writing from Alaska says:

      Yes, serious error on their part. Some people keep thinking this is their show, when it is actually the voters who have the power. Big mistake.

      • physicsmom says:

        Unfortunately, I think they just proved that voters DON’T have the power. So sorry for you ANC. On the other hand, I’m in Michigan, so our Gov. can just take our right to vote completely away by installing an “emergency manager” whether there really is an emergency or not. This is one F’d up country thanks to the Republicans.

  6. All I Saw says:

    It has to get worse before it can get better.

    And I doubt this is “rock bottom”. I suspect there are numerous financial scandals brewing under Mayor Dan Sullivan’s leadership.

    That federal audit of the Port of Anchorage project is still looming.

    An awful lot of money was spent with very little (to nothing) to show for it on that project.

    Am I the only one who remembers Mayor Dan Sullivan’s campaign to save us all from certain destruction with the “Energy Task Force” who was going to come up with emergency plans to avoid chaos and social unrest when we run out of Cook Inlet natural gas to heat and electrify our homes in the middle of winter?

    And the party where he takes credit for pushing the Cook Inlet Natural Gas Storage facility that the state indemnified for Enstar to the tune of $250 million (a bill sponsored by the dynamic duo Chenault and Hawker)… and the AIDEA/AEA gives $25 million to a company that promptly blew $15 million paying Jones Act fines for avoidable violations?

    But then the U.S. Geological Survey announced there is something north of 200 years of gas reserves in Cook Inlet.

    Of all the lies Mayor Dan Sullivan likes to tell, that one is pretty big – and expensive.

    • WhichTruth says:

      Ok, I feel a little better (very little). I see it is contingent on the outcome of the 15 precinct recount. I just got home from work and had only heard that it was certified. It’s still a whitewash. For those of you on the front line of this battle, thank you. How can the rest of us help?

      • WhichTruth says:

        The above post is in the wrong place. I intended it as an addition to my previous post. Think I’ll take a walk.

  7. WhichTruth says:

    I feel they have totally betrayed the democratic process and the integrity of the voting process. I can think of only two reasons for such a blatant whitewash. Either they are hiding something, or they want the trust in the system destroyed so fewer will vote. I have not felt this attacked as a citizen since 911.

    Their lack of integrity and willingness not to do what is right to restore the faith in such a cornerstone of democracy is deplorable. Guess we now see who Honeman really is. I cuurently see 8 members of my Assembly as domestic enemies of democracy and look forward to all LEGAL means of removing them for office.

    If there is any legal means of staying this decision, I will gladly donate what I can toward it’s cost.

  8. Bear Woman says:

    For those of us commenting and reading here, it is time to get to work.

    Not only do we all need to vote and make sure our family members get to the polls and vote, but we need to volunteer and be at the polls in November.

    That’s right, mudpuppies, it is time to get to work! That means that you contact your local Republican or Democratic parties and volunteer to be a poll watcher. Document through recording and video if there are any questions asked, prove it if there is a problem at a poll.

    We have to protect the election process! There are only two ways to do so — get out and vote and volunteer to be a poll watcher and do so honestly!

  9. Celia Harrison says:

    I am so disgusted I can’t stand it. The really mind boggling thing is people actually thought someone who was involved with law enforcement in AK could do the right thing or understood democracy. He would not have been in a leadership position in law enforcement if he didn’t kowtow to the powers that be. Try fighting for your freedom in court with these kinds of people at the DOL.

  10. JeanneF. says:

    Thanks Mudflats for all the hard work! We watched on-line tonight, sorry not to be there in person.

    This whole thing is rotten. Period.

    During the meeting too many vague answers were presented. Considering the importance of elections, I had hoped for more open and honest answers. Silly me.

    Gwen Mathew aka “The Election Commissioner” did provide some revelations which were frightening to say the least. Really, Duke is the one responsible for “programming” the election machines? Poll workers who told voters to “go somewhere else to vote” were really enfranchising people?

    After reviewing the commissions report and listening to the testimony, I still have these questions:

    Who EXACTLY was in-charge of ordering the ballots for the Municipal Election this year? Who exactly was in charge of verifying the order of those ballots?

    Mathew’s said the shortage was due to miscalculations of the number of cards each precinct needed. Since they were only short on cards 2 and 4, how many “different” voting cards are there?

    If the location was out of ballots (ie shortage of voting cards) how would sending a voter to another location which doesn’t obviously have the right cards either be remotely considered as enfranchisement?

    The report also stated the election machines are on loan from the state. If there is one municipal election each year and one state election every other year (with primary) the machines have only been used 20 times in ten years. Why are we spending SO much money on very expensive machines that according to the report are used little and are now at the end of their life?

    Signed,
    still searching for truthful answers

  11. Ivan says:

    armed revolution.
    the fox is in charge of the hen house,
    the fox sets the rules,
    the fox will not allow you to vote him out.
    nothing will change until you kill the fox.

    when will we start the boreal spring

    we have lost our country and to think that we can get it back by voting is nieve .

  12. Moose Pucky says:

    So there is going to be a hand recount? After a certified election? So have to love Alaska.

  13. Moose Pucky says:

    Good on Drummond, Gray-Jackson, and Flynn. It always helps to have at least a handful of folks with some integrity. Keep your collective chins up Anchorage.

  14. juneaudream says:

    So..when it gets ..deep enough in the stalls..the Clean Up eventually happens. Tedious it is..and so is the ..waiting for …critical-mass..but..the time WILL come..it will. As to the ones who may be assumed to be feeling ..smug this evening..I doubt they are. They have every indication that ..more, and more people..are including such things..in their study..educating themselves..noting those who are parts..of the problem. Portions of an ..almost plugged..septic tank so..they carry their fears..with them..day and night. I can imagine the extra drinking, the pills being popped..as they arrived at ..this evening..and yet..it will continue..in so many ways. No..those folks..each man and woman..is stuck with a personal ..war zone..knowing that what ..They have been doing..is..not right. Inside each braincase..it IS..a war zone. I am sad to say..that knowledge..does please me.

  15. Krubozumo Nyankoye says:

    Well, I am going to do my bit to try to spread this story wide and far so that people begin to realize what they are up against. As I said in my earlier comment on this subject, this is just a live test of how to game an election. One thing, like voter surpression might not have much effect, so you tack on a few more techniques. Not enough ballots. Misdirect voters to other polling places with not enough ballots. Give voters invalid ballots. Corrupt the vote counting machines. Obscure, obfiscate, divert, deny, and above all ignore. If each tactic adds a percent or two, you come out way ahead in the end.

    Not being in ANC I can’t read the mood much but I would guess that there is at least a small faction that is seething with anger about now. I don’t pretend to know how to do it and I am no lawyer but I think you need to make this a federal case if you are to have any hope of purging the corruption from your local government.

    It is frightening when you realize the extent to which your elected officials are unresponsive to what is clearly in the interests of their constituents. I return to the same point, these elected officials were elected by a small minority. Unless a significant majority of voters participate in a given election it cannot be legitimate because over half of the vox populi did not take part.

    Elections should be held on Sundays. Or election day should be a national holiday, for everyone.

    Proprietary vote counting systems should be outlawed.

    I’d go on but it would be tediious.

  16. Zyxomma says:

    Gack! Arghh! !#$^%#$^%$#^^**(*&^%$#%^^&%I^%$^&%$#!!!!!

  17. Alaska Pi says:

    Whata loada!

    Rest and recoup AKM- you did good liveblogging that mess.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dge7f1Ne4Ng

    “to be hopeless would seem so strange”

    Will stand with you next time and the time after that and…
    ( and try to keep my mouth shut even 🙂 )

  18. Millie says:

    I felt the meeting was all bull as far as the Assembly members were concerned. It appeared to me that they each had a part to play and specific things to to express (except for the ones that voted against it!). “It was their fault – everyone else did a good job – they have to follow the law, but there are bad laws currently on the books, and oh, they promised that changes will be made so that this current voting catastrophe never, never occurs again!”

    The conservative side is in control and its time we move them out of office as their election cycles come up. Ernie Hall needs to be watched as the new head and Mrs. Ossiander has been a member (Eagle River) waaaaaay to long. They should be tenured when taking a position on the Assembly would be my recommendation.

    • John says:

      They have term limits. Three terms and you are out for one term before you can run again. Ossiander was on the school board for many years (appointed to a partial term, then three more terms). Now in her third term on the Assembly, I think.

  19. WakeUpAmerica says:

    Wow! So the corruption in Alaska politics really does know no bounds. Tragic.

  20. benlomond2 says:

    excuse me while I go find a bucket to puke in…. This is simply unbelieveable… can hardly wait to hear their schtick on Memorial Day, honoring those who seved for this pile of c…..

  21. Alaska Pi says:

    I did go and look at ANC election code.
    Bad.
    Really bad.
    http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=12717
    I sure hope you all can get the law changed there.
    Being a nation of laws doesn’t mean accepting bad law.

  22. Hedgewytch says:

    It really seems to me that they are covering up some serious shenanigans. The voters of anchorage should be pounding on their legislators and the gov’s door!

  23. Alaska Pi says:

    Pi update 6:03-
    oh- if it’s just a royal intentional/unintentional f-up but not a conspiracy , it’s all Ok!
    and nobody did anything wrong!
    ( I’m gonna barf)
    Good job Ms Elvi!
    Finally!

  24. Alaska Pi says:

    Pi update- 5:51
    it is the voters’ fault!!
    wow!
    who woulda thunk voters could be so stupid as to rely on the MOA’s professional and supposedly trained volunteers to guide them about where and how to vote!!!
    stupenagle voters, anyway

  25. Alaska Pi says:

    Pi update 5:31-
    oh goody.
    malconduct is a-ok!

    • Writing from Alaska says:

      Can’t quite figure out how extreme neglect and incompetence do not somehow qualify as malconduct.

  26. Alaska Pi says:

    I’m so sorry ANC.
    I wish they were certifying that this was the biggest mess they’d ever made made instead of certifying the results of the biggest mess they ever made 🙁
    Yo- Mr Hall!
    The rest of Alaska gets awfully tired of losing to ANC in statewide stuff. Now- we’ll never really know if we do, right? Cuz you all can just shrug your shoulders and say malconduct and all that is still no reason to lose trust in what passed and who got to vote, eh?
    Pfffttt.

  27. Dale Sheldon-Hess says:

    Keep us updated! I’m at work until 5:30, and then there’s travel time…