In our Oct. 23 issue, our cover story and our Editor’s Note focused on Pima County elections security. The story was an examination of various claims election-integrity activists are making against the county’s Elections Division; the Ed Note made the case that Elections Director Brad Nelson should be relieved of his duties.
These stories apparently touched a nerve with the county. After a conversation with Tom Lee, the Weekly‘s publisher, Chuck Huckelberry sent to us a response to the Oct. 23 stories.
In an effort to be fair, we’re running Huckelberry’s entire response in the Nov. 13 print edition, except for a testimony excerpt we could not fit in. You can find Huckelberry’s response–exactly as he sent it to us–here.
Meanwhile, Bill Risner–the lawyer for the Democratic Party who was a key player in getting the whole election-integrity ball rolling here in Pima County–also got hold of a copy of Huckelberry’s response to the Weekly. In response to Huckelberry, he typed up a letter, which can be found here.
We’re continuing to follow the elections-integrity story–and stand fully behind all of our previous coverage.
This article appears in Nov 6-12, 2008.
Thanks to the Tucson Weekly for their courage in reporting the truth. Who knew that it would draw Chuck Huckleberry out? I’m astonished that somebody so measured and careful would would be so hysterical and vindictive. What is this? The world according to Chuck Huckleberry?
Risner states in his response:
“The conclusion I draw is that Huckelberry has not asked because he knows the answers. The conclusion I draw is that Nelson and Crane aren’t disciplined because they have something on the boss. That conclusion explains his fierce defense of them, contrasted with his complete absence of curiosity about what they actually have been doing.”
I couldn’t agree more. I hope people take the time to read both documents and draw their own conclusions. Maybe some real change can happen.
— We’re continuing to follow the elections-integrity story–and stand fully behind all of our previous coverage.
Bravo. It took a boatload of buckshot to get you lassies and fellas interested in this story and to admidt it even was a story but when the light got seen and you all finally ran with it, shazam you got the goods and then some.
How do you know. Cuz dem powas dat be is buzzin.
So the laws of plumbing proves true: shit flows downhill. Be brave. Don’t cave. Journalism in Tucson can be more than just thorns and flowers. It can also have roots that run deep into the caliche.
Now for that continuing coverage you all mention: Anybody talk to the patrons at Boondocks over the last couple of weeks as once suggested? Any video cam footage available? Who was bartending or working that night? What did he see or not see? Who was in town? Come’on follow the trail gang and earn that Pulitzer.
Chuck Huckelberry’s end around letter to The Weekly’s publisher instead of Jimmy Boegle, the editor, was a cheap shot. Clever, but cheap. Attorney Bill Risner’s response makes it clear why Brad Nelson and Bryan Crane should never be allowed anywhere near the counting of ballots in Pima County. Also, why Chuck Huckelberry should follow them out the door. When elected officials whose duty is to investigate criminal activity (Barbara LaWall and Terry Goddard) instead assist in the cover up or refrain from pursuing evidence, we have a huge problem.
Concerned citizens may wish cut, paste, and circulate the following petition.
***
Count the RTA Ballots
Our constitution guarantees that: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State. . .” and, also, “. . . the right of the people . . . to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The Arizona Daily Star stated, on October 18, 2008: “Our community must resolve nagging, persistent allegations of vote tampering in the 2006 Regional Transportation Authority election. . . . (I)t’s time to put pettiness aside, agree on how to proceed and petition a judge or do whatever legal wrangling must be done (to) get the questions finally and legally resolved.”
The Tucson Weekly of October 23, 2008 says of the same election, “Count The Votes.”
We ask you, Attorney General Goddard, to do your duty. Count the ballots in an open process to confirm whether or not a crime was committed in the processing of those ballots as soon as is possible.
Name, Printed:
Signature:
Address:
***
Petitions can be mailed to:
Attorney General Terry Goddard
Office of the Attorney General
1275 West Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007
or, aginfo@azag.gov
Hi,
Our state legislators need to check this problem out. They
need to find out what keeps the water boiling in this “tea pot”.
Hopefully the AZ state legislative “elections oversight committee”
can look into this ongoing problem (two years old and maybe older),
with the prospect of updating our election (voting & counting) laws.
The new update of the election laws need to keep focused on the
absolute Voters Rights to register to vote, casting their vote and
counting of all their vote(s), at all Fed, State and Local
elections.
Thanks and Good Luck,
Frank Henry
Cottonwood, Arizona
Tel: 928-649-0249
e-mail: fmhenry4@netzero.com
The same number of people who wind up reading Huckleberry’s response are likely to read Risner’s rebuttal only if Risner’s rebuttal is committed to paper and ink. Right now, I only see Huckleberry’s response getting the circulation. This blog has far fewer readers than the actual paper’s circulation
http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/blog.tucsonweekly.com
Understanding the limitations of space, perhaps Risner’s rebuttal could make “Guest Commentary” the following week?