This was written by a dedicated Ohio Election Reform Advocate who cannot post yet but soon:
(Mods, I have her permission to print in entirety.)
*Redfern Backs Corrupted Noes; Wins ODP Party Chair Seat***
*By *Rady Ananda
December 19, 2005
Columbus, OH
Christopher Redfern (Ohio Rep.-D), who defended both fired Bernadette Noe
and indicted Tom Noe (both GOP operatives), just won the highest seat in the
Ohio Democratic Party. After much procedural wrangling between candidate
Dennis Lieberman supporters and Redfern supporters, the Ohio Democratic
Party held the election of ODP Chair tonight, immediately prior to the
annual holiday party.
Procedural controversy erupted at the ODP election because Lieberman
supporters wanted a paper ballot (and, thus, a secret vote). US Rep
Stephanie Tubbs Jones supported this procedure, and former US Rep Mary Rose
Oakar commented, "There's a lot of intimidation in this room." Other
Central Committee members stood and reported having received office calls
from gubernatorial candidate,Ted Strickland, who endorsed Redfern.
The majority, including Franklin County Commissioner and Congressional
candidate Mary Jo Kilroy, overturned the paper ballots idea and required
voting members to physically stand for their candidate. The majority also
decided to hold the election quickly, without grassroots input.
Last month, the Ohio Honest Elections Campaign called for five forums to be
held around the State so that candidates for ODP Chair could be interviewed
before the May primaries. Apparently not big on democracy, Redfern
supporters behaved as if a longer election process and a secret vote might
yield a different winner.
Before the vote, anti-Redfern activists circulated a flyer stating that
"Chris Redfern defended the King and Queen of Ohio corruption ? Tom and
Bernadette Noe."
*Redfern's Ties to Ohio's Culture of Corruption*
Bernadette Noe (former GOP County Chair) was among three Lucas County
elections board members fired after the November '04 election. Redfern
complained to Secretary of State Blackwell that "Ms. Noe is a capable and
reliable public servant" last April after she was fired over gross failings
during the 2004 election.
Redfern also likes Bernadette's husband. "Tom Noe is a respected Republican
leader who appears to have been successful in investing in rare coins," said
Chris Redfern to the Toledo Blade. <1> Tom Noe was indicted in October for
illegal campaign contributions. Under his rare coin schemes, $13 million in
Bureau of Workers Comp. funds have gone missing. <2>
Ohio Governor Bob Taft was convicted of accepting secret contributions from
Noe and others. <3>
The Ohio Democratic Party is now headed by a man tied to these Republican
thieves. His wife is Bernadette Noe's cousin. <4> Democrats had hoped to
win 06 seats on the frame, "Vote against the Culture of Corruption." But
with the party hijacked by apparent DINOs (Democrats in name only), hope for
full prosecution of Ohio's corrupted officials is discouragingly doused.
How a man acting as an Ohio House Rep. and the Minority Leader expects to
have time to run the ODP is baffling to grassroots Democrats. The ODP
office is rarely open, and looks to remain that way. The offices aren't
even wheelchair accessible, according to candidate Steve Reece. "How can
you call yourselves the inclusive party without being inclusive?" Reece is
an African-American who received one vote, from his daughter who is also a
Central Committee member.
The Ohio Democratic Party Report Card
Looking at the Ohio Democratic Party bloopers over the past year, one has to
wonder about anyone supporting or defending the status quo:
* The Lucas County Democratic Party had its computers stolen in October 04.
<5>
* Outgoing ODP Chair, Denny White, had his office computers stolen in July
05. <6>
* Outgoing ODP Chair, Denny White (a former Republican) was placed on the
Franklin County Board of Elections, with a $10,000 raise in salary (now
earning $96,000). <7>
* Franklin County Dem Party Chair, Bill Anthony, defended Matt Damschroder's
acceptance of a $10,000 Diebold bribe. <8> (Diebold is the main voting
machine vendor in Ohio. It's machines have been hacked in public
demonstrations before Boards of Election in Florida and California. <9>)
The losing tactics of the Ohio Democratic Party are still firmly in place;
the status quo was successfully entrenched with the selection of Chris
Redfern as ODP Chair.
The ODP needs a full-time, in-town executive, with the doors unlocked and
the offices running Monday thru Friday, 9-5, at the minimum. It seems Ohio
Democrats will have to wait a little longer for a leader who champions
grassroots causes, rather than convicted election thieves.
Notes:
1. James Drew and Mike Wilkenson, "Democrats Call for State Probe over Coin
Funds", April 4, 2005, Toledo Blade,
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050404/SRRARECOINS/304040012. To view a photo of the famous Noes, and to learn more details of the Noe
Coingate scandals, go to
http://www.ohiohonestelections.org/index.php?p=republican-thieves-part-1---coingate2. Peter Slevin, "Ohio Scandals May Give Democrats a Lift - Republicans'
Standing In Key State Endangered" Nov. 27, 2005; Page A05 Washington Post,
http://tinyurl.com/dv485 or
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/26/AR2005112600752.html3. Sandy Theis and TC Brown, "Taft Convicted, Fined," Aug. 19, 2005,
Cleveland Plain Dealer,
http://www.cleveland.com/taft/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/112444399178540.xml&coll=24. Ctrl F to find 'cousin' at
http://www.ohiohonestelections.org/index.php?p=republican-thieves-part-1---coingate5.Robin Erb, "Thieves hit Democratic Party Offices, Oct. 13, 2004, Toledo
Blade,
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041013/NEWS03/410130378&SearchID=731940457834506. Steve Eder and James Drew, "Ohio Democrats Victims of Break-In," July 2,
2005, Toledo Blade,
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050702/NEWS03/507020057. Joe Hallet, "Ohio Democratic Party needs a strong chairman if it is to
rebound," Dec. 4, 2005, the Columbus Dispatch,
http://www.dispatch.com/emailme/emailme.php?story=dispatch/2005/12/04/20051204-D5-01.html8. Doug Caruso, Joe Hallett and Robert Vitale, "Vendor's donation questioned
-
Diebold rep gave $10,000 to county GOP," July 16, 2005, the Columbus
Dispatch,
http://www.dispatch.com/election.php?story=dispatch/2005/07/16/20050716-A1-00.html&chck=t/9.
http://www.blackboxvoting.org/
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
