Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has suspended Cuyahoga County Board of Elections member and Ohio Republican Chair, William Bennett. Brunner and Ohioans are aware of the vote counting debacle that has continued to occur in every election in this state. Two people associated with the Cuyahoga County Election Board have already been sentenced to prison. Other board members have resigned, but Bennett has refused to go. Here is an update from The Zanesville Times Recorder:
....Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on Tuesday suspended Ohio Republican Party boss Bob Bennett from his position as chairman of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. The board oversees elections involving more than 1 million registered Cleveland-area voters.
Bennett has gone to Franklin County Common Pleas Court to try to stop Brunner from kicking him off the board. Three other board members have resigned under pressure from Brunner’s office.
A hearing on Bennett’s lawsuit was scheduled for Wednesday morning before Judge John Connor.
Brunner said the suspension would only end upon Bennett’s removal from the board or by resolution of the lawsuit he filed against her.
“We’re trying to move this board along so that it’s on track (for the May 8 primary),” Brunner said.....
....Brunner announced Monday that she was placing the board under state administrative oversight through the end of next year. The oversight means Brunner must approve any board changes to policy and procedure.
Brunner, who took office in January, accused the board of shoddy election work, including election glitches and cost problems.
A complaint Brunner filed against the board last week said it ignored warnings, including one by its own outside monitor, that a recount of the 2004 presidential election was being conducted in violation of state rules.
The complaint also said the board had failed to manage its finances and had underestimated the cost of last May’s primary by $500,000.....
Bennett, who resides in Franklin County, should not have even been placed on a board in Cuyahoga county (over two hours away). It is obvious to me that the former Republican controlled government was not only involved in payoffs, the "Coingate" scandal, ethic violations, but voting problems. Bennett, who apparently just can't walk away from it, wants to keep his hands in the voting process. I'd suggest that Bennett resign now before the oatmeal really hits the fan.
Ohioans need to thank Brunner for her efforts to protect our votes and clean out the filth left by the dirty GOP.