Discussion of all things related to Public Domain

[tom poe <tompoe AT amihost.com>]

OK.  I'm in.  I'll redo my budget, and BBV is moved to a high priority
for donations.  If they prevail, we have a nice, fresh precedent for
communities around the country who want their right to vote back.  I
hope everyone supports their effort, any way they can.
Tom

On Wed, 2004-12-01 at 00:39, Seth Johnson wrote:
> 
> An astonishing story.
> 
> 
> Seth
> 
> 
> > http://www.blackboxvoting.org/#lawsuit2
> 
> 
> Black Box Voting files Public Records lawsuit against Palm Beach
> County
> 
> 
> NOV 30 2004: Today's lawsuit was filed naming Teresa LaPore as
> defendant, citing her for failure to comply with the Black Box
> Voting public records request of Nov. 2, 2004.
> 
> Black Box Voting filed the lawsuit this morning in Palm Beach
> County, served it per Florida law on LaPore's attorney. Black Box
> Voting then made a surprise visit to the podium at the Florida
> State Association of Supervisors of Elections meeting held today
> in Orlando, where LaPore was scheduled to make a speech on
> records retention.
> 
> We went in through the kitchen, using a reconassaince map
> provided by a colleague, led by Kathleen Wynne dressed as hired
> help. Black Box Voting investigator Kathleen Wynne, in black
> jeans and a white polo shirt had earlier traveled through the
> route to the back entrance to the supervisor's meeting, nodding
> to the waiters.
> 
> "Very nice, very nice," Wynne said authoritatively.
> 
> Wynne led Bev Harris and Andy Stephenson through the back way
> without raising so much as an eyebrow, since she looked like
> hotel staff.
> 
> Harris went onto the podium and introduced herself to the crowd.
> "I know I'm interrupting. This will only take a minute." She
> turned to LaPore, "Since we can't get your attention any other
> way, I'm serving you with a courtesy copy of the lawsuit we
> served on your office this morning."
> 
> LaPore glared, turned her back on Harris, and refused to take the
> lawsuit, so Harris set it on the table in front of LaPore.
> 
> Stephenson stood up in front of the crowd of perhaps 200 Florida
> elections officials.
> 
> "This was a courtesy call on Ms. LaPore for failing to produce
> public records," he said. "For any of you who have not complied,
> we have more of these coming."
> 
> Black Box Voting has identified 13 Florida counties who have
> earned litigation due to failure to comply with public records
> requests.
> 
> The elections officials erupted into deafening shouts, boos,
> gavel-pounding, and then Wynne stepped up smack dab in front of
> the crowd, took a sturdy stance and panned the crowd with her
> video camera.
> 
> "This is what democracy looks like," she said, as the officials
> scowled and shouted for the sergeant at arms.
> 
> Unfortunately, the sergeant at arms was nowhere to be found.
> (Perhaps imbibing in the Sequoia Voting Systems lounge, just down
> the hall? We may never know.)
> 
> Harris, Stephenson and Wynne made haste out the back door, but
> accidentally tripped a loud screeching alarm. The meeting broke
> up and people fanned out all over the place seeking to capture
> the rude individuals from Black Box Voting.
> 
> Black Box Voting went to the meeting because it was on the
> official schedule as a speech by LaPore on retention of election
> records. LaPore seems to have been retaining records too
> aggressively, by failing to provide public records to the public.
> Unfortunately, it seems that the agenda was changed, unbeknownst
> to Black Box Voting, and instead of a speech it was to be an
> event honoring LaPore prior to her retirement (she was voted out
> of office by Palm Beach County residents), and congratulating her
> on surviving so many lawsuits.
> 
> LaPore has one more lawsuit to go.