Reply #18: Cuyahoga- (whatever this is) from Cleveland Scene weekly [View All]

[Algorem]

http://www.clevescene.com/Issues/2007-02-07/news/firstpunch.html

Under the scapegoats

On January 24, election board employees Jacquie Maiden and Kathy Dreamer were convicted of mishandling the 2004 presidential recount ("Guilty by Association," January 31).

In reality, they were simply following orders from superiors, who in turn were following rules dating back to 1981 -- and approved by Assistant County Prosecutor Reno Oradini. Now the two women face up to 18 months in prison.

But according to investigative memos between Oradini and his boss, Prosecutor Bill Mason, the original plot was to crucify election board director Michael Vu. When they couldn't hit Vu, they took out two lower-level workers. (Vue announced his resignation on Tuesday.)

You can see the documents for yourself -- and how justice is done around here -- in C-Notes at clevescene.com.



http://www.clevescene.com/blogs/?p=641

February 7, 2007
Inside the Election Board Convictions
Filed under: News

On January 24, two Cuyahoga County Board of Elections employees were convicted of criminal charges for mishandling the 2004 presidential recount <”Guilt by Association,” January 31>.

Jacquie Maiden and Kathy Dreamer now face possible prison sentences of as long as 18-months for simply obeying orders based on the board’s past practices and Assistant Prosecutor Reno Oradini’s advice.

Don’t believe us? Then check out the internal memos between Oradini and his boss, Prosecutor Bill Mason.

After the Green Party complained that the recount had been rigged, Oradini set out to investigate. It was an odd move – lawyers don’t usually launch criminal investigations into their own clients to expose their own shoddy work...


http://www.clevescene.com/blogs/?p=640

February 7, 2007
More Elections Board Misadventures
Filed under: News

Last month, the bosses at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections allowed three female employees to take the fall for the board’s decades of incompetence <”Guilt by Association,” January 31>.

Ballots manager Kathy Dreamer, along with two other women, faced seven criminal charges, accused of rigging the 2004 presidential recount. It didn’t matter that they were simply following orders from higher-ups.

Dreamer hired lawyer Roger Synenberg to represent her. After all, Synenberg knew the faulty workings of the board all too well.

In 1992, Synenberg, who served as the board’s Republican chairman, was also accused of rigging the vote. “There was never any rigging back then at all,” Synenberg says. “In some respects, it wasn’t much different from what these ladies did.”...


http://www.clevescene.com/blogs/?p=641