Saturday, June 23, 2007

Cancel The Elections!

Should we just cancel any upcoming elections since Lindsey McWilliams, our current county elections guru, is moving on to greener pastures?

The
Times- Standard reports that, with Lindsey's departure, the county will suffer a great loss in institutional knowledge in regards the nuts and bolts of holding elections, never mind the Elections Department already being short staffed.

This does seem somewhat troubling, but what we need to keep in mind is that, assuming the situation with the Elections Dept. stayed the same, the situation would be no different had McWilliams not moved on but simply retired.

What bothers me is when one person in any organization becomes the supposed linchpin of the operation.
Any organization should do its best to keep the talent and knowledge spread wide enough so everything doesn't hinge on one person, although I know that's easier said than done.

As far as McWilliams replacement, how about Lou Leeper, the current (is she still there?) Elections Assistant, or whatever her title is? She's been in the office for quite some time. Why not give her a try? She knows her way around the office and might appreciate the raise.

13 Comments:

At 10:49 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

When you have a job that only works a few weeks a year, how can you hire in depth? Lou Leeper is retired and good riddence. While Lindsey was reasonably trust worthy, Lou was the most corrupt official ever to work in elections. For proof, just look to the "mysterious" missing ballot boxes that decided elections a decade or so ago, that were found dumped some time later. Elections that were decided by a few votes. If there has ever been a concern about election fraud, this coming cycle will be the test.

 
At 12:25 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

A few weeks a year? Are you nuts? People register to vote all year long. Do you really KNOW what the elections office does? Maybe you shouldn't write about what you don't know about.

 
At 1:05 PM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

I'll have to say every time I've went into Elections everybody was busy doing something.

As far as Lou Leeper is concerned, I didn't know she'd retired. She always treated me fairly enough.

 
At 1:57 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lindsey is a classic example of unrecognized talent left unappreciated (or worse, treated poorly) until he's gone. Then there is scrambling by higher-ups and much covering of asses. That's happened a lot at Humboldt State too, in the past few years.

 
At 2:38 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anon 12:25 - You are such a suck up. Applying for a job there are we? So, taking care of the people who are registering to vote... That takes one person. Now what. I've been dealing closely with elections for nearly 20 years and say that three people tops can run the department outside the voting window. Talented and skilled people, yes, but only three.

 
At 10:01 PM, Blogger the PLAZOID said...

i agree with fred on this one: cancel the durned elections! who needs the crooks anyhow?

 
At 8:53 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

lou leeper and her husband joe are great fixtures in Humboldt.
I had Joe for my geography class and he pushed registering to vote towards his students.

 
At 9:33 PM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

And her HUSBAND?

And I thought I could tell. I didn't know Lou was married. I was convinced she was a lezzie. Not that I had a problem with that, I just thought she was.

Goes to show: You can never tell, and I thought I could.

 
At 10:45 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

For christ sake, Fred, straighten up!

 
At 11:56 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lindsey has recently hired a number of 30ish, rather attractive women. That includes Virginia Bass's sister to replace Lou. First you gotta move the chess pieces around a little and them get them into proper position.

 
At 11:58 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lindsay was an indiot. Know him well and worked with him. This county ain't losing a damn thing with him leaving.

 
At 11:49 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You fraidy-cats--"anon's" you gossip and don't expose yourself even when you are lying. Virginia Bass's sister is a pilot for Fed Ex and where as she may appreciate the sexist remark about her age, she is 50+. Perhaps you were referring to Bonnie Neeley's sister who actually works there.

 
At 8:18 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

11:49 You're absolutely correct, its Neeley's sister. I've dealt with her, she can barely find her way out of a paper bag but is reserved, soft spoken, and drives a BMW.

 

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