Report from Hocking County, July 5, 2005: An update on Sherole Eaton's...

[tommcintyre]

http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/19/2005/1359
My report from Hocking County, July 5, 2005: An update on Sherole Eaton's unfolding Story
by Victoria Parks, Ohio Backbone Campaign
July 7, 2005

The uproar of applause at attorney Cliff Arnebeck's serving the Hocking County Board of Elections with a court order not to make any decision regarding the firing of Hocking County BOE whistleblower Sherole Eaton, was in the very least, memorable. It shall be treasured by the present Eaton, who blew the whistle on a Triad GSI Technician who was witnessed by Eaton early last December, illegally switching out hard drives on an election machine involved in last year's election recount in Hocking County, Ohio. Sherole Eaton's decision to stand up for election integrity was an easy decision for this slight woman who most people would not immediately think of as "courageous." Her thought at the moment was that what she was doing the right thing. Now, she is in a fight to keep her job with the Hocking County Board of elections who voted to fire her in May 2005.

Weeks before this incident, immediately following the election, Ms. Eaton was commended by Hocking BOE Board member, Gerry Robinette (D), for her outstanding performance in executing her duties as Asst. BOE Director. After Lisa Schwartze (R) left her duties as Hocking BOE Director for her maternity leave last October, Eaton, nearly single-handedly, oversaw the 2004 election in Hocking County, winning the diminuitive Eaton praise from her superiors.

Yesterday, in this most recent meeting of the Hocking County BOE, another side of the board members who elected to fire Eaton, was revealed. The serious matter of Hocking BOE Director, Lisa Schwartze's abusing her office of the Hocking County Board of Elections by engaging in Republican fundraising from the Hocking BOE offices, raised eyebrows from the 25 cloistered people who crowded this meeting. Apparently, Schwartze planned and executed a Silent Chinese Auction, a Republican Party fundraiser, from the offices of the Hocking County Board of Elections. The auction was admitted as part of a meeting agenda item. When questioned regarding Schwartze's activities regarding this, she became quite defensive in response, claiming that she did not deserve to be "attacked."

Ohio Backbone Campaign, organizer Dave Hickman wrote in his recent report on this meeting: "Upon hearing Schwartze's admission, concerned citizens called for investigation. Schwartze dismissed accusations as "personal attacks" but was countered by Evan Davis who stated expectations for BOE officials to uphold the law should not be defined as personal attacks." That was indeed a dramatic moment as a bigger picture of the affairs of the Hocking County Board of elections emerged. A decision to "discuss" this matter was carried over as an agenda item for their next meeting of the board. Meanwhile, we wait with bated breath in anticipation.
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[FtWayneBlue]

1. Thanks for the post. We need to keep up the pressure,

keep putting on the heat.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

2. Hocking Democrat Meeting Thursday July 14 at 7 pm

in the Senior Center located on Spring Street, Logan, Ohio. Come meet Sherole Eaton......come meet two of the board members who fired her but won't resign! Come explain why Diebold was the wrong choice for verified elections!

[kster]

3. kick.nt

[tommcintyre]

4. UPDATE: Hocking County Activists Go To Sheriff's Dept! Plan to File Charge

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001559.htm#6

COMMENT #6
...Bob Fitrakis said on 7/10/2005 @ 10:12am PT...

Hello! I appreciate all your thoughtful comments and am honored to be in the same struggle to preserve democracy as the others guest blogging on bradblog this weekend.

For those of you following the Sherole Eaton story in Hocking County, Ohio, I spoke with her last night and found out the Hocking County Prosecutor has called for a meeting of the Board of Elections on Monday (tomorrow, July 11). Voting rights activists have already contaced the Sheriff's dept. regarding Lisa Swartz's conducting of an admitted Republican fundraiser while she worked for the BOE. Activists in Hocking County plan to file theft in office and other related charges against Swartz. As most of you may know, the Hocking County BOE is under a temporary restraining order from replacing Sherole Eaton since last Tuesday thanks to Cliff Arnebeck. Cliff and I are working on a permanent injunction to have Eaton reinstated to her job with BOE since she is a whistleblower.

[tommcintyre]

5. More related updates:

http://www.ohiohonestelections.org/
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Editorial from The Logan Daily News Commentary by Mark Samuels, Editor & Publisher

“The turmoil surrounding the county board of elections and its effort to replace former deputy director Sherole Eaton is only going to get more interesting.”

“Sure to land on the hot seat is Prosecuting Attorney Larry Beal, who by law must represent the board in any litigation.”

“The rub is that Beal is a Democrat, as is his assistant, David Sams, whose legal guidance the panel initially relied upon in terminating Eaton.” “And Eaton is a Democrat.”

“And both Democrats on the elections board, Gerald Robinette and Susan Hughes, voted to terminate Eaton.”
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Monday, July 11, 2005
Report from Cliff Arnebeck:

The Assistant County Prosecutor for Hocking County today proposed an agreed entry to the Court extending the Temporary Restraining Order to allow time for a mediation between the Hocking County Board of Elections and Sherole Eaton. Hopefully there will be a positive resolution for Sherole.

If the mediation does not yield satisfactory results, we will have a hearing on the merits of the case, consolidating it with the hearing on the preliminary injunction.
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Monday, July 11, 2005
“Progressive Ohio Backbone Campaign members will travel to Hocking County this morning to be part of complaints being filed by Hocking County Democrats against the Hocking County Board of Elections (BOE) and it’s director Lisa Schwartze.”

“A complaint against the entire board relates to the board calling today’s meeting without adequate public notification. Legal matters are the topic of today’s hastily called meeting.”

“Last Tuesday, at a public BOE meeting, Progressive Ohio Backbone Campaign members and others from the Columbus area, witnessed the director of the BOE admit she used the BOE office for Republican Party fund-raising. Three of these witnesses intend to join Hocking Democrats today to file affidavits with county prosecutor Larry Beal regarding complaints against BOE Director Lisa Schwartze.”

“In addition, the witnesses intend to take part in complaints being filed against Schwartze with the Ohio Secretary of State and federal officials.” “Progressive Ohio Backbone Campaign member Ed Sisson will accompany the witnesses to document proceedings. However, all are encouraged to bring recorders and cameras, etc.”