AZ activists DEMAND and GET access to voting records

[Stevepol]

TUCSON REGION
RTA DATABASES TO BE RELEASED
Info from '06 election may help clear the air over integrity issue
By Erica Meltzer
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 01.09.2008

Here's what happened:

Faced with a raucous crowd of more than 60 people demanding the county release the RTA database, the Board of Supervisors Tuesday originally voted only not to appeal the judge's order, which amounted to agreeing to release those records.
Republican Supervisor Ray Carroll voted no because he wanted the RTA records released as well.

The issue was scheduled for an executive session to receive legal advice, but the supervisors remained in open session and heard from five speakers before the first vote.

But the crowd didn't disperse after the vote, instead remaining to speak at call to the audience, which is scheduled for the end of the meeting.
Carroll repeatedly asked the other supervisors why they did not want to hear from the more than 30 people who signed speaker cards and continued his questioning after the vote.

Elections-integrity activist John Brakey started shouting that people had waited far too long already and should not have to wait any longer.

Brakey sat down after board Chairman Richard Elias repeatedly told him he was out of order and threatened to have him removed.

"We cannot turn this into a carnival," Elias said as the crowd became increasingly unruly.

But as Brakey quieted, a chant went up: "We want our voices heard. We want our voices heard."

Elias then agreed to hear the speakers, some of whom said they were "disgusted" with having to "beg" for public records.

The Democratic Party says access to the computer files is necessary for it to perform its election-oversight duties in a high-tech age. Other parties also would have access to the files.

After hearing from more than 20 speakers, Elias made a motion to reconsider the earlier vote, and the supervisors voted unanimously to release the RTA records as well as the 2006 general and primary records. They also voted to release all the files associated with the three elections, instead of just the final databases, as ordered by the judge.

The crowd rose in a standing ovation after the vote.

BRAVO For Brakey and the other AZ activists.

Link: http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/219706

[annabanana]

1. Now THAT"S what I call democracy in action!

May it be repeated 49 more times!! And SOON.

[truedelphi]

2. When the people lead, the leaders will

You know...

K & r'ed

[Wilms]

3. Kick n/t