CA: Shelley's failings (ShmelleyGate)

San Diego Union -Tribune ^ | 12/21/04 | Op/Ed

[NormsRevenge]

Anew report issued by the state auditor reflects terribly on Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, California's chief elections official.

It concludes that "insufficient planning" and "bad management" by Shelley's office resulted in its failure to implement provisions of the federal Help America Vote Act in "a timely way."

It also charges that "disregard for proper controls" by Shelley's office and "poor oversight" of staff and consultants led to "questionable uses" of the federal election funds.

Shelley's failings in planning and management of the HAVA program are problematic. But they do not rise to the level requiring the secretary of state step down.

The same cannot be said, however, of the inappropriate, if not downright unlawful, use of HAVA funds. It suggests corruption that goes all the way to the top of the Secretary of State's Office.

Shelley reportedly steered as much as $500,000 in federal funds to consultants – most of whom were Democratic operatives and political cronies – with no competitive bidding in most cases.

While those so-called consultants were supposed to conduct nonpartisan voter outreach and education, as required by the 2002 federal law, Shelley had them attend partisan Democratic events and do political work designed to raise the secretary of state's political profile.

The auditor's report also mentions that a law firm retained by Shelley's office to provide legal advice on issues pertaining to HAVA performed unrelated work such as writing speeches for the secretary of state.

Meanwhile, Shelley's office completely fell down on the primary mission of the HAVA program: to modernize the voting system in California and other states, making federal elections fairer and more accurate.

The auditor's report notes that the nation's most populous state received $180.6 million in HAVA funds for the 2003-04 fiscal year, $81.2 million of which the Legislature authorized to be spent.

Yet, Shelley's office neglected to get HAVA funds to the counties for the replacement of outdated voting machines within the time frames specified in the federal grant package as well as in county agreements.

If the state auditor's report was the only black mark against Shelley's record, then perhaps the secretary of state could be given the benefit of the doubt.

But already a federal grand jury in Sacramento is investigating whether money from a state grant he helped secure was unlawfully steered into his 2002 campaign for secretary of state.

Then there's an ongoing inquiry by the state Personnel Board into Shelley's alleged mistreatment of his employees, several of whom have left the office complaining of a toxic working environment.

The auditor's report confirms what is being said about Shelley not only in Sacramento, but throughout the state. He is no longer fit to be California's secretary of state.

[Grampa Dave]

(ShmelleyGate) is really starting to stink up the California air. When will the enviral whackos demand that Shelley resign to clean up our precious air.

"If the state auditor's report was the only black mark against Shelley's record, then perhaps the secretary of state could be given the benefit of the doubt.

"But already a federal grand jury in Sacramento is investigating whether money from a state grant he helped secure was unlawfully steered into his 2002 campaign for secretary of state.

"Then there's an ongoing inquiry by the state Personnel Board into Shelley's alleged mistreatment of his employees, several of whom have left the office complaining of a toxic working environment.

"The auditor's report confirms what is being said about Shelley not only in Sacramento, but throughout the state. He is no longer fit to be California's secretary of state."

It is time to flush (ShmelleyGate) down into the left wing lunatic cess pool. Hopefully Peralta will be following the same career path.

[tubebender]

I'm sure Arnold can find a posh commission position for Smelley to retire to...