Our Elections Need Transparent Precision: Post 1

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April 20, 2005

Our Elections Need Transparent Precision: Post 1

The (mostly brand-new) Hamilton County Election Commission is apparently undecided on the choice of a new Administrator, after Fran Dzik resigned rather reluctantly.

There's plenty to be said for neutrality, but it is at times accompanied by a too-distant view of the dynamics at work; and that's where I'm sitting. I look at the fact that two (one ex-) Election Commissioners -- one from each major political party -- are the known candidates, and I wonder if there is a third way. Especially since personal interaction weighed so heavily in the recent ouster(?) of Fran Dzik, I'd say the voters of Hamilton County need a clean start in that office, as in, one without a trace of personal (or organizational, for that matter, to me) loyalty or favoritism.

Commissioner Bart Quinn is possibly displaying beautiful, noble sober reason by requesting that an interview process be utilized, and that no decision is made until all candidates are appropriately evaluated. If he is simply doing this for a chance to go to bat for fellow Republican Luanne DeWitt, for only party-brand-name reasons, he dips a bit on the esteem-0-meter; yet the outcome of his hesitance remains potentially beneficial.

The public ought to be demanding that nothing but exquisite care is given to the execution of this choice. No one has asked me to, but [without explicit permission] I am making that demand on behalf of the public. Commissioners, you have the capacity and the power to ensure that the next administrator is well qualified and impartial; dignified yet humble; and unimpeachably, proactively accountable. Please do so.

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