Update on 218 Protest Validation

• Share

On Friday, 8/1/08, the CFRCCSD rates committee had one of its periodic meetings.  CCSD Director Muril Clift attended the meeting and shared the following information.  CCSD HAS hired a handwriting expert to participate in the protest validation process.  This stems from the fact that CCSD believes that there are “suspicious” protest votes where the signature on the protest may not be valid.  Although they have not used the word fraudulent, their contention is that some of the protest votes have not been signed by the “real person or persons” authorized to file a protest. 

Back on July 21, 2008, at the discussion session with Art Montandon, Tammy Rudock, and other CCSD employees with members of the community, held at the CCSD offices, the community members present were informed that CCSD had compared signatures on a sample of 92 ballots with signatures on file with CCSD for some ratepayers, and that some of them did not match.  At that time, I suggested that if CCSD had concerns about the authenticity of signatures they should contact the applicable ratepayers, ask them if they filed the protest, and if they indicated that they had, ask them to come to the CCSD office, provide valid I.D., and sign a sworn statement if CCSD felt that was necessary.  For out of town protesters a similar produre could be devised via mail.  CCSD’s response was that there was no procedure to do that and that they would only consider such a procedure if the Board directed them to do so.

At the July 24, 2008, CCSD public meeting, I spoke on the protest counting/validation procedure.  For those who saw the video, I was “attacked” by Director Funke-Bilu and no procedure was established.  Art Montandon alluded to the possibility of hiring a handwriting expert, which has now been done.

Many CCSD ratepayers are elderly and have been ratepayers for a long time.  Undoubtedly their signatures have changed over time due to medical issues and the simple aging process.  While not an expert, I seriously doubt that a handwriting expert can take those factors into account when comparing a current signature sample to one from years ago.  However, here’s another example of CCSD hiring an “outside consultant”, spending ratepayer money, on an unnecessary procedure.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had more than enough!  

Last 5 posts by RichDavega

• What's Happens Next on the Recent Rate Increase?
• No Water Moratorium for CCSD Attorney
• CCSD Secrecy At It's Finest
• Recent CCSD Computer Investment - Fiscally Responsible?
• Candidacy for CCSD Director - Rich Davega