Today at the UCO office, a recount is ongoing. I am completely amazed that after taking such pains to assure the fairness and accuracy of the election, by having teams counting the ballots and observers present, that the Chair would dismiss EVERYONE before compiling the results.
Once left alone to complete the results, you leave open the potential of
changing the ballots (completed in pencil), changing the tally sheets (completed in pencil), and even completing the final tally incorrectly.
I only hope in the recount that this shortcoming is discussed and never
permitted again.
I would like to thank those who encouraged me to run, and voted for CHANGE, and again clearly state that I had no political ambitions and therefore never intended to campaign, rather only to offer choice to you the voter. Campaigning is exactly what is wrong with “politics”, in that promises made are rarely kept and usually “pandering” to “get” elected.
Even my mentioning that I intended to advocate that UCO should be operated by ‘paid” staff was grossly misunderstood. Any effort to bring to the Delegate Assembly a change would require specific costs relative to the proposal, and opportunity for pro and con discussion of such change. As a leader, my role should have been to present to the Delegate Assembly for consideration any ideas that may warrant discussion, for you to decide.
Thanks again for all your kind words and support.
Bob Marshall
I must add my appreciation of those who felt compelled to VOTE for CHANGE.
ReplyDeleteIt may have stimulated others to view a run in the future, and that is terrific. Support your association and UCO. But continue to speak out against those items we recognize as poor judgment:
The Election was begun fairly. One reader and observer and one writer and one observer. Fairness ended there, when the Chair required EVERYONE to EXIT the room before he tallied all results.
One may conclude the Election was therefore conducted unfairly, especially since all Ballots, Tally sheets were completed in pencil and could be changed, and there was no one present to confirm accuracy of the final tally either.
Change must occur and will not without your valued support. Stay tuned, “ it ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings”.
Ed Black
Apparently the Chairman of the
ReplyDeleteElection Committee, was not familiar or informed of the entire
process.
Once more guidelines must be established, regardless of who is at the helm..
Too many errors occured, from allowing spouses to participate
in the count of their respective
tables, ballot and tally sheets
executed in Pencil, No independent
observers present throughout the
entire process, to the storage of
the ballots, where were they left
in whose custody?
sorry, posted too quickly....
ReplyDeleteI have every confidence that our
newly elected VP of UCO, Frank Cornish, current President of our
Association, will continue his
practice of respect, equality and
devotion to the residents of CV.
and along with those who were
carry overs, re-elected, or newly
elected,board members,together,
will accomplish much.
Bettie L Bleckman, Treas.
In the words of the great M “The stuff that goes on around here is UNBELIEVABLE”
ReplyDeleteWhen I was the election chair during that horrid Bob Marshall’s reign. I wrote a complete policy and procedure manual for elections. It included accounting for all printed ballots. At the end of the voting the ballots were counted and checked against the voter sheets. The blank ballots were counted and the total of blank and processed ballots needed to match the total number produced.
ReplyDeleteThe batches of 25 were counted and tallied by tables of four. One reading one checking one writing and one checking the writer. This was done on Friday.
None of the workers or observers were allowed to leave the room until the count was done. No cell phone use was allowed in the room. This was not observed on Friday
As the counting was done and the batches were turned in, there were two workers to enter the totals on the final tally sheets. All batches were signed by all four workers and the tally sheets were signed and given to the tally workers. They signed everything they did and the observers were allowed to be present to make sure they did it correctly.
On Friday while I was observing, it was very obvious that George Loewenstein was going to win and I was completely comfortable that the count was fair and honest.
It never dawned on me that Hershel would not allow observers for the final tally. That is totally unacceptable and makes for a complete opportunity for fraud, mistakes, and questions. I was not in charge and it bothered me that certain things were not done such as tallying blank and processed ballots or comparing them to the voter sheets. Checks and balances are very important for a clean election.
I feel very confident that George won the election fairly, however I can not say that about anyone else. I am upset that a recount was at all justified. This should not be. All safeguard procedures should be adhered to and the policy and procedure manual should be gone over by the executive board, approved and become the standard for all elections.
Special Report
ReplyDeleteUCO Election Results
Source: Election Committee.
President
Votes
George Loewenstein
209
Bob Marshall
67
Vice President
Votes
Howie Silver
200
Frank Cornish
116
Myron Solomon
109
Claudette LaBonte
102
Treasurer
Votes
Dorothy Tetro
237
Recording Secretary
Votes
Betty Lapidus
245
Corresponding Secretary
Votes
Avis Blank
158
Marcia Ziccardy
104
Executive Board
Votes
Dan Gladstone
253
Dave Bernstein
205
Joe Saponaro
205
Randall Borchardt
190
Larry Kall
190
Louise Gerson
188
Haskell Morin
187
David Frankel
186
Irv Lazar
186
Jerry Karpf
185
Marie Oliver
185
Sandy Cohen
184
Myron Silverman
183
Ken Davis
173
Ted Silverman
170
Syd Kronish
167
Jeanette Veglia
161
Phil Shapkin
159
David Israel
158
Jackie Karlan
151
Gerald Sutofsky
139
Ed Black
97
The Election Committee's Policy and Proceedures will be carefully reviewed, revised where needed, and submitted to the Executive Board and Delegate Assembly for their approval.
ReplyDeleteAs for the recount, the final tally of votes for each
Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate were found to be 100%. accurate upon completing the recount on Monday morning.
I read with interest both the comments and the misinformation about the election. In order to clarify the procedure used, I have put an article in the next UCO Reporter.
ReplyDeleteAt no time was I alone with either the tally sheets or the ballots. Three people, Michael Cohen, Sheldon Mead, and Isabel Sherel,(one of these people I had not met until that morning) remained with me to imput the tally sheets into a summary spread sheet. Even when I took the results to the delegate meeting, I was not alone.
Please read the article in the Reporter. I welcome any suggestions or improvements for the future.
Hershel Sarasohn
Hershel, I am sorry that I criticized without checking the facts. When I left the counting room on Friday I was confident that you were running an honest count. When I heard later that you had thrown everyone out before you did the final tally, I believed the rumor instead of checking it out. Rumors and the perception of the people will ruin this village and I am very sorry that I fell for that.
ReplyDeleteI guess the next election, state that there will be a few to assist, so no one excused will WONDER about the process!
ReplyDeleteHad that happened, NO question would have ever been raised.
Thank you for responding to this very important issue, so promptly.
Ed Black