“I don’t recall saying anything about political party affiliation and don’t think I saw anything about that in your article. Did I miss something?”
The Controlling Board ultimately approved the expenditure, prompting Dispatch editorial writer Phil Rudell to go to Damschroder instead of his own reporter, Niquette, or the Secretary of State’s office and inquire:
“After reading Mark’s story, I’m not sure what really changed, but the controlling board now unanimously approved the unbid funding. What’s the story behind the story?“
Meanwhile, Damschroder’s crusade to discredit the EVEREST project continued. On September 26 he wrote Rudell:
“Thanks Phil. I think elections officials are still skeptical about the use of the three academics who have already publicly expressed conclusions about the voting machines. However, outside of the project being stopped completely, which was politically unlikely, having a team of local election officials in place to review the process and participate in the report is a good thing.
Rudell replied by asking if Brunner appointed the Board members.
“Actually, I appointed 6 Republicans and my Democrat Vice President appointed 6 Democrats. I did not appoint myself.” Damschroder replied.
Actually the 12 appointments were made by Secretary Brunner in consultation with the Association’s lobbyist Aaron Ockerman. There is however, much email between Ockerman and Damschroder in which they carefully select who should be on the EVEREST panel.
None of this participation seemed to deter Damschroder and other GOP BOE member’s seemingly partisan paranoia about EVEREST. On October 7 someone using the email allencountyboardofelect@wcoil.com (believed to be Keith Cunningham, former OAEO president and member of the Board of Voting Machine Examiners) wrote:
“Here is they [sic] guy that is coming to Ohio under the pretense of being with SysTest to do the on sight interviews. He is clearly the author of the survey we are looking at. Check out his company and Google his name. I have been told he is a “D” and should be watched. Sources tell me he has not held an elections job for more than 2 years at a time … which explains why he is a consultant. CHECK HIM OUT!!!!! Damschroder replied , “I did a web search. Interesting.”
Cunningham would be no stranger to EVEREST paranoia, telling the Dispatch on January 16 after a closed door meeting of GOP BOE leaders, “I have peers afraid to speak out.” Apparently those fears were skin deep as Cunningham, himself, had no such fears when speaking to the media.
ROLLING OVER EVEREST – December 2007
With EVEREST scheduled for a December 14 release date, Matt Damschroder started his day on December 12 with an email to Mark Niquette at the Dispatch.
“If we’re facing budget problems, whose going to pay for the new voting machines? =)” Niquette replied , “Exactly. Any word on what the report is going to say?”
Damschroder seemingly forgetting that he claims to have appointed six of the BOE members on the EVEREST panel complained, “Everyone is mum. The only people who know anything at all had to sign non-disclosure agreements.” He went on to speculate:
“Off the record, the only rumors I’m hearing is that the grounds probably aren’t there to completely decertify all the machines (similar to what we heard in Chicago); that Diebold will take the biggest hit; touchscreens will a hit [sic]: and that there will be a push for greater security/testing and standardization of processes/procedures which may or may not require a stronger centralized state elections office.”
