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Web posted Thursday, July
8, 2004
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Editorial: Pinckney should explain election
shakeup
Carolina Morning News
In an
effort to bring accountability to the Jasper
County Election Commission, state Sen. Clementa
Pinckney is himself proving to be
unaccountable.
He seems to be upset over
the firing last week of Jasper County Voter
Registration Office Director Cathy Morgan. We say
"seems" because he is out of town and apparently
out of phone contact.
What is known is that
Pinckney has sent letters to at least three of the
seven active members of the commission, apparently
dismissing them from their duties. The short
letter sent to the commissioners reads, in part:
"I appreciate your hard work ... and the
distinction with which you served."
The
senator couldn't be reached Saturday, Monday,
Tuesday or Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the
commissioners themselves are wondering what's
going on. Are they all going to get a letter? Will
only the commissioners who voted to oust Morgan
get a letter?
Pinckney and Rep. Thayer
Rivers have the power to recommend appointments to
the commission. In fact, five new members were
named to the panel last year.
Pinckney
still seems to be dissatisfied, and we don't blame
him. Jasper County elections have long been a mess
and someone should be held accountable.
But
he owes his constituents an explanation about what
is happening and why. Is Pinckney firing Election
Commissioners because they did their job poorly,
or is it because they fired Morgan? If it's the
former, what did they do wrong? If it's the
latter, why does Pinckney believe Morgan should
have been retained?
This should not be
secret information.
The elections
themselves in Jasper County have long been a mess.
Now the effort to fix the system seems to be
turning into just as big a mess.
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