Saturday,

J anuary 1 7, 2 015 at 6 :45:47 PM M ountain Standard Time

Subject: Chie%ain on Republican failure to pursue recount 12.8.14

Date: Saturday, January 17, 2015 at 6:45:25 PM Mountain Standard Time
From:

Marilyn Marks

http://www.chieftain.com/mobile/mhome/3141161-123/election-ortiz-gop-pueblo
BY JEFF TUCKER THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
Published: December 8, 2014; Last modified: December 8, 2014 11:30PM
The Pueblo County Republican Party did not raise the amount of funds necessary to ensure a recount of
the 2014 election.
The local GOP had by the end of the day on Monday to deposit $17,000 into an escrow account to pay
for the recount, a figure quoted to the GOP by County Clerk and Recorder Gilbert Bo Ortiz and disputed
by the party.
Becky Mizel, chairwoman of the local GOP, said her members came close to raising the money and
lamented that part of Ortizs quote included an outside consultant to be on hand to answer any questions
about the tabulating machinery when the GOP asked for that during the actual election.
Ethically, I cant justify spending the hard-earned money of my membership on this, Mizel said.
She also was critical that Ortiz could make his own cost estimate for a recount. The GOP was looking for
recounts in Ortizs victory over Victor Head and Daneya Esgars victory over Brian Mater.
Mizel said she had hoped a recount could answer some concerns the party had over the election
process that werent answered by the three-week certification process. But she also admitted that the
public likely was weary of the election.
I think at this point in time, the citizens of Pueblo are sick of it, so lets move on even though there are
unanswered questions in many minds, she said.
Ortiz said that at this point his office has moved on to preparing to coordinate the recall election of City
Councilmember Ami Nawrocki for the city of Pueblo.
He said he anticipates open records requests for the ballots, which are open to inspection, but at this
point the 2014 general election is finished.
As far as were concerned the election is over at this point and well deal with the CORA (Colorado Open
Record) requests as they come in, he said.
jtucker@chieftain.com

From: "harvie@elecKonquality.com" <harvie@elecKonquality.com>

Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at 5:33 AM
To: "coloradovoter@googlegroups.com" <coloradovoter@googlegroups.com>
Cc: "harvie@elecKonquality.com" <harvie@elecKonquality.com>
Subject: [Colorado Voter].4757 Chie%ain on Republican failure to pursue recount
Among jaw dripi g events not likely to reach public ears except here, I have heard that the two

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Among jaw dripi g events not likely to reach public ears except here, I have heard that the two
staffpersons who operate the Sequoia Optech 400C in Pueblo resigned yesterday just as the recount
was about to begin.That probably leaves the county without any expertise with the machine. No doubt
that would make an interesting story but like the story of citizen attempts to achieve integrity of the
election it is unlikely to grace the pages of the Chieftain. I haven't confirmed what amoubts to a rumor as
of now and actually don't believe it because it is so outlandish.
There is an almost similar story in Adams where the staff person responsible for operating GEMS EMS
was terminated just after completing the canvass process. I lrefer to see proof of that unexpected event
as well. The Adams recount has been prepaid with money in escrow with the SOS.
The Pueblo recount will not happen and the reasons for it are adequately related in the following limited
story that makes no atempt to correct yesterday's serious mistakes. In effect yesterday's article and its
classic quote by the clerk implying nothing will satisfy sore losers was lock step responded to with a
"protect the citizens who are sick of election" meme by the Republicans. At least that is what the paper
chose to cover. It is all so predictable and utterly incompatible with efforts to achieve integrity.
Apparently the door has closed on public willingness to hear about the election in Pueblo.-

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