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Minnesota’s secretaries of state traditionally hold the post a long time, and even after they leave office they like to stay in the game. DFLer Joan Growe writes in the Pioneer Press today that former Republican U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman has gotten a fair post-election shake. Mary Kiffmeyer, now a GOP state representative, sought a probe into whether Sara Jane Olson broke the law by voting under that name while hiding as a fugitive in plain sight in St. Paul. And the guy currently in the job, DFLer Mark Ritchie, says he won’t leave it to run for governor.
From Growe’s op-ed:
Former Sen. Coleman has taken ample advantage of his rights to hold the results up to unprecedented scrutiny. So, while he and his supporters will surely be disappointed if he does not win his contest, they cannot claim that they were not afforded due process.
From Kiffmeyer’s letter to Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner:
Soliah is back in Minnesota, much to the chagrin of law enforcement officials and many citizens in California and Minnesota. Consequently, I am wondering, pursuant to our prior conversations, what, if anything, you intend to do with the case at this point. … [An investigation into alleged voting fraud] will send a message that it is important, and it sends a message to those who are legitimate that the system is working to protect your legitimate votes, too.”
Kiffmeyer told WCCO-TV she’s pursuing Olson because the U.S. Senate recount showed the importance of every vote. Gaertner responded that Olson had legally changed her name from Kathleen Soliah and voted legally as well — and that she’d told Kiffmeyer that in 1999.
Ritchie’s statement, from the Red Wing Republican Eagle (requires registration and fee), via Braublog via MnPublius:
Ritchie said he will lobby his wife for a second term in office, but rejected the idea of seeking higher office, noting some have urged a gubernatorial run.
“I’ve been pretty resistant to that,” he said, adding he prefers his current post, which Ritchie said “allows me to focus on the democracy itself.”
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4 Comments »
Comment posted March 25, 2009 @ 11:15 am
Maybe Kiffmeyer can now turn her efforts to accusing Sara Jane Olson of participating in the Great Train Robbery, or the Lindbergh kidnapping, or the disappearance of Judge Crater.
Comment posted March 25, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
If Kiffmeyer is so concerned about every vote, will she be seeking prosecution for the Coleman voters who admitted to registration fraud during the ECC trial?
Comment posted March 26, 2009 @ 11:08 am
Olson’s vote IS problematical. While she ‘legally’ voted after officially changing her name through the court, the legality of the name change itself may be questionable. If I recall correctly, it is a felony to change one’s identity to avoid state and/or federal prosecution. This is exactly what Olson/Soliah did.
Comment posted March 26, 2009 @ 12:26 pm
My reading is that Growe penned an OpEd piece to weigh in as an expert on the election system (which she has done as a guest on the radio) and Richey is responding to a reporter’s question, but WHO gave WCCO the Kiffmeyer / Gaertner story ?
Considering that Gaertner is considering a run for Governor, this looks like a purely political motivated “gotcha” to appease those potential voters that might be “law enforcement officials and many citizens in California and Minnesota”.
But let’s give her the benefit of the doubt and look at the consequences of the allegation.
Overall, the penalty for misrepresenting yourself on a voter application is up to five years in jail, up to $10,000 fine or both.
So how often does a felon get the max ? What is the typical penalty ?
Considering that a felon (Willems) voted in Roseau County and the sentence was for 30 days in jail that would seem to be a reasonable sentence for this “crime”. 30 day sentences are typically served in county jail.
Would the Sherburne County Attorney (that would be Kiffmeyer’s county) prosecute a questionable case of voter fraud knowing that the likelihood that a conviction would be served in Sherburne County jail at predominately funded by Sherburne County taxpayers ? The Ramsey County attorney may have considered this in her evaluation.
Susan Gaertner exercised proper prosecutorial discretion.
Mary Kiffmeyer exercised the lowest element of political campaigning.
It is with great humor that a former Secretary of State is so concerned about “criminals” voting when you consider that Willems stated that he voted for Republican Coleman and that since it was commingled with all the other legal votes, it is still in the official count. Second laugh is that Coleman complained that a voter was denied an absentee ballot since his “jail address” did not match his voter registration information.
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