Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 5 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
County not affected by Coleman challenge
Published 12:00 p.m., January 15, 2009
Stein
Unlike Stearns and other counties, Otter Tail County, thus far, is not affected by the court challenge of Norm Coleman in the U.S. Senate race. In St. Cloud, county seat for Stearns County, officials have been inundated for requests to see thousands of documents related to the Coleman-Franken recount.
“I’ve not received a request for any additional information from the Coleman campaign,” said county Auditor Wayne Stein on Tuesday.
Coleman and his attorneys claim that Democrat Al Franken, who ended the two-month Senate recount with a 225-vote lead, won't be ahead once all votes are correctly counted. They challenged the outcome in court.
What happens next is in the hands of a three-judge panel named Monday by state Supreme Court Justice Alan Page. Those judges were previously appointed by Republican, Democratic and Independence Party governors in Minnesota.
The three judges are Stearns County Judge Elizabeth Hayden, originally appointed by former DFL Gov. Rudy Perpich; Hennepin County Assistant Chief Judge Denise Reilly, appointed by former Republican Gov. Arne Carlson; and Pennington County Assistant Chief Judge Kurt Marben, appointed by former Gov. Jesse Ventura.
Hayden, 62, is a member of a Minnesota Supreme Court advisory committee on general rules of practice. Reilly, 55, served as a federal prosecutor before becoming a Hennepin County judge. Marben, 56, is a member of a Minnesota Supreme Court advisory committee on general rules of practice.
According to state officials, the panel's tripartisan background may help boost voter confidence following the recount process.
For his part, Franken is seeking an election certificate that needs to be signed by both the governor and secretary of state. Minnesota law, however, says the credential cannot be issued until any election contest is complete.
Stein said that in Otter Tail County Franken gained three votes since election night and Coleman lost one, for a net gain of two for Franken.
One previously rejected Otter Tail County absentee ballot packet later was deemed acceptable by the Coleman and Franken campaigns and was forwarded to St. Paul. The packet represents voting from a resident from Dunn Township near Pelican Rapids who now lives overseas.
A second absentee ballot packet, also previously rejected, wasn’t forwarded to the state capitol. This packet was rejected due to signatures not matching from a voter at a health care setting in Pelican Rapids.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Posted by Otter1 (anonymous) on January 15, 2009 at 2:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the IRS in New York and California ever release Franken's cars, there will be many more trunk loads of ballots to count. E-gad Minnesota you think you would have learned with Ventura and Mondale!
Posted by votedem (anonymous) on January 15, 2009 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ahhh Franken, finally someone who doesn't believe in a talking snake. Thank 'god'!
Posted by Newshound (anonymous) on January 16, 2009 at 6:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, we may not gain a whole lot with Franken but at least we will be well rid of Shallow Norm. You must keep in mind that Norm is no longer driving his own buggy; that happy group composed of Rove, Limbaugh,Cheney et. al. are cracking the whip now.
Norm has all the warmth of the thermometer in my window this morning.......-35.
Posted by Nitpicker (anonymous) on January 16, 2009 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Quoting "Stein said that in Otter Tail County Franken gained three votes since election night and Coleman lost one, for a net gain of two for Franken."
Sounds like a net gain of four to me. Was Stein confused or misquoted?
Posted by Nitpicker (anonymous) on January 16, 2009 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When you require us to register in order to post, we are not anonymous to you. Why do you mark us as if we were?
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)
You may also register to comment in our forums at www.fergusfeedback.com.