Colorado elections chief quits as critical vote nears-"declined To say why"

DENVER (Map, News) - The top elections official in the Colorado secretary of state's office has resigned less than two months before the critical Nov. 4 election.

Director of Elections Holly Lowder resigned Thursday. Secretary of state spokesman Richard Coolidge declined to say why, and Lowder had no listed phone number.

Colorado's vote could be enough to swing a close presidential race between Barack Obama and John McCain.

The ballot will be a long one, with 18 initiatives, a U.S. Senate seat and all seven Colorado congressional seats, and the state is using a new voter registration system.

more at:
http://www.examiner.com/a-1572002~Colo__elections_chief_quits_as_critical_vote_nears.html

• Director of Elections Holly Lowder
  
• Deputy Elections Director Wayne Munster

???

They're not mentioned in the article.

from CoffmanforCongress.com:

"I have a strong record as a proven conservative leader and in Congress I will fight to stop out of control spending, cut taxes, and reduce the regulatory burdens on business to create more jobs and economic opportunities.

"Congressman Tom Tancredo never wavered on the issue of immigration reform and nor will I. I will fight for an enforceable immigration system that will include the security of our borders and deny amnesty and a path to citizenship to those who violate our laws.

"I understand our challenges in the Middle East. I led Marines in combat during the first Gulf War and recently served in Iraq as a Marine Corps civil affairs officer where I helped with two national elections and the establishment of interim local governments in the Western Euphrates River Valley."

http://www.coffmanforcongress.com/

From the Colorado SOS website:

"In 1972, Mike Coffman started his military career by enlisting in the U.S. Army immediately following his junior year at Aurora Central High School at age 17. He earned a high school diploma through an Army program and later attended the University of Colorado under the G.I. Bill. While at the University of Colorado, he continued his military service in the U.S. Army Reserve. Prior to graduating, he was able to take a leave of absence from the Army Reserve and the University of Colorado for one year to attend Vaishnav College in India and the University of Veracruz in Mexico.

"In 1979, Mike graduated from the University of Colorado and transferred from the Army Reserve to the U.S. Marine Corps where he became an infantry officer. In 1983, after serving on active duty, he returned to Colorado and continued his military service in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. In 1983, he founded a property management firm that he remained the senior shareholder of until selling his interest in the business in 2000.
In 1988, Mike was first elected to the State House of Representatives and was re-elected in 1990. Shortly after his re-election, he took an unpaid leave of absence from the State House of Representatives to return to active duty during the first Gulf war where he saw combat as a light armored infantry officer. In 1994, Mike retired from the military after a combination of 20 years between the U.S. Army, the Army Reserve, the U.S. Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Reserve.

"Mike was elected to the State Senate in 1994 where he became the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. In 1995, he completed the Senior Executive Program for State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In 1998, he was elected to the office of State Treasurer. Mike resigned in 2005 from his office as the State Treasurer to return to active duty, from his retired status with the U.S. Marine Corps, to serve in Iraq. In Iraq, Mike worked in support of the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraqi (IECI) on two national elections and then helped establish interim local governments in the Western Euphrates River Valley. He completed a full tour of duty in Iraq in 2006 and returned to Colorado where he resumed his duties as the State Treasurer. In 2006, Mike was elected to the office of Secretary of State.
Mike’s wife, Cynthia Coffman, was Governor Bill Owens’ Chief Counsel prior to being the Chief Deputy Attorney General for the State of Colorado. They are members of University Park United Methodist Church."

http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/info_center/biography.htm

One of Governor Bill Owens'(R) claims to fame was vetoing a bill that would provide contraception info because it didn't give the right-to-life bullshit message.

This stinks to high heaven. My guess would be that the Director of Elections refused to go along with some vote-stealing plans. How can someone run elections credibly when he is also running for office and would be essentially responsible for counting his own votes versus his opponent's votes? (I am sure it happens a lot, but it's a blatant conflict of interest, IMO.)

For Immediate Release
May 15, 2006

Contact: Dana Williams
Public Information Officer, (303) 894-2200 ext. 6108

Denver, CO – Today, Secretary of State Gigi Dennis announced Holly Z. Lowder of Alamosa County will serve as Colorado’s Elections Director. Lowder will officially begin her work in the Colorado Secretary of State’s office on June 1.

Mrs. Lowder has served as the Alamosa County Clerk and Recorder since her appointment in 1981 and has been involved with state policies relating to motor vehicle registration and election reform.

“Her experience as a local election official combined with her knowledge of county government makes her an extremely valuable asset for this office,” Secretary of State Gigi Dennis said.

http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/pressrel/lowder.htm

Sos has ties to Bush
http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/pressrel/gigi2.htm

more on this

Denver News

Top Colo. Elections Chief Quits As Nov. Vote Nears

"Coolidge told the News that ******Deputy Elections Director Wayne Munster will take over****** up Lowder's duties through the November election.

County election officials across the state learned about Lowder's departure in an e-mail from the secretary of state's office on Thursday, Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Jack Arrowsmith said Friday.

The e-mail said Lowder had retired and wanted to "pursue other opportunities," Arrowsmith said.

Arrowsmith said he is confident Munster can keep things running smoothly, saying he is very knowledgeable.

"Frankly, I think we're going to be OK," Arrowsmith said.

The new voter registration, called the State of Colorado Registration and Election System, or SCORE, replaces multiple county systems and is required by federal voting reforms passed after the 2000 election problems in Florida."

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/17402176/detail.html


We need info on Deputy Elections Director Wayne Munster

Such a small world. :sarcasm:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=487892

Doesn't pass the smell test!

BRAD:

In Bed With Voting Vendors': Details Revealed on the Abrubt Resignation of CO's Election Director

Holly Lowder Had Taken Up Residence With Contractor Who Provided Registration Roll Software to the State
Neither the Sec. of State, nor the Husband of the Election Chief Knew About the Relationship, Even as Other Such Relationships Have Been Encouraged by Federal Legislation...
Last night we offered the quick skinny on the abrupt resignation of Colorado's state Election Director, Holly Lowder, just 60 days out from what promises to be one of the largest and most important --- and potentially closest --- elections in the state's history.

We summarized some of the dizzying background on the exceptionally embarrassing and dysfunctional state of certification, decertification and recertification of e-voting systems in the Centennial State over the last two years, under current Sec. of State, Republican Mike Coffman (who is overseeing his own election for the U.S. House this November), and in previous years under two former Republican SoS' (one of whom was promoted by George W. Bush to do the same lousy job of e-vote testing for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission).

We also suggested, based on information from sources in the states, that the old euphemism about "election officials being in bed with voting vendors" may well become more than just a euphemism when the full explanation for Lowder's sudden departure became known.

And today, as we'd hinted last night, some of that information has now become known...

FULL STORY: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6360