January 27, 2012
2009 City Council Failed to Provide Updated Map to Election Board as Required by Law
Allegations of voting fraud have been made by City Councilman Bob Hagan or Mike Fenercich. Former council candidate Yvonne Lackey, who was arrested for, and plead no contest to, carrying a weapon into City Hall after the election (see story), seems to be one of the group who is also accusing people, going on to say "50 names have been identified and submitted to the proper authorities."
New information has been pointed out that Oklahoma State Statute Title 26 Elections, Chapter A1 - Election Code, Article XIII - Municipal Elections, Section 13-107 - Maps to be Provided states: "It SHALL be the MANDATORY duty of the governing board of each municipality to provide to the county election board or boards of the county or counties wherein said municipality is located a current map of said municipality. Said map must clearly define the municipal limits or ward boundaries of any municipality, the governing board of said municipality SHALL immediately provide the appropriate county election board or boards with a complete revised map of the municipality."
After the de-annexation by the outgoing city council in 2009, it appears the 2009 new city council and their city manager failed to make sure the paperwork was completed. It appears they failed to provide a revised map to the election board in 2009 after the de-annexation and again failed to provide one before the election in 2011. It appears the April 2009-April 2011 city council failed to fulfill their mandatory duty. It is now being reported that some of those who are being accused of voting fraud feel that Mr. Hagan’s and Mr. Fenercich’s dereliction of this duty seems to be responsible for allowing the election board and the people to believe they were eligible to vote. Some went on to say the last city council did not let the people know what was going on in the city, so the city council could have annexed them back in or overturned the de-annexation without telling them.
As for Ms. Lackey’s accusations and involvement, people remember how upset she was after losing the election. They feel this may just be another type of "weapon" she may now be using against those she feels are responsible for her losing the election.
City Attorney David Perryman has repeatedly advised the council of the law regarding calling an election. In Tuesday’s council meeting, he also said the revised map was completed and being sent to the McClain County Election Board. State and county election officials have repeatedly said there were steps to take to prevent voter fraud, and that they would work diligently to see that the voter registry was updated. Mayor Broyles has also said a map could be provided for those who are unsure if they live in this area.
Questions are now: What is the real reason behind Mr. Hagan’s and Mr. Ferencich’s continued refusal to call an election? Were these delaying tactics for whatever undisclosed reasons they may have? Conspiracy? Fraud? Whatever you may call it, it appears these two councilmen may be the ones who are continuing to break the law by not calling the election, and it appears their alleged repeated failure to perform their duty in office as required by law may be the problem that caused the alleged voting irregularities.
January 11, 2012
Hypocrisy Abounds on City Council
At the Tuesday, January 10, 2012, council meeting, in a move that Mayor Frank Broyles felt was in violation of the Open Meeting Law, Councilmen Bob Hagan and Mike Ferencich appointed Barbara Harris to Ward 2 council seat which was vacated by Jon Owens. Mayor Broyles felt it violated the Open Meeting Law because the agenda did not state who they were going to appoint to give people a chance to have a voice or know what was intended.
When Lynn McCumber vacated Ward 1 council seat in June 2011 due to health reasons, Bob Hagan was very outspoken and adamant about the people having the right to elect who they wanted, and Mike Ferencich agreed. Two attempts were made by Mayor Broyles to have someone appointed. One person was said to have been threatened with the loss of her job and the other was said to have received an anonymous letter.
Mr. Hagan and Mr. Ferencich also refused to vote for an election for the vacant Ward 1 seat, citing concerns over possible voting irregularities in the last election due to people voting who had been de-annexed. Processing of the paperwork for the de-annexation was held up for approximately two years. Oklahoma State Statute Title 11, Section 8-109 states "if the vacancy has not been filled within sixty (60) days after it occurs, the governing body SHALL call for a special election." Their refusal to call an election appears to be a clear violation of the law and violation of the rights of the citizens of Blanchard to have an election. Mayor Broyles states in his column, "It is the LAW and YOUR right to have the election. I have talked to the election board about the possibility of voters being allowed to vote who were not eligible because of de-annexation. People who were de-annexed now know they are not eligible. If they are unsure, they can cast a provisional ballot and allow the election board to determine if they are eligible or ineligible. Also, a map can be put up to allow people to determine if they live in the de-annexed area. There is NO valid reason to hold off on an election now, except delaying tactics." It has also been reported that anyone who knowingly votes in an election they are not eligible are breaking the law and may be prosecuted when challenged within the allowed time after the election.
Questions have been raised by some if the de-annexation was legal, as residents were not notified nor asked if they wanted to be de-annexed. Also being questioned is the possibility of a statute of limitation for the filing time of the paperwork for the de-annexation, as two years is a very long time for it not to have been completely processed.
We will have more on this story later.
State and National News
January 27, 2012
Georgia Judge Issues Default Judgement Against Obama, Usurper's Name will Not Appear on Georgia Ballot
January 27, 2012
Obama Eligibility Court Case....Blow by Blow
January 27, 2012
Monsanto & Cancer Milk: FOX NEWS KILLS STORY & FIRES Reporters
January 25, 2012 - PRESS RELEASE
Cole Reacts to State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after President Obama delivered his annual State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. In the spirit of bipartisan cooperation, Cole attended the speech with Democratic colleague Jan Schakowsky (Ill.) ........more
January 23, 2012
Rising Strife Threatens Tenuous Iraqi Stability
January 21, 2012
New Rule Would Allow Lobbyists to Buy Lawmakers' Meals
January 18, 2012 - PRESS RELEASE
Cole Statement on Keystone Pipeline Announcement
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after the White House announced it is rejecting plans to move forward with the Keystone XL pipeline:
"President Obama's decision to block the Keystone pipeline is indefensible. This is a purely political move that puts the president's campaign ahead of the urgent need to create American jobs. Years of extensive study show that Keystone will be just as environmentally safe as the many other pipelines already crisscrossing the nation. The president's decision means that this reliable oil supply from our Canadian allies may go to China, and America could miss out on both energy security and tens of thousands of new jobs. Republicans in Congress will continue fighting for Keystone, but President Obama's irresponsible actions have unacceptably jeopardized both our economic and national security interests."
Quote of the Day
January 27, 2012
"The very word 'secrecy' is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths, and to secret proceedings."..............John F. Kennedy
January 26, 2012
"The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic."............John F. Kennedy
January 25, 2012
"When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, "just men who will rule in the fear of God." The preservation of government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty; if the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the laws; the public revenues will be sqandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded. If a republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws."..............Noah Webster
January 24, 2012
"When a citizen gives his suffrage to a man of known immorality he abuses his trust; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor, he betrays the interest of his country.".................Noah Webster
January 23, 2012
"From Watergate we learned what generations before us have known; our Constitution works. And during Watergate years it was interpreted again so as to reaffirm that no one - absolutely no one - is above the law."............Leon Jaworski
January 22, 2012
"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests."..............Patrick Henry
January 21, 2012
"My belief has always been...that wherever in this land any individual's constitutional rights are being unjustly denied, it is the obligation of the federal government--at point of bayonet if necessary--to restore that individual's constitutional rights."......Ronald Reagan
January 20, 2012
"The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it. Only if every single citizen feels duty bound to do his share in this defense are the constitutional rights secure."............Albert Einstein
January 19, 2012
"Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption."............James Garfield
January 18, 2012
“There is an election going on all the time... the Lord votes for you and Satan votes against you, and you must cast the deciding vote.”...................Unknown
January 17, 2012
"No right is more precious in a free country than that of having a voice in the election of those who make the laws under which, as good citizens, we must live. Other rights, even the most basic, are illusory if the right to vote is undermined." ...................Wesberry v. Sanders, 376 U.S. 1, 17-18 (1964) It was felt this quote was worth repeating due to the current circumstances in Blanchard.
January 16, 2012
"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything."...............Albert Einstein
January 15, 2012
"No right is more precious in a free country than that of having a voice in the election of those who make the laws under which, as good citizens, we must live. Other rights, even the most basic, are illusory if the right to vote is undermined." ...................Wesberry v. Sanders, 376 U.S. 1, 17-18 (1964)
January 14, 2012
"The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time".............Thomas Jefferson
January 13, 2012
"Any president whose actions so consistently refute his own words must have deep contempt for the intelligence of the American public.". ................Unknown
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