21 responses so far ↓

• 1 Jeff Noble // Jun 7, 2008 at 10:23 pm

  Thanks for your entry.

  I was defeated, but it took some work. The original ballot count for the 3rd District Committeeman was 79 Noble, 78 Longmeyer, and 74 Tandy. The ballots were tabulated and those results were entered on the official tally sheet and that tally was signed by John Sommers, the 46th LD Chair, who had been appointed as a teller. No other signatures appeared on the official tally sheet. The ballots were then sealed. Sommers reported the results as me having won. On the front of the folder in large letters was written Noble – Tim Longmeyer. Inside that folder was the tally sheet with Noble 79, Longmeyer 78, Tandy 74.

  At some later point, Walker, who is an IT guy and young KDP staffer working in the tabulation room (and who is not really involved in this at all) was asked to turn the closed and sealed envelope of ballots and tally sheet over to Kerry Morgan, the KDP attorney appointed by KDP Chair Jennifer Moore, because it was believed the “scanner” had misread the results, which had showed me winning. Unbeknownst to me, attorney Morgan took the ballots to another room, opened them and “recounted” the ballots – three times according to her. No one to my knowledge other than attorney Morgan has any idea if the ballots she “recounted” were all of those originally reported or not. Sommers had already left knowing the results had been tabulated, ballots envelope and tally sheet sealed, and he had signed off on that tabulation and reported those sealed results, which again showed Tim Longmeyer and I as having the most votes, 78 and 79 respectively.

  In attorney Morgan’s “recount” of the ballots, with no one there from my campaign or apparently anyone else’s to oversee or scrutinise the security of the ballots, the results – take a guess – changed dramatically. The new vote count showed 80 Tandy, 76 Longmeyer, and 74 Noble. At some point from the time John Sommers and Walker the IT guy sealed the ballots and the tally sheet showing my win and Longmeyer’s 2nd place finish to the point of Walker being told to turn the sealed ballots and tally sheet over to attorney Morgan, not only did I lose five votes, but Tandy picked up six, while Longmeyer lost 3.

  Amazing.

  Via a telephone call, John Sommers brought this to my attention and I brought it to the attention of Jennifer Moore, who, naturally had no idea such a thing had happened. Jennifer dispatched her boyfriend Dan Borsch along with attorney Morgan, to a room where the ballots could be reviewed with me.

  As Jennifer knows, I am very fond of Dan and she knew I would have absolutely no objection to his presence in the room, and I didn’t. Attorney Morgan also invited, with my approval, Chad Aull to assist in yet another “recount.” I also had no problem with Chad’s presence or help. The four of us proceeded to recount the ballots, although I mentioned to attorney Morgan that I was confident we would get the same results she had gotten earlier since we were counting the same ballots – my concern wasn’t her mathematic ability, but rather the security of the ballots, which apparently weren’t all that secured.

  During the recount, it was pointed out to me that one ballot had already been invalidated because it had listed the candidates’ names inaccurately. That ballot was one vote for Tandy, one vote for Noble. Also during the recount, another ballot, which had been missed during attorney Morgan’s earlier “recount” was also disqualified, and for the same reason. It had one vote for me, one for Longmeyer. I agreed to both of these disqualifications, as their removal from the count would not change the count as recorded in attorney Morgan’s “recount.”

  But, something somewhere along the way certainly changed the count. I went from having 79 votes to 73. Tim Longmeyer went from having 78 votes to 75. David Tandy went from having 74 votes to having 80. My and Tim’s name on the front of the envelope were each crossed out and written below them, in a different color ink was Tandy-Longmeyer. Borsch and Aull can attest to the crossing out and reentering of a different set of winners.

  Attorney Morgan asked me if I wish to place a challenge to the results, as did several of my supporters. It is obvious to everyone that I could not lose five notes, nor could Tim lose three, nor could David gain six without someone’s possibly illegal intervention. I told attorney Morgan, in Borsch and Aull’s presence, that I would not challenge the results – that such a challenge would be fruitless knowing the ballots had already, in my belief, been tampered with by someone and probalby someone in charge of obtaining the results.

  I am confident the original results were correct. I had joked in the assembly hall that the delay in reporting the results was clearly due to the powers-that-be not getting the results they wanted – and until they did, they would not be reported. Those wanted results, showing me losing as opposed to winning, were achieved with attorney Morgan’s “recount.”

  The powers-that-be in this story of political power being seized from the voters in the 3rd CD this morning and placed in the hands of a few are KDP Chair Jennifer Moore, her appointed attorney Kerry Morgan, her appointed Executive Director Jeremy Horton (who said to more than one person that I was “a problem” on the committee), and the Obama campaign leader Carolyn Tandy. Throughout the day, Carolyn endorsed the idea of Obama supporters voting for a slate proposed by and encouraged by people within both the Obama campaign and the Beshear administration, headed by Dick Paloski (sp?), who came in from Tennessee to run the Beshear political machine. Their plan worked.

  None of this will change my commitment to the Democratic Party, to Barack Obama who I first met while with the Yarmuth campaign at Slugger Field in 2006, or to John and his re-election efforts.

  It will be difficult for me to ever accept Moore, Morgan, Horton, or Mrs. Tandy, as well as the governor’s political operatives, those passing out the blue slate ballots, and anyone involved with the unauthorized reopening of sealed ballots for a “recount” as objective and fair political players as their actions today proved that not to be the case.

  But life goes on. I first ran for the SCEC before any of those people listed above were involved in politics, running for Committeeyouth from the 4th CD in 1980. And in those succeeding 28 years, I’ve continued my support of and dedication to the broad and diverse policies of our Party, participating in the election of Democrats at all levels of government, and from across the political spectrum – and I am proud of my work.

  Petty personal partisan ploys are short-lived but long-remembered. This one will be no different.

  JN

• 2 jake // Jun 8, 2008 at 1:06 am

  I told you last night that this would happen. Low and behold: It happened!

  This is completely sickening and I hope people now see what I have been bitching and moaning about for almost a year.

  You’re reading it here, folks, from Jeff Noble.

  He’s probably the only person in Kentucky who could be considered wholly loyal to the Democratic Party and is certainly the only person in Kentucky who has fought for the KDP’s bylaws. Mostly because he’s the only person who understands them.

  We should be ashamed that this happened in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

• 3 Joe Sonka // Jun 8, 2008 at 1:22 am

  vomit

• 4 MSU Democrats » Blog Archive » Beshear stacks Democratic committee with backers // Jun 8, 2008 at 9:27 am

  [...] Jeff Noble reports on the issue submitted to Page One. I was defeated, but it took some work. The original ballot count for the 3rd District Committeeman was 79 Noble, 78 Longmeyer, and 74 Tandy. The ballots were tabulated and those results were entered on the official tally sheet and that tally was signed by John Sommers, the 46th LD Chair, who had been appointed as a teller. No other signatures appeared on the official tally sheet. The ballots were then sealed. Sommers reported the results as me having won. On the front of the folder in large letters was written Noble – Tim Longmeyer. Inside that folder was the tally sheet with Noble 79, Longmeyer 78, Tandy 74. [...]

• 5 James R // Jun 8, 2008 at 9:29 am

  There is a reason that people do not get involved with the democratic party anymore unless they are just looking for a job.
  Jeff Noble believes in the democratic party. He is not loooking for a job. Tandy and Longmeyer and others want a job.
  These type of actions are typical and it is the reason that fewer and fewer people decide to work as LDs for the democratic party. Why get involved, work hard and they get dissed on because you are not part of the “group”.
  I have much better things to do with my life than to play these type of games. There are a few politicians worth helping. Most are not.

• 6 Jared // Jun 8, 2008 at 10:18 am

  This is an outrage! Democrats need to organize to take back the party. This is the reason I will be switching my support from Clinton to McCain. Jennifer Moore and team should all resign! These people are spineless.

• 7 Jake // Jun 8, 2008 at 11:09 am

  Supporting McCain over Clinton? Oh, yeah, that makes a ton of sense. Supporting Bush III over complete and absolute change is probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Especially over this since the people behind it all are CLINTON SUPPORTERS.

  If you’re using that logic, you’d be dropping Clinton (who has already dropped out) and backing Obama.

• 8 Not My Real Name // Jun 8, 2008 at 1:56 pm

  As a Republican, I’m no fan of Democrat (or Democratic) policies and principles. But I have to say that Jeff Noble has always presented himself as an intelligent and thoughtful (although politically misguided, LOL) gentleman whose integrity cannot be questioned. What happened to him bolsters my point about what Democrats are all about in Kentucky, both in their political machinations and in the way they have run this state for decades. It’s also another reason that I found it so incredibly frustrating that when we finally did elect a Republican governor who was trying to change the way things were done, Democrats acted like typical Kentucky Democrats and ran him out of office.

  Jeff, you were shat upon. Just remember that revenge is a dish best served cold.

• 9 Jim Parker // Jun 8, 2008 at 8:39 pm

  Okay,

  So far what I see is that the blog has proved Jeff wrong and that the ballots were secure. Something Mr. Noble didn’t say is that the ballots also were done by scantron and there were several that didn’t fill them out completely. Just like in high school, you have to make the right mark and my understanding is that many didn’t. That’s why there was a recount. Here’s a word folks, no matter who you are, what the Democratic Party does is much bigger than you. Get over it and pick up your literature and hit the streets for Obama.

• 10 jake // Jun 8, 2008 at 8:43 pm

  Actually, “Jim,” that’s not what we learned. The only thing I learned is that the ballots weren’t left alone.

  According to those in charge and at least half a dozen of the people I spoke with today, the recount was only done because the results were super-close.

• 11 Zac Rodgers // Jun 8, 2008 at 8:43 pm

  Glad to know someone from a county attorney’s office is quick to publicly slander an attorney. Maybe under Jerry Lundergan such things would happy, but I know Carrie Morgan and she would NEVER engage in any improper activity. Lots of people walked away losing a race they truly wanted to win this weekend, but I don’t see any others making a public battle out of it. I hear all this talk about Mr. Noble being a true Democrat….. if he was, he wouldn’t be throwing mud all over his own party in public no matter how mad it is. We all have sucked it up and moved on at one time or another. Jeff this is your time.

• 12 jake // Jun 8, 2008 at 8:43 pm

  P.S. Appealing this matter will end it once for all. Because the original scans could then be examined and all will be well.

• 13 Travis Spears // Jun 8, 2008 at 8:46 pm

  Actually Parker he mentions the ones which were disqualified because of that – two of them. Maybe you missed that or just didnt read it. According to what people are saying the scanner reported him winning 79 to 78. It was a later maybe unauthorized hand tally taken that reported him losing 80-73. If the scanner worked, it would have thrown out the ones marked wrong automatically. So the ones marked wrong were part of his 79 to 78 win. What happened to the ballots after the scanner said he won 79 to 78 seems to be the problem. And he said in the blog entry that Pol-101 mentioned that he is for Obama and had been since 2006. Is your name Morgan?

• 14 jake // Jun 8, 2008 at 8:52 pm

  Come on, folks. Jeff isn’t throwing mud anywhere. He’s understandably upset and has every right to be.

  The results were VERY close and Jeff has every right to request a recount or to appeal if he so chooses.

  The only thing Jeff seems to be confused about is that Ms. Morgan was alone with the ballots. The way I hear it, she wasn’t left alone with them at any time. I don’t think Jeff was attempting to disparage anyone’s character. He’s just repeating what he’s learned/been told. And an appeal will end this all because everything can be investigated and resolved.

  All this aside, I don’t think Jeff was ever intentionally questioning the integrity of Ms. Morgan. Just suggesting that something could have happened with the ballots and that someone could be responsible. He never once blamed her in his message. Besides, he’s not the kind of guy to pass blame without warrant. He’s much more level-headed than myself.

• 15 Travis Spears // Jun 8, 2008 at 8:53 pm

  Can any Democrat make this appeal? Who would know what By-Law to use? They should appeal it and settle it. Who decides the appeal?

• 16 jake // Jun 8, 2008 at 8:54 pm

  I think Jeff is the only person on earth who knows the by-laws by heart.

  To everyone: It’ll all be resolved soon so I don’t think anyone should get too upset or blow anything out of proportion.

• 17 Travis Spears // Jun 8, 2008 at 9:08 pm

  Ok, looking at that last sentence jake, you must know something the rest of us dont. Figures.

• 18 jake // Jun 8, 2008 at 9:10 pm

  I only know that if Jeff files an appeal, we’ll get an answer one way or another. And that’ll end it. I don’t think any of us should get upset until everything is resolved.

• 19 vernon // Jun 9, 2008 at 12:59 pm

  I understand that the chair of the by laws committee of the demo party decided not to run again because of the way the party was being run. Also I also understand that he was not consulted during the convention about rules infractions because he was not a part of the powers that be in control if the convention. No wonder everyone was playing fast and loose.

• 20 Forks of Elkhorn // Jun 9, 2008 at 2:29 pm

  His name is George Blackburn – he is from down in Western Kentucky somewhere along the Green River. He is a great big man with a huge heart and a great deal of knowledge. I’ve seen written on this blog words saying Mr. Noble of Louisville knows the By-Laws by heart. If he does, and he may, he learned them from George Blackburn, who wrote most of what is presently in the Party By-Laws. And yes, he bowed out.

  Usually at the Convention, the Chair of the By-Laws Committee makes the By-Laws report to the body. This year, as a way to thank George for his years of hard work, Jennifer Moore made that report herself. Very classy.

• 21 The Dude // Jun 9, 2008 at 4:32 pm

  Actually, Jake, it seems pretty obvious to me that Noble WAS intentionally calling into question LOTS of people’s integrity when he wrote:

  “It will be difficult for me to ever accept Moore, Morgan, Horton, or Mrs. Tandy, as well as the governor’s political operatives, those passing out the blue slate ballots, and anyone involved with the unauthorized reopening of sealed ballots for a “recount” as objective and fair political players as their actions today proved that not to be the case.”

  We’ve all been mad and written things that we should have waited until we cooled off to re-read and edit. I suspect Jeff wrote much of his statement above while he was hurt, angry and had a limited amount of facts. I completely understand where he was because we’ve all been there. Choosing to publish that on the internet before making the kind of calls that Jake made is, however, very rash.

  Another thing that struck me about his stament is that he rails against the people “passing out the blue sheets”, but it is probably a fair guess that one of the times he was elected to the committee that he was the beneficiary of having his name on such a sheet. Even if he wasn’t on a Governor’s slate, he was surely the beneficiary of Jerry Lundergan’s campaigning for him four years ago.

  Jeff is a dedicated democrat, usually a thoughtful individual, and definitley an asset to the pary. However, those people that have made the point that he should have complained less and campaigned more have hit the nail on the head. It may be his reputation among some in his district for being too quick to judgment and unnecessarily confrontational that lost him some votes.

  As for Tandy and Longmeyer, I believe Tandy is automatically on the committee as the treasurer of the party and Longmeyer is already a non-voting member as the Jefferson County chairperson. So, in effect, both of them had at least a partial seat at the table. Would that be worth encouraging people to cheat on your behalf?

  Everyone says Morgan is likely to be a candidate for Brett Guthrie’s senate seat if he goes to congress. Why would she risk that and possibly problems with the bar association to rig a race for people who already have a seat at the table? It just doesn’t make sense.

  All of that being said, having a convention where something like this would even be considered a serious allegation does not reflect well upon its organizers. However, from reading what you say about the republican convention, maybe it is in the nature of political conventions that a certain number of people will leave pissed off.

  The whole convention was worthwhile just to know that John Yarmuth could show up all of the other elected muckity-mucks by giving a real, substantive speech which people needed to hear. To the extent Jeff Noble and the Tandys helped put Yarmuth there on that stage, they are owed some major props, regardless of any disagreements they may have.

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