In the High Country Press coverage of the protest arising out of Mr. Eggers' vote, he professed himself "befuddled" (or perhaps that was the headline-writer's term) about the resulting uproar. Anyway, Mr. Eggers said he couldn't understand what all the hub-bub was about. (Please note for the record that his "no" was sufficient to sink the proposal to extend Early Voting hours at the County Courthouse from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday and to extend Early Voting hours at the Student Union on the campus at Appalachian State University from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.)
The elephant in the room, if you'll pardon the expression, is the fact that, in addition to being the Republican member on the Board of Elections, Mr. Eggers is also actually the attorney hired by the sitting Republican majority on the Watauga County Commission. Does no one see a conflict of interest here?
Apparently, the orthodox majority over at The Watauga Conservative see Mr. Eggers' vote against extending Early Voting as the correct partisan decision, that not extending Early Voting at the Student Union increases the chances that Republicans will win everything, which would mean that Mr. Eggers could continue to work as attorney for a Republican majority on the County Commission. His chances might fairly be said to go up if fewer students vote. That's certainly the transparent calculus of Tommy Adams, one of the Republican candidates for County Commission who has been working the polls at ASU since Day One (and who most certainly supported Mr. Eggers' decision not to extend the voting opportunities any further than already allowed).
In other words, Mr. Eggers has a financial stake in how this vote comes out, and it seems more than slightly irregular that he is able to exercise power in this instance to protect his financial interest.
The HCP article that shows 71% of the early voters have a Boone address proves the system is unfair. Those polls need to be closed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for paying attention. You are exactly right about this conflict of interest!
ReplyDeleteSo you do admit that the poll at the student union is advantageous to Democrats and that keeping it open every hour you can in order to take advantage of this is your objective. It does not matter that they had plenty of time to vote and still do so there can be no conflict of interest.
ReplyDeleteThank you for being honest at last, J.S.
Anonymous
ReplyDeleteYes, the polls at the University are advantageous to the Democrats because Appalachian State University like UNC or NC State is filled with very intelligent, smart young citizens who understand banning Gay Marriage, passing Voter ID Laws or allowing more assault weapons will do nothing to improve their future.
The youthful voters at ASU want problem solvers who know how to do math, believe in facts and know how to apply logic to find solutions to todays problems. They have no time for a political party that relies on voter repression, bigotry and scapegoating to gain political power, so few university students will be voting for the Limbaugh Republicans or Tea Party Mob.
So you do admit by restricting voter hours is a advantageous to Repubs?
ReplyDeleteYour article, and the words 'conflict of interest' is pathetic! The student union has plenty of time to vote...with the current set times and hours. Trust me, if they wish to vote they will and can. Your efforts to fight to sway the vote Democrat are crystal clear. College is learning personal responsibility... let's teach them times and hours...beginning with their right to vote. Stop trying to sway the vote with the college population please.
ReplyDeleteSo you do admit by restricting voter hours is a advantageous to Repubs?
ReplyDeleteNot at all. Making the access to voting equatable is.
Liberal POV... what flavor IS that Koolaid your are sipping on?? Let me guess, Kum-by-ah is your favorite song? Tea Party Mob... LMAO!
ReplyDeleteWhy is it a bad thing to allow everyone to vote that is eligible to vote? Allow voting 24hrs a day if that gets participation.
ReplyDeleteHow about 24/7/365? And maybe we can find a way to let people just call their votes in so they don't have to get off their couches and go to the polls?
ReplyDeleteIf what you said about Tommy Adams is true, BOC candidate for a rural district, spending much of his time on campus, since day one, I find that to be incongruous.
ReplyDeleteBut now, incredible as it may seem, this is the manner by which local offices are decided and local decisions are made.
'Anything to win an election and force your agenda. Right, JW?