repubgazette8-15-07votinggoesoncountvotesireland

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Having Fun

With Mojo

More details about my WV board game

Hey kids! Mojo here! A couple of weeks ago I announced I was working on a new board game based on West Virginia! I told you that it's called, "West Virginia - Open for Business!" It comes with three sets of dice, a roulette wheel and a deck of cards! It's kinda like Monopoly, except instead of buying and selling property, you get to apply for state and federal grants! Here are some more details! First, anytime you open a new business, you have a one in two chance of drawing a card that says, "Welcome to West Virginia -- Go Directly to Court!" If you don't get that card, you get one that says, "Brickstreet Premium Increase -- Pay $200!" Then, just before you finally get to the winner's circle, you have to draw one of two cards! One of them says, "Democrat Fundraiser -- Pay $1,000 or Move Back to Start." The other says, "You Win! Move Immediately To North Carolina!" More details soon!

There were lots of correct answers submitted to yesterday's trivia question. The correct answer was, of course, Jesco White. Correct answers came from Tommy Phillips, Hiram Lewis, Rob Cornelius, His Honor, Fred Joseph, Dave Tackett, Dale Samples, Karen Ali, and a couple of emailers whose names I do not know. Gonna have to draw names, since Tommy Phillips and His Honor always stay up late and beat everybody else. Today's question: Elvis was set to play three shows at the Huntington Civic Center Sept. 20-22, 1977, but died Aug. 16 of that year. So, where and when did his final concert occur?

While some residents may have been under the impression that August 11 was the final day to vote on the table games referendum in Kanawha County, ballots continue to pour in from various precincts.

In fact, based on the continued interest in the election, get-out-the-vote efforts by both sides are reportedly gearing back up, and another big turnout is expected today.

More than 60 votes came in on Monday, and Tuesday saw nearly 400 additional ballots roll into the county clerk's office.

"We think we can top that today," said a Tri-State Racetrack official. "We're revving up the buses and hiring new employees just so they can go vote."

But the opposition was not intimidated.

"There are several churches who have members just getting back from vacation, and we're offering them free rides to the polls," said a "vote no" spokesman.

In fact, new billboards were sprouting up around the county today. One said, "Maybe you didn't hear us the first time -- one thousand new jobs!"

But another said, "Not only God, but the entire Holy Trinity says Vote No!"

Meanwhile, Kanawha County Commissioner Kent Carper was extremely angry, since he had not planned on having to come up with additional people to blame.

"I'm at a complete loss as to what to say," said Carper, in a statement that stunned reporters. "I don't even have a snappy soundbite."

But election officials were elated. "At this rate, we're likely to exceed 100 percent voter turnout," said Secretary of State Chief of Staff Ben Beakes, adding, "Late voting seems to be just as popular as early voting."

As to exactly when the election might be decided, Kanawha County Clerk Vera McCormick could only guess.

"Every morning when I open the office door, there's another bag full of votes," she said. "Isn't democracy wonderful?"

The principle remains -- count all the legal votes

With a majority of the 374 ballots discovered on Tuesday coming from a South Hills area that largely favored the table games referendum, table games supporters like Kent Carper and John Cavacini will likely quit making such a fuss over whether ballots discovered after Saturday's election should be counted.

The fact is, whether you are a supporter or an opponent of allowing racetracks to add table games, every legally cast vote should be counted, as long as there is no evidence of vote tampering.

The votes discovered Tuesday apparently were found the same way as the 64 Sissonville votes that came to light on Monday -- stuffed inside a canvass bag with provisional votes.

Kanawha County Clerk Vera McCormick, who, despite being the constant target of Carper's wrath, is one of the most honest and trustworthy people in government, assures everyone that the votes have always been secured and protected from tampering. That is all we need to know.

Legal procedures take a backseat to the rights of voters to have their ballots counted, as long as there is no reason to believe the ballots have been compromised. The principle is simple and should be honored -- count every legal vote.

Statement from Betty Ireland on the uncounted early votes

"My office has been made aware of the 438 uncounted early votes from Kanawha County's Saturday election. We also understand Kanawha County officials have secured these ballots and they will be reviewed during the county's canvass on Friday.

"Although this is a large number of uncounted votes the checks and balances of the voting process is working in that all votes will be reviewed during canvass. Our office will be present Friday to assist with the canvass. As Secretary of State, protecting the people's right to vote is my primary focus."

Officials with Tri-State Racetrack reportedly huddled with attorneys in downtown Charleston on Tuesday to discuss whether to challenge uncounted early votes discovered this week.

The meeting was planned prior to the discovery that even more uncounted votes were found later Tuesday, possibly from precincts friendlier to table games than the those found on Monday.

Comments on Monday by West Virginia Racing Association boss John Cavacini indicated the gambling interests might try to keep the overlooked ballots from being tabulated.

(Press Release) Governor Mitt Romney on Tuesday announced he will campaign in West Virginia on Thursday and attend the State Fair. Governor Romney's trip to West Virginia comes on the heels of handily winning the Ames Republican Straw Poll in Iowa on Saturday.

Last week, Governor Romney announced his West Virginia Statewide Steering Committee. This 15- member committee will help organize grassroots efforts and will communicate Governor Romney's message of conservative change in Washington throughout the state. In early August, Governor Romney also announced his plans to participate in the West Virginia State Republican Convention on February 5, 2008.

"I am pleased with our efforts in West Virginia. We continue to receive support from voters across the state who want to see Washington taken apart and put back together so that it works better for their families," Governor Romney said. "We need to build a stronger military, a stronger economy and stronger families. I look forward to talking to West Virginians about my vision to make our country even stronger."

This will be Governor Romney's fourth visit to the Mountain State since October 2006.