First off, here's a little background on me. My name is Robert, and I graduated from the University of North Dakota last month with a Political Science degree. It took me a little longer than most, as I took some time off to work random jobs, including a semester to work as an Organizer for the Obama campaign. I also worked for SEIU as an Organizer during the healthcare battle, and as an Organizing Fellow with the PCCC.
Needless to say, I've learned from some of the best. Nay... the best. And now I'm using that experience to run a campaign.
So I got this amazing job as the Campaign Manager for Secretary of State candidate - and member of the ND House of Representatives - Corey Mock. He is running to replace an 18 year incumbent, and become the youngest SoS in the country (25). This is an amazing opportunity for the netroots to invest in our long-term progressive movement. Corey is a legit progressive, great candidate, and has a long future ahead of him in politics. The Democratic party in North Dakota doesn't have much of a bench to speak of, so this is our chance to start that building process.
Here's a little bit about Corey:
Corey became known in the 2009 legislative session as a leading voice in the fight to end discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity re. employment and housing (it ultimately failed to pass, however). He also gained accolades with his fight to create an independent redistricting commission. Corey worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reduce transportation costs for state travel, freeze financial aid increases for North Dakota college students, preserve the integrity of our election process, and implement tax cuts that benefited all residents of our state.
In addition to serving in the House (we have a part-time legislature), Corey's day job is as Executive Director of the Third Street Clinic, a non-profit free clinic that provides access to health care services for low-income residents in our area.
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In the first reporting period, we outraised our opponent nearly 10:1! We have also received some great media coverage thus far, which isn't that difficult, I guess, when the current office-holder isn't all that concerned with his fiscal responsibilities. Note to future elected officials: don't outsource democracy at the expense of small businesses, and which sends tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to out-of-state, bankrupt companies. And then plead ignorance. Srsly.
“I was not aware that they were".
Oh yeah... and about that out-of-state company? It's owned by a Canadian company. Oy.
We had our primaries here on Super Tuesday, and the turnout was, in the words of our current SoS, "disappointing." We agree.
Corey believes - and page 30 of the SoS's biennial report agrees (warning: PDF) - it is in the job description of the SoS to inform the public of how easy it is to vote here. We are the only state in the nation that does not require voter registration. We have no-excuse early voting for 40 days. Unfortunately, the current SoS believes that it should be up to the parties and interest groups to educate the public. We disagree.
Alright, in Jaeger's words, the Secretary's job is "to make sure that everything that happens on Election Day goes smoothly." Meh - fair enough. So about that? THE SECRETARY OF STATE LEFT A FREAKIN CANDIDATE'S NAME OFF OF THE BALLOT. No, I'm not making this up.
Jaeger, a Republican who has been secretary of state for 18 years, is up for re-election this fall, and the error drew quick criticism from his Democratic opponent, Grand Forks state Rep. Corey Mock.
“Leaving a statewide candidate off the ballot is entirely unacceptable, and the people of North Dakota need to know that they have a secretary of state who can run elections,” Mock said Thursday.
Voytek, 26, of Fargo, had expected to be listed on the June ballot alongside Libertarian candidates for the U.S. Senate and state tax commissioner. He mailed the required forms, including a candidate affidavit and statement of his financial interests, to Jaeger’s office in early April, well before the April 9 filing deadline, he said.
When Voytek called to check on his status after the deadline passed, he was told Jaeger never got any documents from him, Voytek said.
“I figured maybe something had gotten lost in the mail,” Voytek said. “I felt like I had done everything on my end that was sufficient, so I just didn’t know what had happened.”
Jaeger said the documents were mistakenly attached to other business registration paperwork in his office when the mail received April 8 was opened. Voytek’s papers were discovered May 25, Jaeger said Thursday. The election was June 8.
(Here's our hard-hitting response)
When a blogger at NorthDecoder made an open records request for documents related to the snafu, here was Jaeger's response (from the comments of the northdecoder post, no direct link):
Mr. Blomeke,
As you requested, a copy is attached.
However, I also want to point out that the criticism of this office has taken its toil on my staff. Inadvertently, one of my employees, when opening the mail, attached these documents to another set of documents routed to the Business Registration Unit. Therefore, while I have been criticized, it has been keenly felt by those dedicated state employees in my office who open the mail each day. They handle hundreds of pieces of mail every day and feel bad enough already about what happened. Now, although the criticism is directed at me for political reasons, I would hope you and others would be more understanding because it is impacting hard working non-political dedicated people who do their best each day in providing services to the people of this state. They don’t deserve it.
Al Jaeger
After this 'foulup' as the local papers are calling it, Corey and state Senator held a press conference calling for an Attorney General's opinion, asking how Jaeger can just ignore North Dakota law and place a candidate on the general election ballot without receiving 300 votes in the primary. Our very political AG dismissed it out-of-hand, raising other legal issues.
The very conservative sayanythingblog actually took our side here (albeit in a backhanded manner); and gave us all out support here. And, most surprising of all, the conservative Bismarck Tribune wrote a wonderful (?!) editorial taking our position.
The whole businesses [sic], since the error was discovered, has a "make the rules as you go" feel. And although an attorney general's opinion may be the same as Stenehjem's advice to Jaeger, that opinion would formalize the situation and give the correction a bare minimum of legal standing. That's what Jaeger's opponent in the race for secretary of state, Democrat Rep. Corey Mock, wants. And that's what the public should have.
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Competency? Minimal. Accountability? Zilch. In other words: "it is not my duty to take responsibility for what goes on in this office." Leave Al Jaeger alooooooooone!
I don't have to tell this community how important holding the office of Secretary of State is. We have a legitimate shot of beating this complacent, incompetent do-nothing. But we need your help.
When people ask about the hardest part of running a campaign, I don't even have to think about it: asking for money; however, it comes with the territory. It's a necessary evil in my job description in order to get our message out to the people of North Dakota... and to build the future of our sustainable progressive movement.
Cheers!