Hedger Campaign Full of Hot Air

Forum Editorial: Candidate needs to check facts

The Forum - 09/22/2006

The latest blast of hot air from the Democratic-NPL candidate for North Dakota secretary of state is more politics than policy. Kristin Hedger, who has been trying mightily to discredit the work of incumbent Republican Secretary of State Al Jaeger, lobbed more charges at Jaeger this week, none of which stand up to a fact check.

First, she said the secretary of state’s office “outsources” vote counting. Clever use of words, but a tad dishonest. “Outsourcing” is one of those hot-button terms designed to get attention. But in the context in which Hedger used it, it’s a misrepresentation of how Jaeger’s office has improved vote counting across the state in concert with county auditors.

North Dakota’s vote-counting systems were purchased from the Nebraska firm ES&S. The company won the work by competitive bidding, and its technology was vigorously tested. As with any new technology, there was a glitch or two, but nothing approaching the “hundreds of failures” Hedger suggests.

By the way, ES&S is a reliable company that has provided voting technology to the state for years – before 1993 when Jaeger was elected. His predecessor was a Democrat.

If you would like to read the rest of the editorial please visit: http://www.in-forum.com/Opinion/articles/140486