Brunner To BOE: Both Sides Are Idiots

OK, maybe I'm reading a tad too much of my own personal view in this latest ruling as Ohio's Secretary of State is dragged into yet another no-win cat fight between the Democratic and Republican bosses on the Board of Elections. Surprise -- she's managed to vote against BOTH sides this time.

Under the heading "only in Summit County" do we find stories along these lines -- and so many of 'em, too.

The key background in a nutshell: Summit's elections costs are double those of most urban counties, and they are way overstaffed compared to not only counties of similar size but even the big boys such as Franklin, home of Columbus.

The situation: with the economy in the dumper, how does anyone NOT take a hard look at reducing costs, saving taxpayer money, and doing at least just as much with less?

The conflict: Republicans want to slash jobs, including interns; Democrats want to keep those jobs but cut pay and trim here and there.

READ the full .pdf report from SOS Jennifer Brunner HERE

As usual, neither side agrees on the big issues. Because of the structure of the Board -- two D and two R members -- it winds up going to the Secretary of State's office for a tie-breaker. Given the history of how many ties wind up in the lap of the SOS we should consider adding a residential wing to 500 Grant Street so they can just live here.

Brunner's decision today, with my emphasis in bold: get to the heart of the matter, which is Summit's outdated practice of running the Board of Elections under the same model the early Soviet Union used. It's time to eliminate the one-for-one partisan hiring practice below top manager level.

"I further instruct the Summit County Board of Elections to examine its levels of staffing in light of the guidance provided in this tie vote decision, especially to review and adjust staffing levels according to the number of persons needed for the tasks to be performed for particular positions. Even if just one person would be required for the assigned duties of a position, partisan balance in the overall staffing level of the board rather than per position will allow the board to meet economic needs and progress toward greater bipartisan cooperation in the operation and administration of this board."

Summit County, like our friends under Lenin, Stalin and Kruschchev in the old days, insists on not only having a ministerial-level (a.k.a civil servant) employee in each job but also a political officer-level (a.k.a. same job, different party) equivalent. Anyone who's spent time watching Dr. Zhivago or The Hunt for Red October has seen how much this ties up the system, but because we've done it for over 30 years there isn't the political or good government will to change things for the sake of efficiency.

Truth is, neither side wants to give up the patronage power that comes with a policy assuring for every job there is a shadow at the same pay. How many companies have you worked for can say the same thing?

Brunner's decision today gets to the heart of the matter: both sides should stop acting like petulant children fighting over equal halves of the same cookie. Reform the system. Soon.