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Please... someone give David a job. He obviously has waaaaay too much free time. Yawn!

OK, Mr. Wilson. Try something different. Try refuting this piece with FACTS.

Or simply answer this: Why highlight issues in an audit completed in 2009 which have ALL been addressed, fixed or explained in 2006 - easily 3 years ago?

I know the answer. Do you?

DR, my "preface": I know almost nothing contained in your story, as I began to follow "local politics" only 2-3 years ago.

With that said, I can add something I do know about - Secretary of State, Karen Handel campaigned on the issue of "paper ballots receipts" - TO ENSURE THEM! Yey, oddly enough, upon winning the election, failed to deliver on that promise. Was it relevant to the campaign? I think so. "THAT'S HISTORY!", as they say. However, tying her to Gary Smith ("Gary Smith now sits on a review board of his peers (appointed by our Secretary of State)") doesn't necessarily strengthen impropriety or character.

Otherwise, I enjoyed the update...and NEVER have any appreciation for wasting tax money, even for the best of intentions.

Jim, we can debate a great deal about Voter Verifiable Papaer Audit Trails (paper receipts), as in - you never had 'em when you cast paper or punchcard ballots, so why do you need them now - but that issue is explained above.

Do you really want us to shell out $1.5 million tax dollars in Forsyth County alone to bring in a system that has an error rate of over 15%? I know I don't. So why is Gary Smith being painted as the bad guy for doing work on his own time to find out if we needed to spend that money or not?

Love to hear an answer to that one.

And the issue about being "paid" by the county for using comp time while performing his consulting contract out of state? Comp time is just like paid vacation time; you can do anything you want to do on vacation, just as you can do anything you want to do on comp time. Would we tell another employee that he or she couldn't work at McDonalds when they are on vacation, or fix computers for pay while on vacation?

Of course not.

Gary Smith just happens to lend his nationally-recognized knowledge to ESI while on vacation, and gets attacked for doing so.

Can anyone tell me why this is an issue?

Don't need to refute anything because, quite frankly, I don't care about the issue. The fact that you could expend so many bytes on such a silly premise - shows you have waaaay too much free time. I was taught in college to make your point in as few words as possible. 'nuff said.

Sorry, Bob. I'll try to use monosyllabic words next time so you can keep up.

And for you to label this issue of harassing the Voter Registrar as a "silly premise" shows you don't really care what your local government does, as long as it is done to someone else. Great way to live, Bob.

I find it amusing that this past commissioner voted to approve the investigation by Sawyer and Company but is now furious that it didn't whitewash his friend. Is there more that he doesn't want a further investigation to uncover? From the minutes of the June 24, 2008 BOC meeting:

Approval of Agreement between Forsyth County and Sawyer & Company, LLC to conduct a county-wide review of internal controls

There was a motion by Commissioner Ledbetter and a second by Commissioner Harrell to approve the Agreement between Forsyth County and Sawyer & Company, LLC to conduct a county-wide review of internal controls in an amount not to exceed $67,500 with authorization for the County Manager to sign the appropriate documents and that this item be placed on the next Consent Agenda with the approval of Chairman Laughinghouse. Motion carried with four members in favor (Richard, Harrell, Ledbetter and Tam) and one member absent (Laughinghouse).

The question is not whether Gary Smith did anything wrong or if the Board of Commissioners should have asked the DOJ to settle it once and for all. Rather, the question of the day is how many pairs of kneepads does Dave Richard go thru in a year?

I agree with the first person...someone please give him something to do.

Thank-you SouthsideSue! At least you get it. I think my comments went over Dave's head. Wait a minute, it all makes sense now. If he is on his knees, it doesn't take much for something to go over his head. You made my day.

Elections Board Legislation

Georgia House Bill 1091 Act 472 Section 14 Paragraph D.

"No member of the board, including the chairman, shall be considered as an employee for Forsyth County."

Only county employees are eligible to receive comp time pay. Georgia Law says that Gary Smith is NOT a county employee. Smith violated Georgia Law by illegally claiming comp time, a felony? We'll let the Justice Department figure that one out for us.

Having others illegally clock you in as Smith did? Perhaps the Justice Department has experience in answering questions like this too. Not keeping legal records of expenditures? Shucks the questions needing answers just keep on coming. Possible under the table relationships with county commissioners, the voter registrar, and the Secretary of State concerning the DieBold Company? That should be an interesting query indeed.

But then if you protesteth too mucheth I’m sure that Justice will cut and run.

Southside sue, I promise he has plenty to do ....He can start by mowing his grass.

Ga Election Code 21-2-214

(c) No member of a county or municipal board of registrars, deputy registrar, member of a county or municipal board of elections or county or municipal board of elections and registration, or a member of a joint county-municipal board of elections or joint county-municipal board of elections and registration, while conducting the duties of such person's office, shall engage in any political activity on behalf of a candidate, political party or body, or question, including, but not limited to, distributing campaign literature, engaging in any communication that advocates or criticizes a particular candidate, officeholder, or political party or body, and wearing badges, buttons, or clothing with partisan messages.

Forsyth County Elections Chair Gary Smith Email urging Poll Workers to Lobby Against H.R.811

The propaganda piece below does not reflect the views of Defenders Of Democracy.

http://www.defendersofdemocracy.com/drupal/node/176

Dang, did someone leave the gate open at the nut farm? They are all running loose!

The trouble with people such as corey, southsidesue and Kim Pruitt is that they can't even stick to the primary issue, but simply put up useless and unassociated comments about the poster. Cute, not even amusing, and completely and totally irrelevant.

Corey, the vote to bring this person in was to find out if Forsyth County's CURRENT processes and procedures were efficient and correct - not bring up old news already settled.

Now, let's answer the delusional David Milum's posts, this time using FACTS instead of baseless accusations.

David Milum: "Elections Board Legislation

Georgia House Bill 1091 Act 472 Section 14 Paragraph D.

"No member of the board, including the chairman, shall be considered as an employee for Forsyth County. Only county employees are eligible to receive comp time pay. Georgia Law says that Gary Smith is NOT a county employee. Smith violated Georgia Law by illegally claiming comp time, a felony?"

Me: Gary Smith has always worn TWO hats in Forsyth County; Elections Board Chairman AND Voter Registrar. It is under the Voter Registrar hat in which he is paid salary and comp time. You'd think someone as supposedly smart (in his own mind) as David Milum would know this little FACT. But facts have never kept David Milum from making baseless accusations. No illegal pay, no illegal comp time. And the whole "having someone illegally clock you in" thing? When you are out of town and doing county business (training, for example - but not limited to that) you have to have someone clock you in for the times you are working for the county and not available to clock in yourself. Easily explained if you don't have an agenda that includes assassinating great county workers.

David Milum: "(c) No member of a county or municipal board of registrars, deputy registrar, member of a county or municipal board of elections or county or municipal board of elections and registration, or a member of a joint county-municipal board of elections or joint county-municipal board of elections and registration, while conducting the duties of such person's office, shall engage in any political activity on behalf of a candidate, political party or body, or question, including, but not limited to, distributing campaign literature, engaging in any communication that advocates or criticizes a particular candidate, officeholder, or political party or body, and wearing badges, buttons, or clothing with partisan messages.

Forsyth County Elections Chair Gary Smith Email urging Poll Workers to Lobby Against H.R.811"

Me: See what is missing here? David Milum doesn't. His toady Brant Meadows doesn't. The missing piece here is a PARTISAN issue. Lobbying against something that DOESN'T WORK and will cost TAXPAYERS $1.5 MILLION to implement is not against the law, and more importantly, it is GOOD BUSINESS! But Milum and Meadows of the lunatic fring want you to believe that a Voter Registrar that is acting in the best financial interests of the county he serves is doing something wrong when he is doing his job! If Gary Smith HADN'T gone to Ohio and HADN'T lobbied against the Diebold upgrade, Milum and Meadows would have been accusing him of poor judgment and fiscal irresponsibility when the county spent over a million bucks to implement the failed Diebold solution. And of course, the lobbying FOR Diebold accusation can be dismissed simply by showing that Gary Smith REJECTED the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail upgrade because it had an error rate the exceeded 15%. If he was lobbying FOR Diebold, why isn't the upgrade here and $1.5 million county dollars in the poickets of Diebold today?

Can Milum, Meadows and Pruitt be any MORE stupid?

That answer is NO.

And now, let's turn our attention the the five gullible dupes known as the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners.

Only ONE question had to be asked during the work session when the "Sawyer Report" was explained to them. It is so obvious that is it amazing that ONE of these five couldn't come up with it. This one, simple question would have exposed the Sawyer Report for the fraud that it is regarding Gary Smith's accusations, and now puts the ENTIRE report's conclusions into question.

"How can issues which occurred 3, 4, and 5 years ago, all of which have been corrected with controls EXACTLY like those for other county employees, addressed and/or explained following two previous audits, put this county's CURRENT or FUTURE bond rating in jeopardy?"

The Board of Commissioners were duped by their CFO and David Sawyer because BOTH people's reputations were on the line; Bill Thomas' for recommending David Sawyer, and David Sawyer for asking for and receiving an enormous amount of money and not being able to justify the excessive increase in that contract. They needed something juicy to justify their actions, and dredging up 5-year old issues that have already been corrected was the only way to do so.

And the Board of Commissioners bit hard on it.

Dopes without brains.

The common denominator encircling DR, GS, and Karen Handle, Secretary of State: "DieBold", always follow the power, the money and the unceasing protest and yea shall find the Truth....always. Rejoice in that who could possibly be better in clearing the three amigo’s names? JUSTICE! Gotta love the sound of that! Simple for most of us so “Give Peace a Chance”.

My wager? When the chips settle we will see the name DieBold in the thick of it. Any takers?

I guess another question has also now been answered. Dave Richard, from all appearances, also swallows.

Hey Mark, would you please close that gate?

I always know when I'm in the right in an argument, when I put up a question or statemnet that never gets answered, as in everything I posted in my original piece, and in those following comments.

Can't you people on the lunatic fringe refute ANYTHING I've posted? Anything?

Moron Milum even comes back with yet ANOTHER allegation (phony as always) trying to tie me, Gary Smith and Karen Handel to Diebold. Even his toady Brant Meadows tried to tie me to Diebold and ESI about a month ago in a conversation we had.

We'll lay this little ditty to rest right now.

I have never worked for Diebold. I have never taken a dime of their money in consulting fees. I have never taken a dime of their money in campaign contributions. I have never approached Diebold for a job, nor have they approached me with any offers of one. I have never met with any representative of Diebold.

All of the above statements also apply to ESI.

Is that clear enough for ya, Moron Milum? C'mon, little man. Back up you statements with FACTS. You aren't even smart enough to know that Gary Smith IS an employee of Forsyth County.

Propaganda or worthy of consideration?

Who decides?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4FPuLNjvAc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey2TrJvtGN8

The ability to physically tally (audit) voting receipts with a paper "trail"? PRICELESS.

No need to refute because, quite frankly it is nonsense. No one really cares that much except you. You would think that losing by 10% in the primary would have made you realize that most folks could care less about whatever you are babbling about now. If you want to do something useful, babble about getting GA400 widened from McFarland to Highway 20.

What specifically is "nonsense", Bob? Why is it that you cavalierly dismiss this issue without any specifics? Because you don't really know anything about this? Because you don't care if your county government makes a concerted effort to harrass and defame their Voter Registrar? Because you like to see $125,000 flushed down the drain when the county is starved for money?

Why can't YOU answer the simple question above, which negates the whole premise of the Sawyer Report on Gary Smith? I'll even repeat it below for you. Are you man enough to answer it?

"How can issues which occurred 3, 4, and 5 years ago, all of which have been corrected with controls EXACTLY like those for other county employees, addressed and/or explained following two previous audits, put this county's CURRENT or FUTURE bond rating in jeopardy?"

What's the matter, boys and girls? Cat got your tongue?

Jim Callihan, these are old accusations that frankly are the result of incompetent elections officials, not of the machines themselves.

You notice that they didn't show the actual "hacking" of the machine at FOX, even though it supposedly only took "10 seconds" to do. The fact is, it can't be done in that amount of time, and more importantly, it can't be done at ALL if the machines are properly secured, as ours always are. That's because we have a Voter Registrar that takes his job seriously.

Now, what exactly is a "dropped vote"? You notice they don't really take the time to define that, right? Dropped votes can be from many sources, the liklihood of which are simply incorrectly cast by the voters themselves. Can machines improperly programmed drop votes? According to the manufacturer, apparently so. And again, the weak link is always the people involved in the voting process; the voter, the registrar and the poll workers.

As to a paper audit trail, what does that get you? Nothing. It would require EVERYONE who cast a ballot to keep them in case of a election challenge in order for them to be effective, and you know that isn't going to happen. Likely 9 out of 10 will simply throw their paper away when they leave the polling place. Plus, the aforementioned Diebold upgrade to paper audits had an error rate of over 15%, so it was pretty smart of Gary Smith to recommend against buying them to the tune of $1.5 million dollars, wasn't it? Maybe the $8,000 additional dollars we spent to educate him as a Certified Elections Official was money well spent, wasn't it?

In addition, I go back to my original post on this; you never had a paper audit trail for your paper ballot or punch card, either. Those can get lost, stolen or destroyed, depending on the humans involved with the voting process, just the same as in an electronic voting process.

Why weren't you crying for an audit trail for your vote before?

Because you didn't have the lunatic fringe crying wolf on those systems like you have with electronic machines.

It is not the MOTHOD of voting, Jim; it is the caliber of the PEOPLE involved with the voting process. It always has been, and it always will be. That is what is PRICELESS, Jim.

Dave Richard Wrote: Is that clear enough for ya, Moron Milum? C'mon, little man. Back up you statements with FACTS. You aren't even smart enough to know that Gary Smith IS an employee of Forsyth County.

EMPLOYEE VERSUS NON EMPLOYEE / FACT VERSUS FICTION

I

Adopted Motion by Forsyth County Board of Elections and Registrations NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board as follows:

1.      The Board shall request that the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners create a job classification for funding purposes only to be known as “Chief Registrar,” which classification shall have the duties, functions, and responsibilities described in Exhibit “A,” attached hereto.  This Chief Registrar classification shall not be a Forsyth County employee, but is being recognized solely as a means of establishing compensation in accordance with House Bill 972 of the 2004 session of the Georgia General Assembly.

II

Adopted Classification by Forsyth County Board of Commissioners

CHIEF REGISTRAR

PURPOSE OF CLASSIFICATION

The purpose of this classification is to perform the statutory duties and functions of the Chief Registrar for Forsyth County, Georgia as set forth in the Georgia Election Code and to perform the duties of ex officio Chairman of the Forsyth County Board of Registrations and Elections as set forth in the Georgia Election Code and in local legislation adopted by the Georgia Legislature. Work includes training and mentoring of the Supervisor of Elections with respect to the operation of the Elections and Voter Registration Department

                                                                   III

Local Legislation House bill 1091 act 472 Section 14 paragraph d. No member of the board, including the chairman, shall be considered as an employee for Forsyth County.

Kim, you're so stupid, you can't even keep up with this thread!

He's the Registrar of Voters you nitwit! He wears two hats, one of wich makes him a Forsyth County employee! Of course, that was answered days ago, so maybe you missed it during all the screen shots you're making for the ninnies over at aboutforsyth.com (oh, and you're about 5 days late in providing that information you promised your fellow cretins).

You and Moron Milum make a great pair.

Of nincompoops.

Let's look at it another way, Putz Pruitt. If Gary Smith was NOT an employee of Forsyth County, how would he ever get paid through our payroll system? Do we not provide budget for his office? Of course we do! See, Board of Elections members are VOLUNTEERS, but when you wear two hats and do two jobs, you get paid for one of them when it is full time. That describes Gary Smith.

And you and Milum are idiots.

Oh, and one other point, Putz Pruitt.

If we don't pay someone compensatory time, we have to pay them time and a half overtime when they work extra hours. I suppose you think that using more tax dollars is the better way to go, don't you?

Of course, you and Moron Milum know all about wasting tax dollars, right? You two together have probably cost taxpayers more than the cost of the Sawyer Rpeort alone, and you have yet to prove anything except your genetic stupidity.

It is so fun reading your replies to people that disagree with you. The name calling especially. It appears you were the most picked on in school. I have a copy of the Sawyer Report just for you.

House Bill 1091 act 472 as amended through HB 932 Act 787 in 2004

An Act creating the Forsyth County Board of Registrations and Elections, approved March 31, 1987 (Ga L .1987 pg 5381) is amended by striking Section 14 of said Act in its entirety and inserting in its place the following: Section 14 (a) The Chairman of the Board of Registrations and Elections shall be the Chief Executive Office of the Board and shall generally supervise, direct, and control the administration and affairs of the Board pursuant to law and duly adopted resolutions of the Board of Elections. The Board shall fix and establish by appropriate resolution in and on its minutes directives governing their execution of matters within its jurisdiction. (b) The Chairman of the board of Registrations and Elections shall be know as the Chief Registrar of Forsyth County , and shall be compensated accordingly. Compensation will be established and maintained according to the Forsyth County Classification system for County positions. The salary grade level shall be determined by an independent audit of the position. The increase in the salary of the Chief Registrar shall be determined by the Forsyth County Board of commissioners, at the average annual rate of compensation increases for Forsyth County employees, if any. (c) Two members of the Board other than the Chairman shall receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses in attending to the business of the Board in the amount of $50.00 each month. (d) No member of the Board, including the Chairman, shall be considered as an employee of Forsyth County.

It should be noted that the amended bill only changed paragraph b (the money) as introduced by Representative Jack Murphy. The position was formerly paid in the same way we pay house members. Also Jack Murphy replaced Gary Smith on the Board of Elections and Registrations in January 2002. Mr. Smith allegedly named his replacement (without his Republican exec committee approval) on the board of elections and registrations while simultaneously holding the Chairmanship of the Forsyth county GOP and Chief Registrar title. Also of interest is the part of the law that says in Act 472 HB1091 in section 3 (b) No person who has been a member of the board shall be eligible to qualify for an elective public office unless such person has ceased to be a member for at least six months prior to qualifying. Jack Murphy appointed to board of elections in January 2002, resigns in April 2002 and qualifies in the same month. Real neat. Seems a little fishy.

And everyone who gets paid by the Forsyth County compensation system gets comp time if they work extra time, Putz Pruitt.

Everyone.

We don't do overtime pay because it costs us too much, just like you and Moron Milum cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in investigatons that go nowhere.

Oh, and I have a copy of the Sawyer Report, Putz. The difference is, I can read it and understand it.

Why don't you and Moron Milum answer my simple question above, Putz Pruitt? I'll repeat it so that even you can understand it.

"How can issues which occurred 3, 4, and 5 years ago, all of which have been corrected with controls EXACTLY like those for other county employees, addressed and/or explained following two previous audits, put this county's CURRENT or FUTURE bond rating in jeopardy?"

Cat got your tongue, Putz?

To Dave Richard....are you saying that Gary Smith has always been an employee of Forsyth County?

I wake up every morning and thank God that David Richard is no longer in office. He used to be my friend, but now I think he is without a doubt the worst commissioner to ever hold the office in this county.I am very thankful that he is gone.

And Curious, I can answer your question....for years, Dave Richard has contended that Gary Smith was NOT an employee of the county. He changes his position to suit his whims. Always has, always will.

He was a terrible commissioner, and now. a year later, he still tries to take credit for anything good the board did while he was on it. The truth is, he didn't do a damn thing that was worth keeping him and his enormous ego around for 4 more years. The trouble is, he still doesn't realize he lost. If he did, he wouldn't still be imposing his opinions on all of us, AS IF.

I have said all along that anyone paid by Forsyth County is an employee of Forsyth County, regardless of the wording of state legislation specifically stating something different. Typical bureaucratic nonsense. "You can pay him, but he's not your employee" stuff. He's not a consultant, and we take out taxes and provide his health insurance and other benefits. As commissioners, we used the term "quasi-elected official" to describe his situation within Forsyth County. He was not hired by us, and could not be fired by us, but we did control his budget. For purposes of pay, he is an employee of Forsyth County, which makes the whole "he can't earn comp time" argument moot.

And to my supposed former friend, I have nothing but loathing for people who aren't man enough to post under their real name. My record of REAL accomplishments in office are well-known and well-documented, despite your statement to the contrary. I assure you I know I lost the election, but if anyone thought that as a citizen and taxpayer of this county that I would be silent on issues that affect me, or the liberty and freedom of others, they are mistaken.

Now, why can't any one of you anonymous posters man it up and answer my question above? I'll repeat it below so you won't have to waste whatever precious brain cells needed to find it:

"How can issues which occurred 3, 4, and 5 years ago, all of which have been corrected with controls EXACTLY like those for other county employees, addressed and/or explained following two previous audits, put this county's CURRENT or FUTURE bond rating in jeopardy?"

The silence is deafening.

Augh...sweet memories of the BUSTED FOR LYING! http://www.aboutforsyth.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4582 http://www.aboutforsyth.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4551

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKhEw7nD9C4

In Summery: David Richard

First off, fire the guard from the nut house because he obviously fell asleep on the job again.

Second, Mr. Richard the reason other posters are coming back with only childish insults is because they cannot debate this issue because you have already presented the facts that cannot be disputed. They obviously just like to insult you and pull your chain yet combined they could not conjure up half the IQ you have.

In regards to the issue I am insulted as a taxpayer that our commissioners would continue a political witch hunt that clearly has no basis to begin with in the first place; all the while we face budget issues in the upcoming fiscal year. Now they want to go out and embarrass us again with the Justice Department? Charlie was once a very good commissioner and I know he and yourself did some good for the county. However somewhere along the line (probably when he became chairman) he changed and became power hungry.

CFO Thomas and Sawyer & Co. should have egg all over their face for this waste of taxpayer dollars and maybe a new CFO is needed as we continue down this uncertain financial situation. I certainly don't have faith in the current regime.

To your points I agree that Gary Smith has been great for Forsyth County and our elections department should be the example and text book on how counties all across the U.S. should operate. I also agree that he is being persecuted by power hungry politicians and no-nothings and once again nothing he has done has been found to be illegal.

To Milum and Pruitt, how many times and how many definitions need to be printed before you two see that Smith IS an employee of Forsyth County? One job he does is voluntary and the other is a paid job within the county and the commission has always allocated that budget? Was there a question whether one person should do both jobs? Yeah maybe, but those issues have been resolved with the recent reorganization. These are the same facts that David Richard has spelled out and you continue to ridicule him and bring up his personal life.

As far as I am concerned the only thing we can talk about concerning David Richard are those 4 years he was a commissioner. Debate his views all you want, but for God's sake keep it respectable.

One more thing. Anyone who backs up their argument with nothing but a you tube link is just plain silly. Come up with facts of your own and do some research. Attaching a you tube link and posting a line is not research and not an argument. Make an argument yourselves and don't let someone you have never met make it for you.

Silly is it? Under what category are we now supposed to file arguing with a very clear Georgia Law? My post directing you towards other silliness should have been perceived as a self-explanation of common sense. Maybe I should have mentioned ‘sarcasm’ for a better road map.

For you that don’t know already Gary Smith today is squatting in a warehouse where our voting machines are stored with three other folks that have not been approved by the Elections Board to be there. Here is a man who is being accused of being a crook doing something, God knows what, right next to YOUR voting machines. If you had doubts before you should surely be concerned now that the cameras in that building have been possibly turned off or have been deliberately disabled.

During this period of alleged criminal accusations Gary Smith should be kept far away from anything that he can further screw up.

Just Scratching the Surface

The B&C report showed numerous occurrences of expense reimbursement without receipt or explanation, totaling more than $10,000, during the three year period under analysis.

In 2006, the Director of Voter Registration (the "Director” or “Mr. Smith”) entered into a consulting agreement with Election Science Institute (“ESI”) to assist in development of a recount machine for use in elections

We also obtained an e-mail from a representative of ESI, stating that the Director submitted an invoice to ESI and was paid approximately $7,500 for his services and expenses

We obtained Forsyth County timekeeping records including the two-week period from Monday, June 12, 2006 to Friday, June 23, 2006 (See Exhibit H). During this period, the Director recorded 62.5 hours of Salary FT (Regular Salary, Full-time) and 17 hours, 34 minutes of actual clock time and 7 hours of Compensatory Time, for a total of 87.1 hours

During the same period, we identified a Forsyth County expense report where the Director requested reimbursement for mileage expense of $78.16 and parking/tolls of $1.00. This request occurred on Friday, June 16, 2006, and included a notation “travel this week” (See Exhibit C). On this expense report, the mileage and parking/tolls expense of $79.16 was the only reimbursement requested and no description of purpose was given for this amount. Further, no hotel, meals or lodging were recorded on this expense report, even though the description is “Travel This Week” on the expense report and “Meeting-Seminar” on the Forsyth County timekeeping system.

The agreement with ESI also stressed the protection of the intellectual property of the device and technology, to which Mr. Smith contributed.

The Director received a check from Cherokee County in the amount of $10,000 (See Exhibit F). From this information and analysis, it appears that the Director was paid for working 20 days, or 160 hours, for Cherokee County during this 31-day period. We have requested from Cherokee County a detailed timekeeping report or invoice information regarding this payment, but no further detailed documentation has been provided.

From Forsyth County timekeeping records, the Director was compensated for 93.97 regular hours during this same period, in which he is shown to have clocked in, or had another person record him as present. In addition, the Director received payment from Forsyth County for 98 compensatory hours during this period (See Exhibit G). Including Forsyth County regular hours (93.97 hours) and time worked for Cherokee County (160 hours) it appears that Mr. Smith worked a total of 253.97 hours, which exceeds the available 8-hour days during the 31-day period, by 6 hours. In addition, Mr. Smith was paid for another 98 hours of compensatory time during this 31-day period. In total, Mr. Smith was compensated for 351.97 hours in a period which only had a realistic possible work time of 248 hours, including weekends and one holiday.

In essence, the Director would have been required to work every single day in the period between May 5, 2006 and June 4, 2006, including Memorial Day, which seems highly implausible. Further, the Director did not disclose these consulting work arrangements to Forsyth County Human Resources, for any additional oversight or review for potential conflicts of interest.

Most investigations I have been acquainted with that deals with this kind of voluminous evidence would be screaming for jail time. Overheard during the Sawyer Report investigation; "either you turn this in to Justice or I will".

This is why Moron Milum's "investigations" fail all the time. He doesn't do his homework. He can't even count. And he relies on others like David Sawyer to try to justify his misguided attempts to smear Gary Smith.

Of course, Milum can't possibly fathom that someone could actually do more work than the required 8 hours per day, especially when that someone is Gary Smith. But the FACT is that Gary Smith, while working for Cherokee County filling in for their Registrar, worked days, nights and weekends running BOTH offices. When you figure out the numbers on hours, the Sawyer Report doesn't come close to allowing for that little bit of information, which could have been answered by simply asking Gary Smith. When he worked for Cherokee County, he took comp time, to which he is allowed to earn and use. When he did work for Forsyth County on nights and weekends during that same period, he put in for hours in the Forsyth County pay system and had someone else clock him in for some of those (which can be allowed in certain circumstances), as he wasn't always in the building when he did that work. Simple stuff, but beyond the capacity for someone as limited in intelligence as David Milum, Brant Meadows and Kim Pruitt to understand.

Oh, and the Elections Board doesn't have the right to restrict access to people going into the storage building for the voting machines. They do not run the day-to-day operations of the Voter Registrar's office - thank God!

Hey Milum! Why didn't you answer the simple question posted above? Here it is again in case you are too slow to understand it:

"How can issues which occurred 3, 4, and 5 years ago, all of which have been corrected with controls EXACTLY like those for other county employees, addressed and/or explained following two previous audits, put this county's CURRENT or FUTURE bond rating in jeopardy?"

Man it up, Moron. Answer the question!

Steve, I would have asked the simple question that remains unanswered today:

"How can issues which occurred 3, 4, and 5 years ago, all of which have been corrected with controls EXACTLY like those for other county employees, addressed and/or explained following two previous audits, put this county's CURRENT or FUTURE bond rating in jeopardy?"

All five commissioners were duped by CFO Bill Thomas and David Sawyer into believing that 5-year old issues already fixed were somehow important today, even to the point of IGNORING more recent and blatant issues from another department that were corrected in the same manner. Yet that department wasn't mentioned at all.

Once they got the true and accurate answer to that question, which would be, "None, Commissioners", they could have accepted the report's OTHER conclusions if they chose to do so, and not accepted the Voter Registrar's section as containing no longer valid and incorrect information.

Except that covering butts is a disease that this commission has suddenly contracted, and their insistence on increasing David Sawyer's pay for this travesty doesn't look too good for them, either, let alone for Bill Thomas and David Sawyer.

I am thankful to the current county commission for its 5-0 vote on this issue. I think they are doing the right thing and appreciate this vote.

4 days and mulitple times asked, and no one has bothered to answer the overriding question which allegedly caused commissioners to vote to send this to the Justice Dept.:

"How can issues which occurred 3, 4, and 5 years ago, all of which have been corrected with controls EXACTLY like those for other county employees, addressed and/or explained following two previous audits, put this county's CURRENT or FUTURE bond rating in jeopardy?"

The clock is ticking boys and girls.

We know you can all whine about things. Why can't you justify your false opinions by simply answering this one simple question?

No takers?

We've raised a couple of generations of dupes.

David Richard - the answer to your question; The issues dating back to 3,4,5 years ago have absolutey no influence on the current or future bond ratings. It's absurd to even think that way. This is just another waste of taxpayers money being spent for nonsense.

In addressing these audits one might find that they are a complete waste of time and taxpayers money. To have this aduit done for the third time is just pure insanity. It was preposterous to even consider doing the audits. Moreover, a posed intelligent question directed to Mr. Smith, instead of jumping into audits would have saved $125,000.00 in the budget. Today's budget could have or may have look more favroable. I beleive Mr. Smith has ansewered all of the allegations and provided to the commissioners documentation to uphold the integrity not only of his office but to inclue the intergity of the man.

There is only one reason for Laughinghouse to ask the FEDS to come in - his re-election and Harrell's. With the district voting in place neither of these men (I hope) will be re-elected to the board of commissioners. This appears only as a political attempt to have his name out in public view.. the bait and switch act. How insidious of him.

David....

Jeeze... Looks like I am actually going to have to think about this. What a waste of my time. Sigh.

OK... my take on the "How can issues which occurred 3, 4, and 5 years ago," yadda, yadda, yadda. My answer is "I don't know", but if it has any chance at all of hurting a current or future bond rating, it would seem that a potential $125,000 is a good insurance policy against the millions and millions that a lower bond rating could cost.

If we did not do this and something came up down the road on this issue that hurt the bond rating - I am sure that you or others will be in our faces claiming that the current Board Of Commissioners did not do all they could to put this issue to rest.

I am also sure that you or someone will now come back and say that facts are facts and that the facts say this is a dead issue and / or it won't hurt the bond rating. Well, facts can change or the perception of facts can change over time (just ask George Bush and the fact that there were WMD in Iraq). The perception of facts is probably the more important issue.

The facts may not support doing this right now, but who knows exactly what the future will bring. To me, it seems prudent to err on the side of caution with this. I don't really mind seeing a portion of my $2600 in property tax go toward this.

Even if the Feds don't go down this road (the FCN paper said they may or may not) - the perception is that the county made the offer and has absolutely notihing to hide. Although I hate using this term, "transparency" seems to be the term of the year. As my dad would have said, "better safe than sorry".

As a side note, I did take a ride up past your (David) house this weekend. As was mentioned earlier in this thread - your time would definitely be better spent working on your yard! :)

Thanks for at least trying to answer, Bob.

The problem is that CFO Bill Thomas DOES know. As does David Sawyer. As does any county commissioner with a couple of years under their belt.

The answer is NONE. Always has been. Always will be.

Remember, the operative words here are "corrected with controls EXACTLY like those for other county employees". None of those controls were questioned in the Sawyer Report, nor questioned by the CFO. If the controls we use for everyone cannot put our bond rating in jeopardy, then the whole Gary Smith issue is simply a smoke screen to justify the waste of an additional $50k in tax dollars sent to David Sawyer.

Every tax dollar spent to cover the behinds of elected officials or their actions is a tax dollar wasted. I'm sorry that you can justify wasting tax dollars in this matter, but I can't; and I have just a little bit more experience in spending and saving tax dollars than you have, Bob.

Hmmm... I sort of like this quote.

"I have just a little bit more experience in spending and saving tax dollars than you have, Bob."

Golly, gosh. I actually give you a reasonable and well thought out answer and that is the best you can do. I guess what you can't refute, you will make fun of.

Well... I have a little more experience in earning and paying tax dollars than you do, David. I have a job and you don't, David. Nah nah nah nah nah nah. So there.

... and have a nice day!

Uh, Bob? I have a job. Maybe you just don't like what I do, or belittle the job as others do, but it is a job and it is earning money to pay my bills.

You have a problem with that?

And a reasonable and thought out answer should have something more than "I don't know" and "better safe than sorry". Government is something best run without ignorance and simple quotes.

I know. I fought against such governance for more than four years. What have you done?

Sorry Dave.... your website said you were looking for fulltime employment. Guess I misunderstood. Another one of those half-truths on your web site I guess.

4 years? Yeah, guess that was one term on the Board Of Commissioners. I see that went real well for you. Voted out after one term and by a 10% margin.

Your replacement has done more good in a few months than you did in your entire term.

Don't forget to work on your yard. If I lived in your neighborhood, I would be complaining. Maybe you should have someone come in and do it for you like I do.

Off to the pool now to enjoy a cold drink and refreshing swim. Y'all have a nice day now, ya hear.

Yeah, Bob. Keep focusing on the personal stuff, instead of the real issues. That is why we have 5 dupes on the BOC, and why we have idiots like you voting for them.

Bob, you can tell Dave to do his yard work all you want but his wife is usually who has to do it. Did you see how the hedges are growing over his windows? Evidently he sure does not take ANY pride in his home so why is he so vocal about issues in the county? What is he trying to hide and from whom? If you notice he has always taken Gary Smith's side, why? Dave, do you have proof of meetings for every voucher you submitted for the $125 taxpayers money you received or were these just meetings that you decided? Oh and by the way, spending and saving taxpayers money, you were one of the five that helped dig into the county reserves money. Remember?

Oh, brave "Riverstone Resident", who hasn't the testicular fortitude to post under their real name!

Once again, I have already won this argument because you insist on focusing on personal issues, instead of the subject at hand and the facts presented. Is that all you've got - hedges growing over windows? Get a life!

I have not always taken Gary Smith's side. If you were even remotely paying attention to the issues of 3, 4 and 5 years ago, you would know that it was MY motions and resolutions that put Gary Smith under the governance of the County Manager once issues were disclosed. In short, I was the one who pushed for fixing the problems, rather than throwing the talents of a very good voter registrar under the bus. You'll find that I was also one of the few county commissioners who actually took the time to talk with Gary Smith and find out the story behind the headlines; something the rest of my commission members couldn't be bothered to do in their efforts to sweep manufactured controversy under the rug.

But once I saw the effort to repeatedly discredit the work that Gary Smith has done (work which has been proven to save money and ensure free and fair elections better than any department in the state), I could not stand idlely by and allow that to happen. There is nothing worse than people using the power of government to further petty, personal agendas against others, and that is what Linda Ledbetter, David Milum, Brant Meadows and even Charlie Laughinghouse have done in this case.

And sorry to disappoint you, but I did not keep "proof" of every meeting I attended as county commissioner. My schedule summary is available for anyone to read up to around April of 2008, based upon my Outlook calendar kept on my cell phone. If you have any questions regarding the meetings, you may simply call the people I was meeting with to confirm my attendance. If they don't remember, tough luck for you.

And yes, I voted to use a small amount of county reserves to balance our budget, but it was in response to a $5 million shortfall in revenue which was not disclosed to commissioners by the former County Manager during the budget process. Thankfully, THAT issue was corrected before I left office.

Now, do you have anything to add to the facts of the Gary Smith re-re-re-auditing issue, or do you just wish to complain about the color of my house?

Idiots like me? Thanks Dave, for once again reminding me what it was like to see you at the Board Of Commissioners meetings. I had forgotten your petty nature and seemingly willingness to babble about trivial things while totally missing the big picture.

Just keep repeating, 1 term, 10% margin loss, people thought I was an idiot, work on my landscaping 1 term 10% margin loss, people thought I was an idiot, work on my landscaping.

Doctors tell me that for people like you, if you keep repeating something over and over, you may actually get it.

Note to self: If Dave ever decides to run for public office, remember to donate lots of $$ to whomever his opponent is.

I'm wondering... what is it like to be the "joke" of the county? To know that people are laughing behind your back? To know that even the folks in your local neighborhood are annoyed with you - or maybe it is just your landscaping. Once we are done making fun of your landscaping, maybe we will move on to the intonation of your really annoying voice and annoying speech pattern, the really wacky haircut (does your wife do that too thinking it is landscaping) or maybe the reaaaaaaaaly bad suits you used to wear to the Board of Commissioners meetings. Probably better not to wear a suit at all if you are going to wear a bad one.

Now I feel better, great way to start the day. Off to Atlanta for work.

This weekend, lets all celebrate the 4th with a special "let's make fun of Dave day". Fly your flag proudly knowing that you are also making fun of Dave by doing so.

Wow, the insults keep piling up, yet no one is making a substantive case as to why the county continues to waste money trying to further a political vendetta.

Steve, I would not have requested Justice Department review of the Elections Department simply based on the fact that the Sawyer Report found nothing new from the previous two audits on the same issue. I would have simply denied Sawyer's recommendation and finally closed this sad political witch hunt. But now the county commission has to make it look like they are actually doing something (kinda like our Congress) when in fact they are doing nothing but political grandstanding and embarrassing us with the Justice Department.

Also the reason I brought up Charlie is the simple fact that he cannot let this go. He agreed with the report even though he sat on the commission during the previous two audits that found exactly the same thing the Sawyer report did and his commission also corrected the problems from those previous two audits; which Mr. Richard continues to mention. Charlie, as Chairman, had a chance to deny this motion and put this to rest, but he didn't.

I don't always agree with David Richard, but he does care about this county. Obviously some of you only care about his personal situation and not about the county. Wasting tax dollars, political witch hunts, and continuing out of control growth are things they do in Cobb and Gwinnett. If you like that sort of thing then move to one of those counties.

THERE IS SPEED TRAP IN DARIEN GA. AND BY MISTAKE I GOT CAUGHT IN IT THOUGHT I WAS IN A 7O MPH ZONE, BUT I FORGOT I THOUGHT I WAS IN THE 70MPH ZONE BUT REALLY IT WAS 60 AND AS SOON AS I REALIZED THAT TO SLOW DOWN ('GOD' AS MY WITNESS) RIGHT THEN I SEE THE COP.

I WENT TO COURT. I THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT I WAS NOT TRYING TO SPEED. I JUST FORGOT FOR A MINUTE. AFTER BEING STOPPED EARILER. BECAUSE ABOUT A MILE BACK THEY WERE WORKING ON THE ROAD AND WE HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES FOR THE TRAFFIC TO START AGAIN AND WE DID GET TO GO. I HAVE THOUGHT WE WERE IN A REGULAR ZONE. SO I SPEEDED UP TO THE REGULAR SPEED. I JUST FORGOT FOR A MINUTE.
BUT WHEN I WENT TO COURT I DIDN'T GET ONE OUNCE OF MERCY AND ON TOP OF THAT ,THIS LITTLE BEVERLY HILL BILLY COURT HAD ABOUT 40 OTHERS AND ONLY 2 PEOPLE GOT OFF. THE REST HAD TO PAY 6OO$ TO 4OO4$. I HAVE TO PAY 7OO$ AND THOSE THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY, SOME DIDN'T HAVE A JOB. WAS SENT OUT SIDE TO THE P/O AND THAT COST EVEN MORE MONEY. MOST OF THESE PEOPLE ARE OUT OF WORK FOR AWHILE. THE JUDGE DID NOT CARE AT ALL HE WAS NOT JUDGING HE WAS CONDENMING..

    ME  MY  DAUGHTER  HAD TO MOVE  IN  WITH ME. SHE  LAST  HER JOB  IN  FEB. SHE HAS  3  LITTLE  GIRLS.   WE  ALL  LIVE  IN  A  2BR M/H.   I  WORK  P-T  AND  MAKE  1300$  A  MONTH.  THEY  TOLD  ME NOT TO GET UPSET OR THEY WOULD  PUT  ME  IN  JAIL.  
        THESE PEOPLE  ARE  A  BIG  PART OF THE GREEDY PROBLEM IN THE U.S..  THEY  ARE JUST OUT  FOR  THEMSELVES THE  ENEMY.   THEY  DON'T  CARE THAT THEY ARE TAKING FOOD OUT OF LITTLE CHILDREN  MOUTHS  AND CAUSING PEOPLE TO LOOSE THEIR HOMES. 

WHEN THINGS ARE ALREADY BAD ENOUGH. NOW WE HAVE OUR OWN FELLOW COUNTRYMEN USING THEIR BADGES TO FURTHER RIP OFF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS. I HAVE DONATED TO THE POLICE, STATE AND LOCAL POLICE AND I GOT 5 STICKERS ON MY WINDSHEILD FROM DONATING TO THEM. I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT NOW I WILL STOP DONATING TO THEM TO HELP BUT NOW I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR OUR FOOD OR OUR RENT. I KNOW I MADE THE MISTAKE BUT THEY ARE DOING THIS ON PURPOSE AND EVERYDAY.
I SINCE FOUND ON THE WEB THAT MCINTOSH COUNTY GA. IS ONE OF THE WORST SPEED TRAPS IN THE COUNTRY. BUT I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ABOUT 250$. BECAUSE THEIR WHERE NO WORKERS AROUND FOR ALEAST A MILE BEHIND ME. I JUST FEEL SO BAD. THAT THEY CAN DO THIS AND GET AWAY WITH IT.
EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. BUT JUST MAYBE, MAYBE YOU WILL HAVE TIME TO HELP OTHERS IN THE NEXT WEEKS, MONTHS, YEARS. OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY DO THIS TO TOO.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND GIVING THE COUNTRY A RAY OF HOPE AND FOR YOU TRYING SOOOOOOOOOOOO HARD TO KEEP YOUR WORD.

THERE IS SPEED TRAP IN DARIEN GA. AND BY MISTAKE I GOT CAUGHT IN IT THOUGHT I WAS IN A 7O MPH ZONE, BUT I FORGOT I THOUGHT I WAS IN THE 70MPH ZONE BUT REALLY IT WAS 60 AND AS SOON AS I REALIZED THAT TO SLOW DOWN ('GOD' AS MY WITNESS) RIGHT THEN I SEE THE COP.

I WENT TO COURT. I THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT I WAS NOT TRYING TO SPEED. I JUST FORGOT FOR A MINUTE. AFTER BEING STOPPED EARILER. BECAUSE ABOUT A MILE BACK THEY WERE WORKING ON THE ROAD AND WE HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES FOR THE TRAFFIC TO START AGAIN AND WE DID GET TO GO. I HAVE THOUGHT WE WERE IN A REGULAR ZONE. SO I SPEEDED UP TO THE REGULAR SPEED. I JUST FORGOT FOR A MINUTE.
BUT WHEN I WENT TO COURT I DIDN'T GET ONE OUNCE OF MERCY AND ON TOP OF THAT ,THIS LITTLE BEVERLY HILL BILLY COURT HAD ABOUT 40 OTHERS AND ONLY 2 PEOPLE GOT OFF. THE REST HAD TO PAY 6OO$ TO 4OO4$. I HAVE TO PAY 7OO$ AND THOSE THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY, SOME DIDN'T HAVE A JOB. WAS SENT OUT SIDE TO THE P/O AND THAT COST EVEN MORE MONEY. MOST OF THESE PEOPLE ARE OUT OF WORK FOR AWHILE. THE JUDGE DID NOT CARE AT ALL HE WAS NOT JUDGING HE WAS CONDENMING..

    ME  MY  DAUGHTER  HAD TO MOVE  IN  WITH ME. SHE  LAST  HER JOB  IN  FEB. SHE HAS  3  LITTLE  GIRLS.   WE  ALL  LIVE  IN  A  2BR M/H.   I  WORK  P-T  AND  MAKE  1300$  A  MONTH.  THEY  TOLD  ME NOT TO GET UPSET OR THEY WOULD  PUT  ME  IN  JAIL.  
        THESE PEOPLE  ARE  A  BIG  PART OF THE GREEDY PROBLEM IN THE U.S..  THEY  ARE JUST OUT  FOR  THEMSELVES THE  ENEMY.   THEY  DON'T  CARE THAT THEY ARE TAKING FOOD OUT OF LITTLE CHILDREN  MOUTHS  AND CAUSING PEOPLE TO LOOSE THEIR HOMES. 

WHEN THINGS ARE ALREADY BAD ENOUGH. NOW WE HAVE OUR OWN FELLOW COUNTRYMEN USING THEIR BADGES TO FURTHER RIP OFF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS. I HAVE DONATED TO THE POLICE, STATE AND LOCAL POLICE AND I GOT 5 STICKERS ON MY WINDSHEILD FROM DONATING TO THEM. I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT NOW I WILL STOP DONATING TO THEM TO HELP BUT NOW I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR OUR FOOD OR OUR RENT. I KNOW I MADE THE MISTAKE BUT THEY ARE DOING THIS ON PURPOSE AND EVERYDAY.
I SINCE FOUND ON THE WEB THAT MCINTOSH COUNTY GA. IS ONE OF THE WORST SPEED TRAPS IN THE COUNTRY. BUT I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ABOUT 250$. BECAUSE THEIR WHERE NO WORKERS AROUND FOR ALEAST A MILE BEHIND ME. I JUST FEEL SO BAD. THAT THEY CAN DO THIS AND GET AWAY WITH IT.
EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. BUT JUST MAYBE, MAYBE YOU WILL HAVE TIME TO HELP OTHERS IN THE NEXT WEEKS, MONTHS, YEARS. OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY DO THIS TO TOO.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND GIVING THE COUNTRY A RAY OF HOPE AND FOR YOU TRYING SOOOOOOOOOOOO HARD TO KEEP YOUR WORD. I want to sue the whole HILL BILLY court in Mcintosh county, Darien Ga. Any Attorney that will cover and think that I can get good money from them and you can pay the front cost.. . . . . . Please I will be more than glad to give you half of it all. so please let me know @ supernanmy12003@yahoo.com

I

This si why the world is in such bad shape right noW. Everyone Has $ signs for eye balls and this is all they can see. READ your BIBLE. THE 'LORD' RAN ALL THE MONEY HUNGRY PEOPLE(DEVILS) OUT OF THE CHURCH. Now they are all over the world. This is why the 'Lord' is going to come back and send them all to Hell. We don't have alot of time because our time is up. We should be worried about our grandkids. Every penny they make will be for all the foreign countries that we are in debt to now. We never thought about what would happen if we sent all money to other countries to but their products. That we would be sending all our money out of our country at the same time. NO. But we did get a whole lot of junk that showed our neighbors that we were all that, uh'. We need to stop paying our countries to bring their stuff over here to sell and undercut our products that are made here, 1, We need to develope and use our own products and natural resources,2 just to start with. This all is for the purpose of 'God' to show this USA that we ain't all that we think we are. He said' the head should be last and the tail first.. . . . . . . . . . . . . If you need to lose alittle or alot of WEIGHT. DO THIS' EAT ALL YOU WANT FOR A DAY and for 2 or 3 days eat very lite ( bites every 90 minutes) then the next day eat all you want. You will not be hungry and you will loose a lot of weight for free. try and see. it's free.. Let me know supernanny12003@yahoo.com