Letter to SOS Jaeger - Please Help Foster County!

Post by Auditor Risovi to a web site where she is Moderator

Dear Mr. Jaeger,

I'm wondering if you are keeping up with the extraordinary performance of the auditor of Foster County, Teresa Risovi.

I'm curious to know if you have seen the above post from the web site that Auditor Risovi moderates: CarringtonTruth.com. 

Auditor Risovi used to tell the Foster County community that she spoke to you personally on practically a daily basis.  However, after Doug Zink called you  to challenge her pronouncement and found out that she had not spoken to you (at a time when she said she had), she changed her pronouncements to "the SOS office."  Has she ever spoken to you personally?  And, do you continually tell her what a great job she is doing, as she continually tells us?

If one goes by the North Dakota Century code, Auditor Risovi committed three misdemeanors and one felony during the Primary election - regarding her mismanagement of the absentee ballots.  It has yet to be explained how two absentee ballots got into the ballot box, ballots without applications for absentee voting so signatures could be compared, ballots of voters who were not even listed in the official absentee poll book.  The Election Board rejected those two ballots, but Auditor Risovi convinced the Canvassing Board to accept the two ballots, due to the voters' "intent."  Did the BCI ever ask the two voters how their ballots got into the ballot box?  Is there a public record of the BCI's investigation of this issue?  If so, I would like to have a copy.

Do you know that during the Primary, the absentee votes were not protected and were taken from building to building across town without proper sealing and any kind of protection from tampering - other than Auditor Risovi's word that she did everything properly.  Marlene Boyer, a well-respected member of Foster County who has been on the Foster County Election Board for many years, will tell you a different story - as she witnessed Ms. Risovi's actions that night.  It's interesting that Auditor Risovi did not invite Mrs. Boyer to be on the Election Board for the November election - a fact that many community members are concerned about because of the trust they have in Mrs. Boyer and the lack of trust that they have in Ms. Risovi.

I've been told that several people have notified you of the extreme election problems that are taking place in Foster County and that you prefer to stay away from our concerns about the auditor.  One community member is circulating a petition, asking for your help with the November 10 election - hoping that you will send someone here to oversee the absentee and regular vote counting.  Many of us are hoping that you will do this.

Question:  Can the Auditor refuse to let news media set up a camera inside the polling place?

Question:  Can news media film the counting of the absentee ballots and the actual vote count?

I look forward to a response to my concerns and answers to my questions.  Thank you for your time and consideration of these matters.

Sincerely,

Judith Lee Helton Keller

Owner: CarringtonNews.com
Carrington, Foster County, ND

ANOTHER TANTRUM? Risovi Throws Your Absentee Ballots All over the Courthouse Floor

One continues to shake one's head with wonder at the things that go on in the Foster County Auditor's office.

In this video... which was filmed on the steps of the Foster County Courthouse after today's commissioners meeting... Bill Bauer is explaining what happened when he went to the Auditor's office to inquire about the security of the absentee ballots which are being received by Risovi every day.

As you know, Bill Bauer is a well-respected member of Foster County and was the top vote-getter for commissioner during the June Primary. Because of Risovi's mismanagement of the Primary absentee ballots, Bauer was properly concerned and asking that the ballot box in Risovi's office be sealed for better security.

Believe it or not, Auditor Risovi was so incensed by Bauer's request that she picked up the ballot box, tipped it over and literally threw all the voters' ballots down on the floor! Foster County sheriff, Mike Tufte, was there to witness Risovi's childish temper-tantrum and her disrespect for the voters' ballots.

Obviously, Bill Bauer takes his position seriously as a potential commissioner for Foster County. You can imagine how he felt when Risovi threw the voters' ballots on the floor.

However, since the ND Century Code says the county auditor is in charge of elections, Risovi has full control of the absentee ballots - even though she is on the ballot, herself, running against a contender for her own office. Doesn't seem right, does it, especially when you have an auditor who has questionable ethics.

Just watch the video as Bauer explains what happened in Risovi's office.

(...apologies for the quality of the video with all the background noise...)

Is Auditor Risovi To Be Trusted with Absentee Ballots?

ATTENTION FOSTER COUNTY VOTERS:

The only way you can be assured that your vote will count in the November 4th election is to vote at the polls IN PERSON. As we have documented, Auditor Risovi is not to be trusted with absentee ballots. 

Here is a reminder of her ADMITTED violations of the North Dakota Century Code in the June 10th, primary election -- all done by Auditor Risovi - all regarding absentee ballots:

Count 1. Class A Misdemeanor NDCC 16.1-07-14.
• Risovi mailed out two absentee ballots in violation of NDCC 16.1-07-08. The applications for these absentee ballots did not have the required signatures. When asked about this, “I made a mistake.”

Count 2. Class A Misdemeanor NDCC 16.1-07-14.
• Risovi mailed out 10 to 100 absentee ballots without the required secrecy envelopes in violation of NDCC 16.1-07-08(2). No one knows how many votes this affected or how many voters were disaffected not to vote.

Count 3. Class A Misdemeanor NDCC 16.1-07-14.
• Risovi voted at the canvass board to accept two absentee votes that failed to have the required signature on the absentee voter application in violation of NDCC 16.1-07-12, which requires the application signature match the signature on the affidavit. How can a signature that doesn’t exist be compared or matched?  

These votes were illegally counted at the first meeting of the canvas board. After an inquiry by the Secretary of State the canvassing board reconvened and voted to not count the illegal votes.

Let's us not forget that Risovi lied to the first canvassing board that she could not find any law in the Century Code covering the signing of the absentee ballot application.

Count 4. Class C Felony
• After the first canvass board met and finalized the canvass of the vote, Risovi prepared and filed with the Secretary of State a false canvass of the vote. She knew it was false because she knew that the two illegal absentee votes were counted in the canvass total.  After the recount it was discovered that there were three hundred extra votes blamed on “computer error.”

Filing a false canvas of the vote is covered by ND Century Code:
16.1-01-12(1)m. Willfully make any false canvass of votes, or make, sign, publish, or deliver any false return of an election, knowing the same to be false, or willfully deface, destroy, or conceal any statement or certificate entrusted to the individual's ororganization's care.

NOTE: To this day, it has not been explained how the two "illegal" absentee ballots got into the ballot box. Who put them there?  Also, it has not been explained why Risovi has not been prosecuted for breaking the above election laws.

RISOVI DISCOVERS THE CENTURY CODE!

As a person who has been a victim of false general allegations from Foster County Auditor Risovi, I find it interesting that she has finally discovered the ND Century Code. However, as we would expect from her incompetence, she's quoting it incorrectly in the October 13, 2014 issue of The Independent to attempt to infringe upon voters' rights. Criticizing someone who has a Risovi sign in one's yard, or telling that person you don't plan on doing business with them because they have a Risovi sign in their yard, is illegal ACCORDING TO RISOVI LAW. Really?!!

Now, let’s examine some ADMITTED violations of the North Dakota Century Code in the June 10th, primary election -- all done by Auditor Risovi.

This is a list of her ADMITTED violations of election laws:

Count 1. Class A Misdemeanor NDCC 16.1-07-14.
• Risovi mailed out two absentee ballots in violation of NDCC 16.1-07-08. The applications for these absentee ballots did not have the required signatures. When asked about this, “I made a mistake.”

Count 2. Class A Misdemeanor NDCC 16.1-07-14.
• Risovi mailed out 10 to 100 absentee ballots without the required secrecy envelopes in violation of NDCC 16.1-07-08(2). No one knows how many votes this affected or how many voters were disaffected not to vote.

Count 3. Class A Misdemeanor NDCC 16.1-07-14.
• Risovi voted at the canvass board to accept two absentee votes that failed to have the required signature on the absentee voter application in violation of NDCC 16.1-07-12, which requires the application signature match the signature on the affidavit. How can a signature that doesn’t exist be compared or matched?
These votes were illegally counted at the first meeting of the canvas board. After an inquiry by the Secretary of State the canvassing board reconvened and voted to not count the illegal votes.
Let's us not forget that Risovi lied to the first canvassing board that she could not find any law in the Century Code covering the signing of the absentee ballot application.

Count 4. Class C Felony
• After the first canvass board met and finalized the canvass of the vote, Risovi prepared and filed with the Secretary of State a false canvass of the vote. She knew it was false because she knew that the two illegal absentee votes were counted in the canvass total.
After the recount it was discovered that there were three hundred extra votes blamed on “computer error.”

Filing a false canvas of the vote is covered by ND Century Code:
16.1-01-12(1)m. Willfully make any false canvass of votes, or make, sign, publish, or deliver any false return of an election, knowing the same to be false, or willfully deface, destroy, or conceal any statement or certificate entrusted to the individual's organization's care.

Just look at all the admitted violations of election law by Risovi. THIS PERSON IS THE LAST TO GIVE A LEGAL OPINION. Does anyone really trust this person with an election? Call States Attorney Paul Murphy and ask him why Risovi has not been charged with just the violations listed here. She admitted to each of these violations and it's a matter of record.

Owner of CarringtonNews.com Requests an Opinion from ND Attorney General Stenehjem

CarringtonNews.com is requesting an opinion from ND Attorney General Stenehjem regarding Foster County Commission Chairman Paul Straley's behavior. Is Straley violating Foster County citizens' 1st Amendment rights by not allowing them to speak at the public commission meetings?

This video contains clips from the Foster County Commissioners meeting which took place on October 7, 2014, showing that Straley refused to allow several citizens to speak at the meeting.

When State's Attorney Paul Murphy suggested that Straley should give citizens time to speak, Straley retaliated verbally and referred to the "general public" in a rather insulting way...as if they were beneath him.

In fact, Chairman Straley would not allow Hope Carr to continue with her report about the "missing" Game & Fish funds, even though both Commissioners Carr and Greger motioned that she be allowed to speak.

By his actions and his speech, it is obvious that Chairman Straley has no respect for the Foster County State's Attorney, the other commissioners, the citizens of Foster County, or the Constitution of the United States.

So, Attorney General Stenehjem, what does a county do with a dictatorial government official such as this?

LETTER TO NORTH DAKOTA  ATTORNEY GENERAL WAYNE STENEHJEM

Judith Lee Helton Keller

CarringtonNews.com

511 1st Street North

Carrington, ND 58421

Wayne Stenehjem

North Dakota Attorney General

State Capitol, Dept. 125
600 E. Boulevard Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58505

Re:  Denial of Equal Access to Public County Commission Meetings

        Foster County, North Dakota

Dear Sir:

                I am a resident of Carrington, North Dakota in the county of Foster.  I own and manage a web site called CarringtonNews.com with an affiliated site on Facebook.  I have over 1,500 subscribers, many of whom would like to have your opinion regarding Foster County Commission Chairman Paul Straley's denial of equal access to the Foster County Commission meetings.

Questions:

·         Does a commission chairman have the right to deny citizens (with county business concerns) the right to be on the commission agenda without giving a reason for denial? 

·         Does a commission chairman have the right to refuse to hear a citizen (with county business concerns) if the other commissioners have moved to allow that person to speak during a public meeting?

·         Can a commission chairman pick and choose which citizens can address, question and speak before commission meetings, based upon his own political agenda?  In other words, can he allow some to speak and not allow others to speak - ones whom he knows disagree with him or question his opinions/statements/actions?

               

                If you need to see examples of Chairman Straley's actions, DakTel has unedited copies of all Foster County Commissioners Meetings which they have recorded and televised.  I can provide those to you, or, you can go to my CarringtonNews.com blog at the following address which has pertinent video clips of Straley's actions/words:  http://carringtonnews.blogspot.com/

                I would truly appreciate a reply to my concerns and the concerns of many other county residents.  We would like to have equal access to the county meetings, but as it is, Chairman Straley continues to deny us our rights.

Sincerely,

Judith Lee Helton Keller

CarringtonNews.com
701-650-0103

SA Murphy Sets Straley Straight

Foster County State's Attorney Paul Murphy "Sets Commissioner Paul 
Straley Straight" at the October 7, 2014 Commissioners Meeting.

BACKGROUND:  During the last commissioners meeting on September 16, 2014, Hope Carr presented documented research  explaining where the Game & Fish money was that Auditor Risovi (because of her incompetence) claimed was missing.  Straley/Risovi without doing much investigation had turned the matter over to the BCI as if some criminal act was involved. 

Hope Carr called for the resignation of Auditor Risovi due to her inability to do her job, possible tampering with records, using inappropriate language, constant lying and slander. Chairman Straley had a deputy sheriff remove Hope from the meeting because he didn't like what she was saying.

CURRENT VIDEO:  Foster County State's Attorney Paul Murphy set Chairman Paul Straley straight about constitutional rights regarding the redress of grievances to a government entity.  He emphasized that Hope Carr had presented her research and concerns to the commission in an orderly fashion, and that Straley had no reason to threaten her with arrest.

In fact, SA Murphy told Chairman Straley that he was subjecting Foster County to monetary law suit damages by not allowing citizens to speak, by placing them under threat of arrest,  and by having the sheriff remove them from the commissioners meetings.  In his opinion, Straley is leading the county in the wrong direction by acting the way he does.

Chairman Straley, as usual, rejected everything that the State's Attorney had to say, and emphasized that he STRONGLY disagreed with him. He has to keep order, and the way to do that is to have the sheriff remove people like Hope Carr from the meetings, who in his opinion won't stop "ranting and raving."

State's Attorney Murphy Says Oppression Must End

This Notice was posted by Foster County State's Attorney Paul Murphy in the October 6, 2014 edition of The Foster County Independent. We want to thank SA Murphy for publicly infoming the community of their legal rights to address their grievances to the Foster County governing body. Hopefully, this will make a difference in the way Chairman Straley runs the next Commissioners Meeting on Tuesday. (October 7, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. at the courthouse)

However, I feel like the community needs to know that at last check, Auditor Risovi has sent denials to everyone who has asked to speak at Tuesday's meeting. In particular, we had hoped that Straley/Risovi would give permission for Hope Carr to continue with her presentation about the Game & Fish "missing" funds. Many people at the last meeting, even two of the commissioners had questions that they wanted to ask her before Chairman Straley had her escorted out by a deputy sheriff.

I personally have been denied the right to speak at several of the last commissioners meetings, and have been given no reason for the denials. I suppose they don't like the topic of my presentation: Common Protocol Used at Effective Board Meetings... the result of research that I've done in an effort to find out how effective government meetings are run.

From what we understand, the main topic for Tuesday's Commissioners meeting is the Foster County Budget for 2015. The preliminary budget which Chairman Straley and Auditor Risovi presented at the special meeting on September 29, 2014 lacked many important details, and as former commissioner, John Murphy stated, "It doesn't make sense."

Please attend the meeting on Tuesday.

PRELIMINARY BUDGET WOES for the Straley/Risovi Team

Why wasn't the special Preliminary Budget Meeting for Foster County noticed to the public in The Independent (the official newspaper of Foster County) the week before the meeting took place on Monday, September 29, 2014? If you watch this video clip taken from that meeting, you just might figure out why Chairman Straley and Auditor Risovi didn't want anyone to attend.

At the meeting, John Murphy, former Foster County, North Dakota, commissioner said that something is seriously wrong with the preliminary budget presented by Chairman Straley and Auditor Risovi for 2015. According to him, it just "doesn't make sense!" Something is drastically wrong with the way the preliminary budget is put together. Important details are missing, like for instance, the county evaluation that the mil levy is based on. How can anyone understand the budget and figure out how much the taxes are without that information?!

According to Murphy, the fact that it takes a million dollars more to run Foster County than either Eddy County or Griggs County is not right. Griggs County is actually larger with the same offices; yet it is being run on much less than Foster County. Murphy says that he tried his best to make some sense out of the budget figures, but there just aren't enough details to do so.

Watch the video to see other problems with the preliminary budget for Foster County. At the end of the video, Doug Zink agrees with John Murphy and adds the fact that even though the State helped out the county and townships last year with a large amount of money, "Foster County was the only county in North Dakota that did not pass that tax relief on to the taxpayers."