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A voting fraud scandal that's unfolding in remote Daggett County has left a lot of residents asking a lot of questions, including the county's computer expert who has not been allowed to examine a voting computer used during the election that happens to be under investigation for rampant fraud.
Yesterday, we reported on the Daggett County Commission's decision to fire the County Attorney who was investigating the fraud case. Tonight, we pick up the story with a look at a computer under lock and key.
While looking through court documents filed by Daggett County attorney Bryan Sidwell right before commissioners fired him Tuesday, we came across three pages written by the county's Information Technology worker, Kym Slagowski. She writes "From the day I started, May 23, 2007, to date, I have been denied access to the County Clerk/Treasurer's Office." She also writes "There is a county policy that has been in effect since April 1, 2008 that states that I am to have physical access to all county technology equipment."
Slagowski sent the county clerk, Vicky McKee, an e-mail, letting her know she wasn't following county policy. She wrote, "Approximately one week later, commissioner Briggs approached me and somewhat reprimanded me for the e-mail. He stated that she was an elected official and she deserved respect."
That meant she wasn't going to get the key she had asked for to the clerk's office. "The county clerk/treasurer, Vicky McKee, said absolutely not because the voting computer was in her office," Slagowski wrote.
That voting computer, locked in a cabinet, is the one used during the now infamous 2006 elections, the elections the Attorney General's office is investigating for voter fraud.
We asked commissioner Floyd Briggs, who is well known to be close friends with McKee, why Slagowski couldn't have access, even if only to update the computer's software. He replied, "At this time, where we're under investigation for this, I honestly believe that it's in the best interest, the less hands that get on that computer, is probably the best."
We later learned that voting computer had some undisclosed "problems" on election day 2006, and for reasons no one can explain, the cameras in the courthouse that day were covered with plastic bags and tape.
"Right now, I'm afraid to say anything because you don't know when you're stepping over the line of violating somebody's civil rights," Briggs said.
Slagowski didn't want to talk to us on camera. She said doing so might make doing her job even more difficult.
Commissioner Briggs told us Slagowski can have access to the clerk's office only during business hours but not to the cabinet where the voting machine is locked.
The Attorney General's office says it is investigating all the cases related to those election fraud allegations.
To see a copy what Slagowski wrote click on the related link at the right.
E-mail: acabrero@ksl.com
