Editor’s note: I sent this email to The Union Publisher Don Rogers, Editor Brian Hamilton and Reporter Liz Keller, as well as Tom Fitzsimmons of KNCO, as well as YubaNet and KVMR this morning. Brian’s response was to consider a “letter to the editor”; I countered with a suggestion that this was news for The Union to pursue — just like other newspapers do. He said: “OK. Thanks.” One of the candidates for this office — Mary Anne Davis — is a staffer of The Union:
Hi Don,
About two weeks ago I asked the Assistant Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters for voting records of the three candidates, because I was curious based on some of the political rhetoric going around. She was occupied with her duties, but sent me the information this week when I reminded her again. It’s public information, of course, and routine research for elections reporting — for all of us. I found the results somewhat surprising, for an Elections Officer no less (link to data below). You can confirm:
1. Davis has not voted in 6 of the past 26 elections, including not voting in 3 of the past 7 elections, according to the data. See Mary Anne Davis Voting History
2. Strickler has not voted in 7 of the past 17 elections, including 1 of the past 5 elections, according to the figures. See Elise Strickler Voting History
3. Diaz has voted in all of the past 21 elections, according to the figures. See Greg Diaz Voting History
I read an article in The Union this morning, where Davis states: “Ever since I was a little girl, my parents instilled in me how important it is to get out and vote.” Well, if it’s that important, how come she voted in just 4 of the past 7 elections, according to the data? Good question.
These candidates are running for the Elections Office! BTW, I have not discussed this with Diaz, and I am passing on this for now rather than writing about it on personal blog, because Shannon and I donated $200 to Diaz’s campaign (disclosure here).
Cheers,
-Jeff Pelline
Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report 
I consider voting my most important right and responsibility. Anyone who does not vote without a major reason does not have the right to hold office, in my opinion. In my almost 87 years I have always voted, except in 1966. We moved to California in October and at that time you had to register six months in advance. I drove people to the polls, though!
Sent from my iPhone
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I agree!
Here are some comments on Facebook:
“Susie Cunningham Bavo: Probably not.”
“Jon Shilling: There’s no way I could vote for someone that is not only not qualified but also doesn’t seem to value the privilege of voting.”
“Ana Acton: It seems like voting should be a minimum qualification to run for registrar. I’m voting Diaz all the way!”
The good news is that it will be easier for Davis and Strickler to vote from the comfort of their own home this time around, thanks to California’s new Voter’s Choice Act!
Diaz has my vote
What a hoot! Barry Pruett, who lost to Diaz in every precinct in the Clerk-Recorder’s race in 2010, is now an expert — only to himself, of course — on running an election. If I were Barry, I’d worry more about protecting his little “investment” in the District 3 Supervisor’s race (even though he lives in Penn Valley, not Grass Valley). https://sierrafoothillsreport.com/2010/06/08/diaz-polishes-off-pruett-for-clerk-recorder-and-mcclintock-machine-suffers-setback/
If I was embarrassed like that, I’d keep my pie-hole clamped shut forever about politics. ROFLOL.
And here’s how Barry Pruett handles legal matters. (I think he gave me the finger with an emoji): https://jeffpelline.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/screen-shot-2018-05-17-at-1-07-35-pm.png
https://emojipedia.org/reversed-hand-with-middle-finger-extended/
Pruett ran his campaign against Diaz like this too. And lost in every precinct! I wonder if he includes emojis like that in his legal briefs. You go Barry.
And the Pruett meltdown continues. Today he reactivated his long defunct “blog,” and posted this doctored photo (along with some carefully selected posts): http://barrypruett.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-diaz-experience-screwing-up.html
Where’s Dr. Phil when you need him?
Todd Juvinall — a former County supervisor, no less — is one sick puppy. He actually wrote this on his blog: “Todd Juvinall May 17, 2018 at 10:57 AM
Pelline has researched Diaz opponents and claimed they did not vote in every election they were available to vote in. WOW! And I expect Pelline will tell us about their periods as well! Who does this anyway? In America one can choose to vote or not and the left is all about ‘choice’ right? But Pelline is so up Diaz’s keester he can’t see.”
BTW, The Union today asked for the same voting records. Duh!
What a sad little man.
Followup article: https://sierrafoothillsreport.com/2018/05/17/how-the-union-staffers-decision-to-run-for-clerk-recorder-clouded-its-own-news-gathering/