2009 Commodore Election Results & Irregularities/Malfeasance

[Watson]

The Hoofer Sailing Club Election on August 6, 2009 contained a couple
irregularities worth mentioning, one which may suggest malfeasance.
Election Results as announced follow.

1. Commodore Matthew Duerst first refused to inform the club meeting
as to the actual vote numbers counted after announcing Brad Strock
victor on the second ballot for Commodore. After several protests
from voters vocally, Duerst relented and ordered the ballot box
unlocked to reveal, on a piece of paper, the actual vote tally, which
he then reported orally to the meeting. It seems strange that he
would have just counted ballots accurately enough to announce the
winner, yet then fail to communicate the tally orally, with or without
the help of election officials who counted ballots also, without
unlocking a box to read it.

2. Approximately 90 minutes after the election completed, a person
present and involved directly stated to me in the presence of others
that he or she observed several voters were issued multiple ballots
for the Commodore position election. I suggested to this person that
he or she communicate these observations directly to Wisconsin Union
Director Mark Guthier since he assured me personally on Tuesday,
August 4, 2009 that he would instruct Jim Rogers, Hoofer Outdoor
Programs Coordinator, that all election processes would be "above
board."

3. Election Results 2009 as Announced at Meeting

Office: Commodore

1st Ballot
Brad Strock 46
Nathan Holman 43
Justin Cherniak 39

2nd Ballot
Brad Strock 70
Nathan Holman 43

Office: Vice Commodore

1st Ballot
Erica Dederich 37
Matt Hemke 24
Daniel Burkhardt 13

2nd Ballot
Erica Dederich 26
Matt Hemke 18

Election Meeting started at 8:10pm and ended approximately 11:00pm.