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I was stunned by the April 15 Sun-Gazette article reporting that the Lycoming County Commissioners are entertaining/advocating a 2020 county wide election audit. The commissioners apparently wish to bring upon us greater embarrassment than occurred with the Arizona Cyber Ninja "audit" folly. At least the Cyber Ninjas were funded by private dark money sources. Our commissioners want us to pay to re-assess the 2020 election, two years after the fact and where there is no evidence of fraud.
The article notes as compelling evidence of electoral impropriety the fact that Donald Trump received fewer votes than local Republican officials. News flash: Trump is far more polarizing than Yaw, Hamm and Wheeland. It is common consensus that many Biden voters were not embracing Biden as the optimal candidate, but received the "anyone but Trump" votes due to Trump's difficult-to-digest antics and personality.
In my opinion the only logical explanation for such a nonsensical proposal is to follow a partisan edict to stir up the 2020 "Great Lie" as a precursor to a 2024 Trump run or that of his sycophants. Beyond the poor judgment of running campaigns from the rearview mirror, few care anymore about 2020 other than one, in my opinion, thin-skinned vindictive man trying to maintain power and relevancy.
From Robert Mueller, to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, there is a void of accountability for improprieties that fosters continuing inclinations to transgress. One need look no further than Vladimir Putin to see the extreme result of unchecked vindictive authoritarianism.
As to the local election audit, I propose a balance of partisan promotion and fiscal accountability as follows. Have the commissioners publish the "petitions" to which they refer, including names of signatories. This fosters transparency and allows review of the validity of the phrasing of the question presented on the petition. If there are signatures of more than 20% of county voters, then run the audit. If no material fraud is found, then the signatories pay the cost of the audit. If some don't pay, the Commissioners personally make up the difference.
I vote to use my tax dollars for badly needed county services. Let those who want to venture elsewhere fund their own journey. That is conservatism.
DAN MATHERS
Montoursville
Submitted by Virtual Newsroom