State Dem leader: Coffman needs to go

By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 14, 2008 at 2:35 p.m.
Updated January 15, 2008 at 5:26 a.m.

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The chairwoman of the Colorado Democratic Party today called on Republican Secretary of State Mike Coffman to resign, saying his office is operating under a "cloud of controversy" over voting systems.

"The public's confidence in the elections process continues to erode under the watch of this secretary of state," chairwoman Pat Waak said in a statement.

"Coffman has failed miserably in his attempts to instill the confidence and trust the voting public deserves in the elections process. He needs to leave."

Waak's office believes it the first time she has called for such a resignation since becoming party chairwoman in 2005.

Coffman called Waak's demand "a cheap partisan shot."

"This is just goofy," he said. "I'm working hard with the leadership of both parties to get these problems resolved."

Coffman, who took office in January 2007, pointed out that he inherited the problems. A Denver District Court judge ruled in 2006 that Colorado's voting machines had to undergo a rigorous testing process.

Coffman last December announced the results of that review. He said thousands of machines used in all but 12 counties were too flawed for use in the 2008 elections. He decertified optical-scan equipment used in 49 counties and electronic-voting machines used in six counties, including Denver, Arapahoe and Jefferson.

County clerks in both parties were upset, saying their equipment has been tested.

Waak said "there appears to be a lack of transparency when it comes to Coffman's ability to guarantee Coloradans an honest and accurate elections process."

"He needs to go," she said.

Coffman said, "(Waak) knows I'm not going to allow any voting system to be used unless it is secure and can count every vote."

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