Waukesha County clerk says she's been exonerated
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus said Tuesday she believes she has been exonerated even though her office is undertaking numerous changes in how it handles ballots following the non-reporting of 14,000 votes in the spring Supreme Court election.
State investigators in September determined that Nickolaus likely broke the law by not reporting the votes in the hotly contested race between Justice David Prosser and challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg, but her conduct was unintentional and not criminal.
Initially it appeared that Kloppenburg upset Prosser by about 200 votes in the April 5 election. But two days later, Nickolaus held a news conference to announce that she failed to report votes from the city of Brookfield, which flipped the race for Prosser. A statewide recount confirmed his victory.
The Government Accountability Board on Tuesday approved numerous changes designed to improve the procedures used by Nickolaus's office on election night. Both before the meeting and during a break, Nickolaus told reporters that the investigative report vindicated her handling of the votes.
"I've been exonerated," she said.
Government Accountability Board director Kevin Kennedy disagreed.
"I would not characterize it that way," Kennedy said. The September report, led by former Dane County prosecutor Timothy Verhoff, found that Nickolaus likely broke state law requiring the posting of all returns on election night.
Investigators said Nickolaus couldn't explain how she failed to report the votes, but they concluded she probably loaded a blank template into a reporting database rather than a template that contained the vote totals. The flub was unintentional and not an attempt to conceal the votes, the report said.
Kennedy said Tuesday the public will feel more comfortable with new safeguards enacted by her office in conjunction with the GAB. Kennedy said Nickolaus was cooperative and helpful in implementing the changes designed to ensure transparency and provide security, documentation, and checks and balances related to counting and reporting vote totals.
But he also said that Nickolaus, who is up for election in November 2012, will have to earn back voters' trust one election at a time next year. She was first elected in 2002 and has won re-election three times.
Nickolaus said she "didn't really know if there was a lesson to be learned" from what happened in the April election. But she said voters should feel comfortable with the new procedures put in place, which include reporting detailed results on election night rather than county-wide figures, making errors easier to spot.
Dec 14, 2011 at 10:11 a.m.
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Recall ...... Brown bag Walker!
Dec 14, 2011 at 10:02 a.m.
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Putin says, yes it was simple reporting error. We forgot to report that we found just enough votes that we win.
Dec 14, 2011 at 9:52 a.m.
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916WI.. the only thing she needed to do was add the numbers, and turn it in.
Taking numbers home with her, is as bad as growing something bad in the basement and then bringing it to work.
Totally unethical. Tax payers pay for offices, so they can be used for legal purpose...... plus add in a few extra eyes. Kinda like what Walker is crying for, this time.
Dec 14, 2011 at 9:05 a.m.
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Wow...well, if things don't work out for her there it certainly sounds like she has all the qualifications needed to be on "our" local city council!
Dec 14, 2011 at 7:35 a.m.
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Ignorant liberals? Still giving speeches to an empty room, kaysbrew?
Dec 14, 2011 at 7:34 a.m.
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Zeussmom, You get your wish.
http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquart...
Dec 14, 2011 at 7:26 a.m.
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"State investigators in September determined that Nickolaus likely broke the law by not reporting the votes in the hotly contested race between Justice David Prosser and challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg"
Did you miss this sentence, kaysbrew?
Dec 14, 2011 at 7:14 a.m.
Dec 14, 2011 at 7:09 a.m.
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I'm just waiting to read about another Walker backer jailed.... you are right 916, elections really do have consequences!
Dec 14, 2011 at 6:49 a.m.
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Apparently, Kathy Nickolaus' definition of exonerated is "I'm not going to jail". The next question is: Is she smart enough to clean up her act? Only time will tell, stay tuned.
Dec 14, 2011 at 6:39 a.m.
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Carlitos....When the vice chair of democratic party of the county and the GAB confirmed that it was a simple reporting error, you would think that would be enough. After the recount of all of the votes in the state confirmed the election results you would think that would be enough. I understand that you and those that believe in the completely inept and misguided government that existed prior to Walker don't want to let it go........unfortunately for you elections have consequences. Embrace the change, our state is FAR better off with Walker running the show! Thx......
Dec 14, 2011 at 1:23 a.m.
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I see 916WI you put the I in ignorance andare still lost in the party you support and degrading the ones that have a clue as to the corruption in the GOP GET A CLUE. Maybe he thinks she should head the recall count.Midniteride There is more then FOX News on TV I hope you take time and grab your remote to change the channel and LISTEN to the real sources...Fedup, it said she likely broke the law as many of the GOP and they are NEVER held accountable. Walker makes all the laws that cover them as he goes along. The polls are dropping for the GOP on most other polls except Fox.
Dec 13, 2011 at 9:28 p.m.
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Good job Mouse--yet another super smart comment!......Do you honestly think anyone's God would condemn them for sending an incorrect spreadsheet to the Associated Press? The stupidity of some of the anti-Walker people on this site never fail to amuse me:)
Dec 13, 2011 at 9:17 p.m.
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If she beleives in God, then she knows that he gets his day of judgement.
Dec 13, 2011 at 8:22 p.m.
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I love it that she just washed her hands and says she's "exonerated" and the Government Board Director says " not so much". Typical of the "New"Republican Party. They hear what they want to hear only.
Dec 13, 2011 at 7:17 p.m.
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not surprised she felt she didn't know there was a lesson to be learned...
Dec 13, 2011 at 7:05 p.m.
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Is every one happy with the spelling cops
Dec 13, 2011 at 7:01 p.m.
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Feduptaxpayer: how does the Madison police chief have jurisdiction? Look up that long word if you need help. Thanks.
Dec 13, 2011 at 6:43 p.m.
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Look at all these righties defending a truly incompetent public employee who broke the law while attacking the competent ones. Her incompetence was unintentional and not criminal. That is the new Republican cry after George Bush, "Our incompetence is unintentional and not criminal." That says it all.
Dec 13, 2011 at 6:40 p.m.
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Sarah....If you're going to call a specific group of people stupid in one of your posts, at the very least try to spell all of the words correctly in the post where you are doing it. Thanks!
Dec 13, 2011 at 6:37 p.m.
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antireactionary.......Are YOU ignorant?? Obviously you are--only the media(AP) was given the incorrect totals. The recount verified that the final count was correct so your idea of "found" votes is as clueless as you are:)
Dec 13, 2011 at 6:36 p.m.
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I love the first line of the last paragraph. She didn't know if there was a lesson to be learned. Really? How many times does this lady get in touble and get out of it?
Dec 13, 2011 at 5:48 p.m.
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If Walker is out, she won't run again anyway.
I think they should all taste prison soup before they play games again.
Dec 13, 2011 at 5:48 p.m.
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Who really cares, it's over and with his illness, Walker will appoint someone else! People might not like it, but it's called politics. Get over it
Dec 13, 2011 at 5:41 p.m.
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Sounds like preperation announcement,,,,, watch out!
Why bring up your old broken leg story, unless you were intent on racing again. She is just putting thick make-up on the bearded lady.
Dec 13, 2011 at 4:48 p.m.
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Don't look to Waukesha voters dumping her. She has done exactly what they wanted her to do and will win re-election by whatever margin she sees fit.
Dec 13, 2011 at 4:42 p.m.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejvyDn1TP...
Dec 13, 2011 at 4:19 p.m.
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"The poll numbers are looking better and better for any GOP at any level in 2012" What polls are you looking at? Congress has the lowest approval rating of any Congress in the history of the US and the President is only slightly higher. More people disagree with Scott Walker's policies than agree with them in WI. The Republican presidential candidates are a joke, and Republicans don't even like any of them. I ask again, besides a Fox News poll, what polls are you talking about?
Dec 13, 2011 at 4:13 p.m.
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I see all the lefties are jumping on this one. If a crime would have been committed, she would have been arrested. I am sure the Madison Police Chief would have made the trip and arrested her himself.
Dec 13, 2011 at 4:05 p.m.
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If she broke the law, why wasn't she arrested?
Dec 13, 2011 at 4 p.m.
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Only to ignorant Republicans is breaking the law exoneration. Look at all these votes I found.
Dec 13, 2011 at 3:51 p.m.
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The far left just couldn't get over that even their own Huffington Post had these votes posted and Prosser the winner. They have creating a real dog and pony show for all of us to enjoy. Keep going, I say. The poll numbers are looking better and better for any GOP at any level in 2012
Dec 13, 2011 at 3:43 p.m.
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As far as I know, this is the only voter fraud committed in WI, although we have yet to hear about the John Doe case against Walker. The new voter laws don't address either case.
Dec 13, 2011 at 3:27 p.m.
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Did not expect any thing else
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