Jeff Hastings, Inajo Chappell, Rob Frost, and Eben McNair. Those are the four new members sworn in by Secretary Brunner just one day before today's primary election. Democrat Hastings is taking over as temporary Chairman.
Jeff Hastings: What a way to start a job - a meeting today and an election tomorrow. We'll see how it goes.
Interim Director Jane Platten told reporters on Friday that all their machine tests were 100% accurate but she told the board that was only after both their main computer server and its backup failed Thursday.
Jane Platten: The main server I took out of the election so it's not going to be used tomorrow at all. What was the backup server is now our main server. And then the Secretary of State's office delivered to us a on Friday morning an additional server that is now fully functional. So we do have two working servers.
Jeff Hastings: Excuse me, when you talk about "functionability," you run a number of tests on them?
Jane Platten: Yes, we absolutely tested them. Tested both of them. We actually created a test that went above and beyond what was done in the past.
The Secretary of State's office continues to oversee the board operations. A search committee has come up with nine finalists for the job of Elections Director but the board members didn't now want to see the list. They instead asked that the application deadline be extended another 10 days. Inajo Chappell suggested some new people may apply for the job now that the board members are different.
Inajo Chappell: A lot of the schedule of when this unfolded happened during a time when - it was a tumultuous time. Someone may have been reticent about applying because of concern about stability - or whatever - here.
The head of Cleveland State's Institute for Election Integrity, Candace Hoke gave the board a suggestion on who to hire. She suggested Administrator Jane Platten, who had not applied during the initial opening. Platten was evasive about her plans.
Jane Platten: At this point I'm not a candidate.
MU: Are you considering the...
Jane Platten: I'm focused on the May 8th election which is taking place tomorrow and that's where my attention is.
The Deputy Director and the Board Chairman both have to be from a different political party than the director.
Secretary Brunner expects Ohio and Cuyahoga County to get a lot of attention when votes are counted for the 2008 Presidential election. And she's spent a lot of time focused on it.
Jennifer Brunner: I have broken a couple tie votes in Tuscarawas County. Cuyahoga County has taken quite a bit of time for the Secretary of State's office but I can tell you it's well worth it.
MU: How do you like the way things are going here?
Jennifer Brunner: I saw a board that cooperated very well with each other, worked well together. It's a very good start.
MU: Are you concerned about the machines themselves?
Jennifer Brunner: The machines themselves - It's my understanding that they've been calibrated. The logic and accuracy test have been done. The greatest concerns was with the server. That was a bit of an emergency last week. Our office stepped up, supplied what is now the backup server. When Jane contacted Diebold, we also contacted Diebold. we think the machines will function as intended.
Brunner's office will be testing all types of the electronic voting machines used in Ohio this summer in hopes of issuing a report by September.