For the Record

State Auditor Beth Chapman (R-Alabama) announced her candidacy for Secretary of State on 8 August 2005. As reported by the Mobile Register, Chapman said

"As secretary of state, I will be the state's top election official, but I will never be so arrogant as to assume I am the state's only election official.

"I will return every phone call, respond to every e-mail, every question, meet every need."

Chapman's comments seemed directed at the current office holder, Nancy Worley (R-Alabama), who has had bitter relations with the county boards of registrars over the past two and a half years. Also, more recently, Worley has taken heat from other election officials, such as probate judges, over her selection of Diebold to provide the new statewide voter registration system. Probate judges, along with other members of a committee established by state law, had unanimously recommended a different vendor for the system. Worley, however, chose the committee's third choice.

Worley, in her response to Chapman's announcement, said

"I plan to run on my record for re-election ... We've accomplished many things in the almost three years we've been in office. I'll be very pleased to run on my record, a record of work and accountability."

Worley's eagerness to "run on [her] record" may be a blessing for Chapman. Worley has received much criticism, even from fellow party members, for the way she has run the Secretary of State's office.
From her highly-criticized decision to purchase a Ford Expedition (with Eddie Bauer package) while also laying off staff members, to her power grabs targeted at registrars and the statewide voter registration system, she starts out on shaky ground.

And there is more to come. Worley acknowledged in to the Mobile Register that she has not yet signed a contract with Diebold for the voter registration system. According to the Mobile Register piece,

"[Worley] said Monday that a final contract has not been ironed out, but repeated her contention that Diebold offers the best quality for the state."

That system must be in place by 1 January 2006 to comply with federal law (see my related post).

Chapman has pledged to run a clean campaign. It will be interesting to watch Worley accuse Chapman of violating that promise when Chapman offers to honor Worley's request of running on their records.