Clark County Councilor Karen Dill Bowerman disputes Auditor Greg Kimsey’s account of prior discussions about regarding the installation of video cameras at area ballot boxes
By Karen Dill Bowerman
Clark County Councilor
This is the first year that severe vandalism of ballot boxes became a major public issue and the Election Department’s lack of video surveillance has been newsworthy. Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey was elected to begin service 25 years ago. He oversees the Clark County Elections Department, among others.
In a November 1, 2024 story in Clark County Today, story in Clark County Today, Auditor Kimsey is quoted as stating that last summer he said in writing and in a public meeting that if the Council would provide the funding for video cameras on the drop boxes, his office would be happy to install them and handle managing the video and responding to public records requests. Really?
I was Council Chair in 2023 when his writing and giving statements in a public meeting on video cameras would have taken place, but his claims did not ring a bell. So, I utilized our county’s online archives and went to the three dates (in June, August and September 2023) when the auditor had an agenda item before us or appeared in person. Each agenda item revolved around his request for $4.4 million in funds for remodeling the Elections Office work area.
I read the agendas, listened to all discussion and testimony, and read the written minutes. Here is what I found. There was no request whatsoever for funding ballot box surveillance. Never once was ballot box security an issue. Auditor Kimsey did not mention video cameras for drop boxes in writing. He did not discuss a need for video surveillance on drop boxes. He said nothing about being happy to install and maintain video cameras “if the council would provide the funding.”
Ultimately on Sept. 26, 2023, the council approved his actual request for allocating funding in the amount of $4,495,000 and federal HAVA3 Election Security Grant funding in the amount of $205,000 to remodel the building … to increase the Elections Office workspace area and relocate the Auto License Department to the Public Service Center….” Auditor Kimsey did not include ballot box surveillance within his large funding request.
During the period when council approvals were being prepared for funds requested, there was a short mention of surveillance of drop boxes in an obscure 5-page memo from Auditor Kimsey to council. Auditor Kimsey followed up on June 27, 2023 to a citizen comment given earlier during public testimony saying that it is after a ballot arrives at the Elections Office, not at the ballot box, when the Elections Office determines that only properly registered voters are casting ballots. Auditor Kimsey went on to write that when video surveillance was
investigated with potential vendors in years past, it was decided that “costs greatly exceeded any perceived benefit.” He added that “if the Council would like to provide funding … the Elections Office is willing to assist in that process.” But you guessed it. Auditor Kimsey made no request for funding of video surveillance in that letter or in the proper form for requesting
funds in the upcoming budget. In fact, he made no mention to the council even of a need for video surveillance.
In the months since the Auditor Kimsey’s funding request was approved by council, there appears to be only one public reference he has made to video cameras for the ballot boxes, and he gave no hint of an interest in funding from council for that purpose. In fact, when asked, he said that retrieving ballots from drop boxes would be done in the same manner whether cameras were installed or not. He was confident that the chain of custody is now maintained, and after all, half of the ballots arrive from the USPS with no video cameras to record their deposit or pickup.
If Auditor Kimsey had requested funds, which he did not, that offhand comment would not have justified $1 million in taxpayer funds, which was learned recently on cost. Despite the lack of record with regard to funding videocams, it should be stated that in Clark County there are rigorous and transparent processes in place for election integrity, and good employees to deliver consistency.
What are the takeaways from the auditor’s recent interview in Clark County Today? First, realize that in the 2026 budget year there may be requests that council will be unable to fund because of having to prioritize requests in the face of General Fund shortfalls. Revenues are not keeping pace with rising expenses, and by 2026 the projected fund balance will reflect that reality. Second, elect people to office and hire managers who understand their department’s priorities and can clearly present the case for funding items if they’re important. When a request has a critical nature, it must emerge as a priority.
On the other hand, understand also that the County Council is an easy “whipping boy.” When there are pressures, how does a person respond? Therefore when an official like Auditor Kimsey blames council for not funding on a priority they supposedly presented to council, have them prove it (easy to do). The “Council-is-at-fault” impression may be nothing more than “passing the buck.”
Also read:
- Letter: ‘Marie (Gluesenkamp Perez) sadly fails to recognize the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death’
Vancouver resident Ann Makar shares her letter to Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and criticizes her stance on the sanctity of human life. - Tesla, Netflix, Philip Morris among those pushing WA governor for tax vetoes
Gov. Ferguson is facing mounting pressure from business groups to veto several tax bills before Tuesday’s legislative deadline. - Letter: ‘Anyone from the majority party listening?’In a letter to the editor, area resident Bob Zak argues that HB 1163 is unconstitutional and criticizes the legislative majority for supporting it.
- Last chance to sign up for next week’s Clark County Republican Women dinnerToday is the last day to register for next week’s dinner event featuring speaker Katy Faust, hosted by the Clark County Republican Women.
- Opinion: 18th District Sen. Adrian Cortes explains positions on legislation he voted onDick Rylander shares responses from Sen. Adrian Cortes about his votes and reasoning on major legislation this session.
I appreciate Councilor Bowerman’s comments and pointing out the nonsense of Auditor Kimsey’s actions and comments of late but she too shares responsibility in Kimsey’s failures because she has enabled him for years. In fact, she was Chair at the time of his $4.5 million request and promised the public our concerns would be addressed. Yet, when it did come back up a few months later, nothing was said and done… nothing but a rubberstamp approval. That would’ve been the time to actually use ARPA money (which is what funded the Elections Department remodel) for the good of the people and significantly address concerns many people have about our elections process in Clark County.
Again, glad she’s calling Kimsey out on his manipulation of history for CYA purposes, but take note, she hardly ever comes to the constituents defense in a similar fashion and looked the other way when we brought up concerns about not having cameras on ballot boxes but, by golly, if someone takes a swing at her or her territory of the government, she’ll defend herself and elitist perch tooth and nail.
Karen has been the picture perfect poster girl for “go-along-to-get-along” until you invade her space, then, and only then, you’ll see her muster up the gumption to speak up.
Considering the many many meetings Bowerman missed, can she be considered a reliable source?
Do you mean missed meetings or meetings no physically attended (virtual does count as attending). Perhaps ask for the attendance records of all council members for the past 5 or 10 years and compare attendance? So how many did she miss and how does her attendance record compare to other members?
Feel free to go back and check each council meeting to find any references to requesting funds for cameras.
As you know, you won’t find it. But if you check out The Reflector commentary from May of this year, Kimsey wrote the following… Tell me, does this sound like someone who supports or opposes cameras on ballot boxes?
“Statement: “…no cameras on drop boxes…”
Response: Installing cameras at ballot drop boxes and the system to store and retrieve recorded video is estimated to cost taxpayers almost $1 million and requires a significant amount of staff time to properly respond to requests for the video footage. Fifty percent of voted ballots are delivered by voters to the USPS and no video cameras record this. Controls are in place to ensure that only a single valid ballot from a properly registered voter will be accepted for processing. Cameras on ballot drop boxes do not prevent fraudulent ballots from being deposited. The chain of custody protocol — security seals, two election employees often accompanied by Certified Election Observers — for retrieving ballots from ballot drop boxes would not be conducted differently if cameras were present. People respect the elections process, and over the past 20 years, there has not been a single incident of significant vandalism to Clark County’s ballot drop boxes.” Commentary: Clark County election process transparent, accountable, secure | The Reflector
Thank you Karen for setting the record straight. Maybe Kimsey should have used some of $4.7M of funds for his remodel for video cameras but I imagine he felt the need for posh new digs trumped protecting the integrity of the vote.
What posh new digs?
What does $4.7mm buy? Has Mr. Kimsey shared with the public the details of his spending/planning?
“The money requested ended up being about $5.2 million dollars and was requested to expand the work area in the elections office,’’ Kimsey said… other needs that accounted for the request that resulted in the $5.2 million in funds directed to the elections department, including a $600,000 backup power generator that was recently installed to prevent an emergency power outage on election day.
Most of the funds were used to expand the space available for the elections office.” see Auditor Kimsey addresses his record on ballot box cameras and ballot harvesting
Best practices and needed investments
1-Security cameras
2- Better lighting for ballot box areas. The paid monitors started after the ballot box fire did shine lights on the dimly lit ballot boxes.
3-Well-timed ballot pickups to minimize ballots in box overnight. For about 41 hours, ballots were left in ballot box from Sat, Oct 26 after 11 AM to Monday Oct. 28 ~4 AM New daily pick up is an improvement, with more as needed on and before election day.
Thank you for correcting those that don’t trust elections unless they win. 🙂
You muddied the name Rylander by being appointed to the last county council before it was voted out!
Example of camera recordings
On Oct 28, Arson reported at a ballot box located in Vancouver in Fisher’s Landing area. KATU News was at the scene reporting that shortly after 4 a.m., “heavy smoke was seen coming from inside a drop-off ballot box…Around 6 a.m., KATU captured footage of first responders releasing a pile of actively burning ballots onto the ground, which continued to smolder and smoke heavily even after the flames were put out…”
Per election department Fisher’s Landing Ballot Box Incident
“On Monday, Oct. 28th at approximately 4 a.m., there was an incident at the drop box located at the C-Tran station at Fisher’s Landing with many of the ballots inside catching fire. Ballots that were deposited at that site after 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 through 4 a.m. Monday, Oct. 28 were affected. “
Oct 30 press release, “Elections staff have been able to identify 488 damaged ballots retrieved from the ballot box… Elections personnel were unable to identify 6 of the ballots. Other ballots may have been completely burned to ash, and therefore, unidentifiable.”
It has been my observation, over the past several years, that the elected legislative body (county council) generally opts for managerial kumbaya over leadership. As such, the council tends to view the executive branch as being “on the same team” and the constituents as “the opposition.” The council generally defaults to “approve, approve, approve,” growing managerial government, dismissing constituent concerns, and deferring to the “the experts.” Budgets grow. Staff grows. Taxes grow. Now there is a rift, because Auditor Kimsey pointed a finger at the council, and so the council is critical. But what exactly is the role of the council? What leadership and guidance do they provide? If they only approve and never deny, then the role seems performative.
Melissa —
The Charter form of government voters adopted nearly a decade ago, removed power and authority from the individual Councilors and the Council as a whole. It was a poor choice, in my opinion, as it put more power into the hands of the County Manager.
We are now living part of that reality.
The main authority the Council has is to hire and fire the County Manager.
Says He who faces court appearance for Fraud! Feburary is coming up soon!
The managers control the incorporated cities and counties. They are in the business to make money. Our county manager has made other mistakes at the public’s expense. Not protecting our ballots is her fault for approving the Auditor’s office expansion plans without the ballot box security cameras. Kimsey should retire for not knowing to put security cameras in the plans. If he doesn’t know how to protect ballot boxes, he doesn’t belong in that position. Remember: Dinesh Souza’s Documentary 2000 Mules’ provide evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 U.S. presidential election? Cameras should have been included in the remodel.
Agreed. The county manager runs the city. She has the most responsibly in this detrimental boondoggle. Or was it on purpose?
Kimsy has been there too long. The office remodel expansion sounds like a huge amount of money, which should have included the cameras. It is time to replace Kimsy. He is not competent for the job. Securing our ballots doesn’t seem to be his top priority.
It is time our council members retire. They weren’t smart enough think to add surveillance cameras for the ballot boxes. They should have brought it up! There has been enough fraud nationwide on stuffing ballot boxes and documentaries made on that subject. Auditor Kimsey wasn’t insisting on protecting our vote. Four HOURS THE BALLOT BOXES BURNED BEFORE THE FIRE Department got there! We need laws to fire incompetent people. Recall works.
Dinesh D’Souza election fraud film, book ‘2000 Mules’This incompetency, (controlled news), no consequences is why the public didn’t vote! The council and Kimsey doesn’t belong in office if protecting our vote is NOT on their agenda or part of their job. The public gave their freedoms away from not taking action.