Maybe the this is a sign that the era of Mme Defarge is truly over. Despite rumours that one of the Wells was going to step in to challenge 4 term incumbent Betty Bondi for the postition of Democratic Registrar, the Advocate is reporting that newly minted Democratic chair Gail Wall says that Betty Bondi will not be challenged.
Betty Bondi has quietly brought change to the office since she began 8 years ago in the role. Unbelievably, the office ran on a DOS based database when Bondi first started. The transition to a modern system proved invaluable once the state system started having problems.
Secretary of State Susan Bysciewicz sued the Norwalk registrars over failing to adopt the centralized state system in 2006, but both registrars ended up being somewhat vindicated when the state system crashed, on election day, and most recently during the heavy turnout Democratic primary.
Under Bondi’s administration, improvements to the yearly voter canvassing process has resulted in reduced operating costs. The introduction of the new voter machines was smooth.
Part of the voter outreach Bondi performs has included educational campaigns, try outs of the voting machines and visits to Norwalk’s High Schools. I have worked with the Secretary of the States office to ensure that all election laws are followed. With the yearly demand of 125 poll workers, Bondi has built a roster of experienced workers to draw from in addition to seeking new workers.
From the Advocate:
Bondi pointed to her work in improving technology and maintaining a backup system of voter rolls that prevented major problems during February’s primary elections when the state’s computerized voter information system crashed.
The Secretary of the State’s Office fined Bondi and her Republican counterpart, Karen Doyle Lyons, $1,500 each in 2004 for not fully complying with an order to put all their voter records on the state’s voter system. The two were vindicated earlier this year when the system, which is designed to prevent voting duplication, crashed forcing registrars in some municipalities to revert to paper and other record-keeping methods.
“My suggestion of having two databases with regular spot-checks to make sure that they are in sync, gives us the edge when it comes to having the information at our fingertips when we need it,” Bondi said.
Bondi still will need to get the nomination of her party, but it does not appear she will be challenged, said party chairwoman Gail Wall.
Lyons said she plans to discuss whether she will seek another term with her party over the weekend and expects to make an announcement soon. She said she is leaning toward running again.
Bondi and Lyons often have been at odds over the office’s management squabbling over budget and redistricting issues. The two offered no opinions on either one’s plan to seek another term.
Both registrars have served since 2000 and make about $47,000 annually.Since taking the job, Bondi said she has made the office more efficient and has cut costs. She said that when she arrived, sending postcards to voters cost about $18,000. She said she cut those costs to about $3,000 by mailing letters to voters who have had a change of address since the previous election.
source: Bondi seeks 5th term as Democratic registrar, By Jonathan Lucas, April 20, 2008
