Where was the oversight?

The American political scene is now abuzz about Governor Sarah Palin and her drive to straighten out the corrupt politics from her home state of Alaska.  Quite the stiff broom she wields as she "cleans house" in rooting out politicians out for their business instead of the Peoples’ business.  Ethics first, openness and transparency coming right behind.  This should be standard issue for our elected officials – unfortunately it is not.  Diligence is always needed to ensure that "government for the people" really is "for the People" and not "the good old boys".   I’m quite sure Gov. Palin and Senator McCain will do such.

As regular readers of the ‘Grok know, Doug (along with Tom Tardif who is now running for Belknap County Commissioner), has been fighting to have NH’s Right To Know law followed by the Belknap County Commissioner and the County Convention (made up of the County’s NH House of Representatives). 

Well, when things are not as open as they could be, then information is as hard as hen’s teeth to pull, then bad things happen. Along with the obfuscation of the RTK, there was a problem with the office of the County Administrator / Financial Director, Nancy Cook.  Big enough that she was placed on unpaid administrative leave back last March.

Now we know what has happened to County’s Financial Officer: no wonder the books are a mess.  The question: why did the required oversight leadership fail?  She stole; who is responsible for the procedures (or lack thereof) that allowed it to happen?

From the Union Leader:

Attorney General: Belknap County official stole $40,601

LACONIA – Belknap County’s administrator and finance director has waived an indictment charging her with stealing $40,601.99, according to New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte.

Nancy Cook, 46, of Laconia, was indicted by a Belknap County Superior Court grand jury on one count of theft by unauthorized taking.

She is accused of writing checks made payable to cash on the county’s account, cashing them and then using the money for her own personal use. Cook also allegedly wrote a check on the county’s account to purchase a computer for her own personal use.

She is to enter a plea and be sentenced on Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. in Superior Court.

County commissioners placed Cook on unpaid administrative leave in March as the criminal investigation was taking place.

Cook faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

"New Hampshire’s taxpayers deserve to have every tax dollar spent only for its intended purpose. Those who hold the public’s trust and then violate that trust will be vigorously prosecuted by my office," Ayotte said in a prepared statement.

She most likely knew the County Commissioners were completely lax in their oversight, thinking she’d never get caught.

Then in strides two citizen activists armed with budgetary knowledge and some Right to Know law requests. Balls once in the air began to fall.

Somebody needs to take a hard look at the OVERSEERS. Why were the Commissioners allowed to "run things" at the County and fill the role of County Administrator / Finance Director when Ms. Cook was relieved of duty? Would it be in their interest to perhaps give themselves time and cover to hide their apparent failure when it came to watching the taxpayers’ dollars? How far back has the investigation gone?  Where is THEIR report and their Press Release on this huge problem in County management?

The public deserves elected officials that advocate for more open and transparent government processes that could keep this from happening in the first place.  When information is not readily available, it is much easier to "cook the books" (pun intended) when finances are made less available to the public.

Even the Commenters at the Union Leader’s site have their ideas on this failure of leadership at the Commissioner and Convention levels:

Made county checks out to "Cash"??? Talk about no oversight!

================

BINGO!!! This is the same bunch that lost in the NH Supreme Court over Right to Know Law violations in the appointment process of the Sheriff.

The Republican establishment has completely dropped the ball regarding oversight– The County Commissioners haven’t a clue, and the County Delegation does nothing more than add to budgets and rubber stamp what’s put in front of their noses.

WAKE UP, People!!!!!

There is a primary for a Commissioner seat involving a real citizen activist/maverick and one of the old GOP "stalwarts". This is one to watch. The insider has used all the powers of his party connections to stifle any debate or publicity.

Time for a clean sweep! The place to root out corruption and dereliction of duty is right in our own party!

================

She made checks payable to cash and somehow didn’t think she’d get caught? Not also is she a thief, but she’s a stupid thief. Did she write on the memo line "Theft" too?

================

It should be a *minimum* sentence for a public official to screw over tax payers. I hope she gets all 15 years and has to pay back every dime she took with interest.

================

THESE are the people we need to punish. Lock her up for the max sentence. Public officials who abuse their power should be handled in a very strict manner. If not, then people will lose that last little bit of faith they have in their government and judicial system. Do the right thing, make an example out of her.

For our local readers in Laconia, NH – if you like the idea of open and responsible County  government, you would do well to consider Tom for County Commissioner to receive your vote on September 9th.