The decisions that have been made by the Windham Selectmen over the past few months have been embroiled with partisan rhetoric. They need to focus on the best interests of our community – and make the right decisions for the right reasons.
The biased and partisan maneuvers that are being instigated and then amplified primarily by Windham Selectman Heath Partington’s actions reflect poorly on the Select Board and our town. I believe that Select Board Chairman Ross McLeod is a good man, and that he has been led astray by Partington, who I believe has used his role in multiple government positions to advance personal agendas at the expense of what is best for the town.
That includes Partington’s involvement with the forensic audit where the State of New Hampshire has passed a law (SB43) mandating an investigation into the “Windham Incident.” I believe it is well past time that Windham residents are made aware of Partington’s self-serving antics that are antithetical to our Constitutional Republic.
What should have been a simple process has turned out to be a national embarrassment. Below is a brief recap.
The (Original) “Windham Incident” – The Largest Unexplained Vote Discrepancy in the History of NH
The voting discrepancy of the Windham State Rep race between election day on November 3, 2020 and a hand recount 9 days later by the Secretary of State’s office was the largest in NH history. I have covered this story in many posts on the Granite Grok.
Windham Incident #2 – Partington Was For the Gardner Amendment Before He Was Against it!
Mr. Partington agreed with an Amendment to SB43 that was 100% approved by Secretary of State Bill Gardner… until he was given a public forum by House Election Law Committee Chair Barbara Griffin minutes later. Upon being thrust into the public spotlight, Partington criticized the “Gardner Amendment” – even though it addressed the towns needs.
Partington’s objections almost single-handedly killed the Bill, and triggered the start of an embarrassing saga that includes the string of events below. You can read about it here.
Windham Incident #3 – Fabricated Death Threats
At the March 8, 2021 Windham Board of Selectman’s meeting, elected officials raised concerns that death threats were received due to the pending forensic audit. After multiple Right to Know requests were submitted seeking details… it was learned that no threats were ever made. None.
Windham Incident #4 – Illegal Meeting to Define Forensic Analyst Selection Process?
An April 13, 2021 group email from the Windham Town Administrator stated: “I am sending this to advise you that the Board of Selectmen has determined how they plan to proceed to select a designee relative to SB43.”
Since there had been no meeting for the Selectmen to define and agree on a process, the statement is an acknowledgement that the Selectmen violated the law and communicated in secret (via email, phone and/or in person) when they made that decision. Public Board decisions must be made in public.
Windham Incident #5 – Selectmen Announced the Forensic Auditor Would be Chosen in Secret
The intent of the SB43 Bill was to be 100% transparent to ensure public confidence in the forensic audit process of Windham’s ballots and voting machines in order to restore confidence in NH elections. The decision of the Selectmen to choose a forensic auditor behind closed doors was an affront to the office they hold and the people they serve.
After enormous public backlash, the Board relented and changed their minds.
Windham Incident #6 – More Fabricated Death Threats
On April 23, 2021, I received a series of text messages from Board of Selectman Chair Ross McLeod accusing me of inciting death threats. I encourage you to read the many posts I published on this issue on the Granite Grok. You decide.
On April 26, 2021, the Windham Chief of Police was asked about the death threats. He responded there was no investigation, there were no death threats.
Windham Incident #7 – Selection of a Political Scientist – Not a Forensic Auditor
The Windham Selectmen chose Mark Lindeman, a Political Scientist and Co-Director of Verified Voting to forensically audit Windham’s voting machines that he has zero experience with.
Another important point… Lindeman sought to stop the current forensic audit of the 2.1 Million ballots and voting machines in Maricopa County, AZ.
Windham Incident #8 – More Secret Meetings? – Rejection of Request for Reconsideration
On April 28, 2021, Chairman McLeod acknowledged in another email, the Board’s decision regarding a request that Selectman Bruce Breton planned to make at the upcoming May 3, 2021 meeting. That decision to reject Breton’s request was made by the Board in secret, and relayed by McLeod via email: “I have confirmed that neither Roger nor Heath wish to change their vote, and neither do I, so that ends it right there.”
RSA 91-A:2-a Communications Outside Meetings. – I. Unless exempted from the definition of “meeting” under RSA 91-A:2, I, public bodies shall deliberate on matters over which they have supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power only in meetings held pursuant to and in compliance with the provisions of RSA 91-A
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It is time for the Windham Selectmen to put their partisan politics aside and do the right thing. They are in denial about how the town feels about this issue, as well as their unqualified selection of Political Scientist Mark Lindeman to forensically audit the town’s voting machines.
Contact the town and Selectmen. Respectfully ask that the Selectmen reconsider their selection of Mark Lindeman, and tell them you live in Windham (if you do)!
Call the Town Administrator: 603-965-1200
Email the Selectmen: bos@windhamnh.gov.
