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Mark Ritchie Does the Right Thing
By Jeff Fecke | January 12, 2009
You can’t blame Al Franken for trying to get an election certificate from Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. But you really can’t blame Ritchie for telling Franken to go pound sand:
Minnesota law is very clear on when a certificate of election can be issued. Neither the governor nor I may sign a certificate of election in the U.S. Senate race until all election contests have reached a final determination. Even if the governor issues a certificate of election prior to the conclusion of the contest phase, I will not sign it.
That’s precisely right — not that Tim Pawlenty will do that for Franken (he said, “I have a duty to follow state law and our statutes are clear on this issue. I am prohibited from issuing a certificate of election until the election contest in the courts has been resolved.”)
Pawlenty and Ritchie are 100 percent right. Minnesota state law is, blessedly, very clear on recount and contest procedures. And those procedures state flatly and unequivocally that election certificates aren’t issued while the election is being contested. I’m not expecting those Republicans who see a secret Mark Ritchie plot behind every corner to actually notice that Ritchie seems serious about following the law, even when it works against Al Franken. But as has happened throughout this recount and contest process, our officials have performed with dignity, openness, and a strong belief in the rule of law. As for Al, he can just cool his jets; while it might be nice if Minnesota law allowed for a temporary certificate in this eventuality, it doesn’t, and Ritchie is right to follow the law and do his job.
Topics: Al Franken, MN-SEN, Norm Coleman | No Comments »