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Thursday, June 1, 2006
Reading other people’s mail
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The people behind Mark Taylor and Cathy Cox continue to pick at each other like two kids in the back seat of a mini-van. (Advice to parents: This is what captain’s chairs are all about. No more arguments about whose finger strays across the invisible line.)
The latest tiff has to do with opposition research being conducted by Taylor’s staff, searching through roughly 8,000 records in the secretary of state’s office, now headed by Cox.
It’s much ado about nothing. Taylor’s people are upset by what they see as a snarky tone used by Tom Mishou, the Cox staffer in charge of requests for inspection of public records.
But what’s more interesting is the actual content of the letter — and the areas Taylor has picked out for research. The Tri-State Crematorium?
Taylor also wants to look into Cox’s use of $4.5 million on TV, radio and newspaper advertising in an anti-fraud campaign that ended just before she began her campaign for governor. The ads were funded with money from a national lawsuit against investment firms that states received for investor education.
Mishou tells Taylor’s people that the person who knew the most about that program has left the state’s employment and — gosh — they haven’t been able to get in touch with him. That person, of course, is Chris Riggall, now Cox’s campaign manager.
Read the entire May 22, 2006 letter below.
Office of the Secretary of State Open Records Compliance Thomas E. Mishou Suite 802 – West Tower #2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive Atlanta, Georgia 30334 404-656-2868 mishou@sos.state.ga.us
May 22, 2006
Mr. Kevin C McKeon 234 C Peachtree Hills Avenue Atlanta, Georgia 30305
Dear Mr. McKeon:
Thank you for the checks, totaling $2,663.20 which you enclosed in your last communication, setting the stage to inspect several documents which you believe to be in our possession.
Before we get confused with the many inspection details (your list IS extensive), and the further costs you will incur during your inspection visits, let me first state that I have set aside the following dates for you to begin your inspection:
Thursday, June 1st; Friday, June 2; Monday, June 5; and, Thursday, June 13th. In an extreme pinch, I may also be able to adjust my schedule, making the morning of Tuesday, June 6th also available.
You will need to contact me to arrange the actual appointment time(s) – but in the interest of openness, and knowing that you are in an extreme rush to inspect these documents (seven weeks and counting), I want you to immediately know that we are willing to open wide the files we reasonably expect to have gathered by that time.
Now, on to your letter:
Press Releases: I have been informed that the gathering of Lewis Massey’s press releases is proceeding according to the schedule I originally assumed. These documents will be available during the times cited above and very likely during your first visit.
Further compliance costs for this portion of your request, at this point, are estimated at $57.30. Additional costs will be accrued depending on the amount of inspection time you require, as well as the normal costs incurred for copying any press release you wish copied.
Tri-State Crematorium: A large quantity of documents relating to the Tri-State matter were located in the file cabinets of various divisions within our agency and in the state records center. Though, in the abundance of caution, the search is on-going I fully expect all related documents in our possession will be available for your inspection during the times cited above and very likely during your first visit.
Further compliance costs for this portion of your request, at this point, are estimated at less than $300.00. Additional costs will be accrued depending on the amount of inspection time you require, as well as the normal costs incurred for copying any press release you wish copied.
Tri-State Transcripts: These documents have all been located, though vetting for confidential information the testimony of literally hundreds of citizens has taken a significant amount of time. At this time I estimate an additional 10 hours of vetting / redaction time, resulting in an additional compliance cost of $351.60.
Additional costs will be accrued depending on the amount of inspection time you require, as well as the normal costs incurred for copying any press release you wish copied.
Georgia Pharmacy: Good News!!! One of the may beneficial results emanating from Secretary of State Cox’s quest to enhance digitization of our agency is that all minutes from the Georgia Board of Pharmacy are on-line. Obviously, there are no compliance costs associated with these documents.
I have identified other documents which I believe to be pertinent to this portion of your request, and I am continuing to search other file cabinets for still further documents. Because of the above stated good news, I believe that you will not incur any additional compliance costs concerning documents relating to the Georgia Board of Pharmacy.
IPT: Unfortunately, bad news sometimes follows good news. The employee most associated with the entire IPT project, Mr. Chris Riggall, no longer works for us. I recently learned where he is now employed and I am attempting to contact him by phone to determine where all these documents are located. He is a busy fellow !! I’ll keep you posted on the status of gathering these documents.
All Previous Open Records: The bulk of previous open records requests submitted to this office since 2001 have been gathered. In an attempt to keep your costs down, I have not attempted to count the total number of individual pages, though my rough estimation is that approximately 3,000 pages exist and will be available for your personal inspection.
These pages were gathered in such a way as to not encumber you with any associated search costs. Additional compliance costs will be accrued depending on the amount of inspection time you require as well as the normal costs incurred for copying.
Well, Mr. McKeon – this IS quite a project. Thank you for presenting these administrative challenges to me. I do enjoy projects which keep me active and sharp. And, of course I’m thrilled at your interest in the operations of this agency. It’s is rewarding to find, after 25 years service to three administrations, that people are interested in the work we do.
I look forward to your call setting up appointment times during the dates specified at the beginning of this letter.
Future compliance costs will be billed at $35.16 per inspection hour; $19.10 per copying hour; and, 25¢ per page copied. Payment will be due at the end of each inspection visit, so don’t forget your checkbook.
Sincerely,
Thomas E. Mishou
Whupping up on Cathy Cox
An Internet ad is intended to keep the the gay-marriage pot roiling
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor’s crew says it has nothing to do with it, but another Internet ad is floating through the atmosphere, accusing Cathy Cox of flip-flopping on gay marriage. The title is “Cathy Chameleon Cox.”
Now that we think of it, the hit comes 24 hours after the state Republican party put out a press release on Cox, with the same theme. And it closes with a snippet that rips off a “Peanuts” cartoon: “You say the cutest things.” That’s a put-down that a Democrat might avoid, if he wants the female vote.
Here’s the link.
Postscript: After perusing youtube.com, fairness dictates that we offer you more.
Here’s a parody of Governor Perdue’s “Sonny Did” introductory ad.
And here’s a rather crude one on Democrat Mark Taylor. Best line? “More governor for the pound”.
Again, all authors are unknown. The Interent is convenient that way.
