A different perspective
To the Editor, and Weston County residents:
Finally, the Weston County Gazette (11/14/24) gave me a clearer understanding of the County Clerk Becky Hadlock’s election ballot error — both sides of the story. It’s so refreshing getting both sides of the story.
The ES&S (Election Systems & Software) notified Hadlock of a printing alignment error on some ballots and told her they would correct it. The error was the little oval check box beside the name of the candidate that didn’t line up exactly with the name, so when an error ballot went through the counting machine couldn’t detect that vote.
Hadlock didn’t know that the wrong ballots had already been sent, and when her office received the box of ballots she considered them to be the corrected ones and put them in the vault. It was unfortunate error, but it was a human printing error, nothing malicious or intentional. Hadlock took responsibility and apologized. A recount was done and the election was certified. The three unopposed candidates in question still won their race. Kudos to our Weston County Commissioners for giving Hadlock their full support, so can we move on and not drag this out for a year like the last frivolous lawsuit against the commissioners? Apparently not.
The local GOP chair has petitioned the governor signed by seven, yes seven, seeking to have our duly elected clerk removed. So here we go again, making mountains out of mole hills at the taxpayer’s expense. I don’t know Clerk Hadlock personally, but I do know the News Letter Journal and the GOP chair. This duo is ruthless and leaves nothing but hurt souls and damaged reputations in their wake. Some people are very skilled at gas lighting others into “group think,” but it’s much easier to do when you have the power of a biased press supporting these malevolent efforts.
The NLJ has become a one-sided bully pulpit, targeting and vilifying our elected officials, probably because they are easy prey. But, when enough is enough, it’s only natural for our officials to cop a defensive attitude and push back. But when they push back a nasty editorial appears damning them for their response to being victimized. I suspect Hadlock, as well as others, have suffered this abusive wrath privately and publicly — all in the name of transparency or election integrity. Clerks across the state have been targeted in much the same disrespectful manner by the GOP. As Tim Stubson, an attorney for Laramie Clerk, stated, “If anybody should be concerned about calling into question election integrity, it’s certainly not the actions of the Clerk. It would be the actions of the Wyoming Republican Party.” I tend to agree, because our clerk is now in their crosshairs.
This is a witch hunt.
Here are my concerns: SOS Gray is a personal friend of the chair. Is this an abuse of power, or Quid Pro Quo? Could their petition to remove an elected official be motivated by an over-zealous micromanaging chair having personal conflicts with Hadlock? Knowing the players as I do, could this be an attempt to gain a clerk vacancy so their little group can appoint their gal that lost to Hadlock? I doubt anyone else will apply.
It sounds less and less like a concern for election integrity, and more and more like a power grab and manipulated control.
I say let the voters decided in the next election whether Hadlock should be forgiven or crucified. That’s how justice and elections work. It shouldn’t be manipulated or determined by a handful of people — even if you want a different outcome. I hardly recognize my local Republican Party anymore. We are becoming what we accuse others of.
Concerned, but I seriously doubt the NLJ editor will print my letter, as he refused my last letter. This duo must control the narrative to achieve their dual objective: selling fake news and gaining recognition and power.
Calling it like I see it.
— LeAnn Kenagy, lifelong county resident
Editor’s Note: We printed this letter without edits in the interest of promoting the principle of freedom of speech and fair debate. There are a number of inaccurate representations made by Ms. Kenagy - specifically in reference to her personal accusations against NLJ personnel and the Chair of the Weston County Republican Party. We invite all of our readers to read both news stories on this election malfunction — which present information from multiple sources — at newslj.com, and view all of the meetings where the Clerk’s actions are discussed on the News Letter Journal YouTube. You can also hear the newspaper’s perspective on why this story is important and the efforts that had to be made by reporters to discover the truth on the most recent episode of our Top of Main Podcast.