Tampa Trib's Daniel Ruth blasts the election supervisor for the county. Buddy Johnson.

[madfloridian]

The Tampa Tribune's Daniel Ruth has been on a real tear lately. It's been a long time since I read his column, but this makes three times lately.

The other two times recently were his ridicule of Sarah Palin and his blasts at Tom Feeney.

In his column today he is really digging at the Hillsborough County election supervisor, Buddy Johnson.

Dear Buddy: Please Stop Writing Us

At this point in the campaign season, if you are a registered voter, a nonregistered voter, a rabid badger, or even if you are dead, chances are you've received mail from Buddy Johnson, Hillsborough County supervisor of elections, reminding you that he is Buddy Johnson, Hillsborough County supervisor of elections.

Sack Of Chad

What is amazing about ... by the way, did I forget to mention that Buddy Johnson is the Hillsborough County supervisor of elections?

At any rate, what is amazing about all of this publicity is that Johnson has had his fair share of dumber than a sack of chad moments on the job in an office that has seen more turnover than a suicide bomber school.

Former employees have been paid to shut up about the inner workings of Johnson's office. Votes have been lost, polling places changed without advance notice and the supervisor of elections has manipulated his property taxes by arranging to have cows graze on his land to lower his payments. And when it comes to accessibility, Johnson often has proven to be less visible than the state executioner.

Old Dan's on a most remarkable tear lately.

I think every election supervisor in Florida should be under very close scrutiny. The light should be shining on everything they do. The Democrats are sending lawyers to "prowl" the polling places. And that's good.

But other columnists should be writing about the issue as well, talking to the county supervisors, keeping things open to the public.

[flvegan]

1. You mean Buddy "I swear this isn't a campaign ad" Johnson?

Scumbag.

[madfloridian]

2. I remember when he was first elected...

there was someone running against him who was a DFAer at the time...or was supported by the group.

I can't remember his name. He ran a good race. But it was all Republican all the time then.

[madfloridian]

4. Help me remember who ran against Buddy in 2004, I think?

Trying to remember.

[flvegan]

5. Rob Mackenna, I believe.

[madfloridian]

6. Yes, that's who it was.

I used to keep in touch when he was running as we were supporting him through DFA.

[madfloridian]

3. They sent an unnecessary and confusing mailing that cost 99,000.

of the taxpayers' money.

"In recent days, Johnson sent out a mailing to 666,000 registered voters reminding them that they were, uh, well, registered to vote. The envelope also contained a form to register to vote again, which seems sorta superfluous, unless you live in Chicago.

After several days of inquiries, Johnson's press flack, Kathy Harris, finally said sending out the brochures to remind registered voters they were registered - not counting the badgers, the dearly departed and Lassie - cost the public $99,900, or very nearly Busansky's entire campaign budget.

But that was only an estimate, Harris noted. It could be weeks before a more detailed accounting is available - say by Nov. 5, perhaps"