>> WELCOME TO THE IDAHO
DEBATES.
TONIGHT, THE REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY CANDIDATES FOR
SECRETARY OF STATE.
THE IDAHO DEBATES IS ORGANIZED
BY THESE PARTNERS.
FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE
FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
THE IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION
ENDOWMENT, AND THE CORPORATION
FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.
>> Melissa Davlin: WELCOME TO
THE IDAHO DEBATES AT THE IDAHO
PUBLIC TELEVISION STUDIOS.
THIS IS THE THIRD AND FINAL
DEBATE WE'RE HOSTING BEFORE
THE MAY 17th PRIMARY
ELECTION.
TONIGHT THE THREE REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARY OF
STATE TAKE THE STAGE TO ASK
FOR YOUR VOTE.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
OVERSEES ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION, AS WELL AS
CAMPAIGN FINANCE, VOTER
REGISTRATION, LOBBYIST RENTAL
SERVICES.ATION AND BUSINESS-
THEY ALSO SIT ON THE STATE
LAND BOARD.
THE WINNER OF THE REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY WILL FACE DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE SEAN KEENAN IN THE
NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION.
I WANT TO WELCOME THE
CANDIDATES.
PHIL McGRANE, MARY SOUZA,
AND DOROTHY MOON.
ADA COUNTY CLERK PHIL
McGRANE TOOK OFFICE IN 2019,
PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED HE
WORKED AS AN ELECTION
SPECIALIST AND DEPUTY CLERK.
SENATOR MARY SOUZA HAS SERVED
FOUR TERMS IN THE IDAHO
SENATE, SHE CO-OWNS A BUSINESS
AND IS A RETIRED NURSE.
REPRESENTATIVE DOROTHY MOON
HAS SERVED THREE TERMS IN THE
IDAHO HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
SHE IS A FORMER SPECIAL
EDUCATION TEACHER, INSTRUCTOR,
AND BUSINESS OWNER.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR PANEL
OF REPORTERS WHO WILL BE
ASKING THE CANDIDATES
QUESTIONS TONIGHT.
BETSY RUSSELL OF THE IDAHO
PRESS, KELCIE MOSELEY-MORRIS
OF THE IDAHO CAPITAL SUN AND
RYAN SUPPE OF THE "IDAHO
STATESMAN."
I'M MELISSA DAVLIN HOST OF
IDAHO REPORT ON IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
I'M MODERATING TONIGHT.
TO REMIND THE CANDIDATES HOW
LONG THEY'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT IS ANNE KARLTON.
EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE GIVEN
90 SECONDS FOR OPENING
COMMENTS AND 60 SECONDS FOR
CLOSE.
PHIL McGRANE HAS THE HONOR
TO GO FIRST.
>> Phil McGrane: THANK YOU
IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION AND
ALL THE OTHER SPONSORS AND
PEOPLE WHO PUT ALL THE WORK TO
MAKE THIS HAPPEN TODAY.
I'M PHIL McGRANE, AND I'M
RUNNING TO BE YOUR NEXT
REPUBLICAN SECRETARY OF STATE.
THERE'S A REASON WE'RE HAVING
NOT JUST THE ONE TONIGHT, BUT
ALL OF THESE DEBATES.
AND IT'S BECAUSE ELECTIONS
MATTER.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO OUR
ELECTIONS, EXPERIENCE COUNTS.
I'VE HAD THE GREAT FORTUNE OF
SPENDING MY ENTIRE CAREER
ENSURING THAT IDAHO HAS FREE,
FAIR, AND SECURE ELECTIONS.
RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE, ALMOST
17 YEARS AGO, I FELL INTO A
JOB RECRUITING POLL WORKERS,
TRAINING THEM, POLLING
LOCATIONS, AND COUNTING
BALLOTS WHEN WE STILL VOTED ON
THE PUNCH CARD.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
WORK MY WAY UP.
AND SERVE IN ALL SORTS OF
ROLES RELATED TO OUR ELECTIONS
AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN
EVERY ASPECT, AS AN
ADMINISTRATOR AND AS A
CANDIDATE.
I'VE HAD THE GREAT PRIVILEGE
OF WORKING WITH SECRETARY
DENNY, AND SECRETARY U ASSIST
SURSA AND I'VE COUNTE ALMOST
2.5 MILLION BALLOTS IN MY
CAREER.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS I WANT
TO SAY IS IDAHO SHOULD BE
PROUD OF OUR ELECTIONS.
I KNOW I AM.
ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I'M
RUNNING HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE
I'M PROUD TO BE AN IDAHOAN.
I'M A FOURTH-GENERATION
IDAHOAN, AND I HAVE A COUPLE
OF KIDS WITH MY WIFE ANGELA,
WHO ARE 5th-GENERATION
IDAHOANS AND I WANT THEM TO BE
AS JUST AS BLESSED AS I HAVE
BEEN.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATION TONIGHT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
QUESTIONS, AND I HOPE YOU WILL
SEE EXPERIENCE COUNTS IN THIS
RACE.
>> Melissa Davlin: THANK YOU.
SENATOR SOUZA.
>> Mary Souza: I'M SENATOR
MARY SOUZA AND I'M FINISHING
MY EIGHTH YEAR IN THE SENATE.
I'M RUNNING FOR IDAHO
SECRETARY OF STATE TO PROTECT
OUR ELECTIONS, TO PROTECT OUR
BUSINESSES, AND TO PROTECT OUR
ENDOWMENT LANDS.
THOSE ARE THE THREE MAIN
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
SECRETARY OF STATE.
DURING THE 2020 ELECTIONS,
FACEBOOK MONEY CAME TO OUR
IDAHO ELECTIONS.
MY OPPONENT, PHIL McGRANE,
THE FIRST PERSON AND ONLY
PERSON TO BE DIRECTLY
CONTACTED BY THE FACEBOOK
FUNDING GROUP.
HE ACCEPTED $500,000 OF THEIR
MONEY AND RECOMMENDED TO ALL
THE OTHER COUNTY CLERKS THAT
THEY APPLY FOR THE MONEY AS
WELL.
AND AT NO TIME DID ANY OF THEM
EVER CONSULT WITH THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.
THIS MONEY WAS NOT FOR A
CANDIDATE OR A BALLOT MEASURE.
IT WAS TO ACTUALLY RUN OUR
ELECTIONS.
I WAS THE FIRST IDAHO LAWMAKER
TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS MONEY
AND I QUICKLY DRAFTED AND GOT
THROUGH THE SYSTEM A BILL
SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE
GOVERNOR, THE BILL WILL STOP,
HAS STOPPED ANY FURTHER
FACEBOOK MONEY OR ANY PRIVATE
DARK MONEY FROM COMING IN TO
IDAHO TO RUN OUR ELECTIONS
EVER AGAIN.
I'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON ELECTIONS
SINCE 2009, AND DURING MY TIME
IN THE SENATE, I HAVE
SPONSORED 15 BILLS ON ELECTION
INTEGRITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO TALK WITH YOU TONIGHT, AND
MY THANKS TO THE IDAHO PUBLIC
BROADCASTING SYSTEM, AND OUR
MODERATORS.
THANK YOU.
>> Melissa Davlin: THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE MOON.
>> Dorothy Moon: THANK YOU,
MELISSA.
I'M DOROTHY MOON, AND I LIVE
IN CUSTER COUNTY OFF GRID WITH
MY HUSBAND.
AND I'VE BEEN UP THERE WITH MY E
PAST 18 YEARS.
IN CENTRAL IDAHO.
I TAUGHT AT CHALICE HIGH
SCHOOL, I WAS A SCIENCE
TEACHER AS WELL AS A SPECIAL
ED DIRECTOR.
AND I LEFT IN 2012 AND MOVED
ON TO OTHER VENTURES.
I'VE ALSO BEEN THE PRESIDENT
OF MOON AND ASSOCIATES, A
CIVIL ENGINEERING AND LAND
SURVEYING COMPANY, AND IN OUR
FREE TIME WE'RE GOLD MINERS
AND WE ALSO CUT LOGS AND BUILD
LITTLE BABY LOG HOMES.
SO I'VE BEEN REPRESENTING
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT EIGHT FOR
THE PAST SIX YEARS, WHICH
COVERS 16,000 SQUARE MILES,
THE LARGEST DISTRICT IN THIS
STATE.
I'M VERY PROUD TO REPRESENT
RURAL IDAHO, AND THE 97% I'VE
EARNED FOR MY CONSERVATIVE
VOTES IN THE AMERICAN
CONSERVATIVE UNION, I'M VERY
PROUD OF.
I WANT TO BE YOUR NEXT
SECRETARY OF STATE BECAUSE
ELECTION INTEGRITY ISSUES ARE
A CONCERN OF IDAHOANS.
AS YOUR CHIEF ELECTION
OFFICER, MAINTAINING
UNIFORMITY AND CONSISTENCY IN
OUR ELECTIONS IS SOMETHING I
PROMISE YOU WE WILL HAVE.
I ALSO AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH
RESOURCES.
I HAVE BEEN UP IN THE WOODS
FOR A LONG TIME, AND BEING
AMONG THE RESOURCES I'VE BEEN
SURROUNDED BY FIRE AND OTHER
THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED AS
FAR AS FLOODING AND SO FORTH.
AS FAR AS THE THINGS I'VE BEEN
INVOLVED WITH, FUELS
REDUCTIONS IN OUR FORESTS,
MINE PERMITTING AND IMRAIZING
ALLOTMENTS.
WITH MY MASTER'S DEGREE IN
RESOURCE PLANNING, WE GET
HIGHEST ECONOMIC RETURNS ON
OUR ENDOWMENT LANDS IS
SOMETHING I CAN ACHIEVE.
MY NAME IS DOROTHY MOON,
RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF
STATE.
>> Melissa Davlin: THE FIRST
QUESTION FROM BETSY RUSSELL.
>> Betsy Russell: CLERK
MCGRANE, WERE THERE HAVE BEEN
ISSUES IN ADA COUNTY
ELECTIONS, HOW HAVE YOU
HANDLED THEM AND WHAT LESSONS
HAVE LEARNED FROM RUNNING
ELECTIONS IN THE STATE'S
LARGEST COUNTY THAT YOU'D LIKE
TO BRING TO ELECTIONS
STATEWIDE?
>> Phil McGrane: THANK YOU FOR
THE QUESTION, BETSY.
I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT HIGHLIGHTS MY EXPERIENCE,
HAVING BEEN INVOLVED IN EVERY
ASPECT OF OUR ELECTIONS, I
THINK ONE OF THE IMPORTANT
THINGS I BRING TO THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE,
I'M NOT JUST LOOKING AT IT
FROM A BROAD LEVEL, BUT I'VE
BEEN ON THE GROUND, WORKING IN
POLLING PLACES, DEALING WITH
POLL WORKERS, PRINTING BALLOTS
AND ALL OF THE LOGISTICS THAT
GO INTO OUR ELECTIONS.
MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE JUST
HOW BIG OF A SCALE THEY ARE.
OFTEN ELECTIONS ARE THE
LARGEST EVENT PLANNING
OPERATION IN ANY COMMUNITY IN
OUR STATE.
AND I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE
EXPERIENCES BOTH WHEN IT'S
GONE REALLY WELL AND THE
CHALLENGES THAT COME ALONG
WITH OUR ELECTIONS.
SO I'VE LEARNED FROM THAT.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
WE NEED IN TERMS OF A
SECRETARY OF STATE IS THAT
EXPERIENCE.
SO THE COUNTY CLERK OR ANYONE
ELSE CALLS, THAT THEY HAVE THE
ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS.
BOTH IN TERMS OF HOW OUR LAWS
WORK, BUT ALSO HOW THINGS WORK
PRACTICALLY ON THE GROUND.
I THINK MOST IDAHOANS CAN
RELATE TO THAT IN THEIR JOBS.
NEEDING SOMEONE YOU CAN TURN
TO WHO HAS THE EXPERIENCE,
THOSE THE NUANCES OF WHAT
YOU'RE DOING ON THE GROUND,
AND HOW THAT WILL IMPACT
THINGS.
I FACE CHALLENGES WHETHER
THAT'S BEEN PRINTING BALLOTS
OR OTHER THINGS, AND HAVE BEEN
QUICK TO JUMP ON AND REACT TO
THOSE CHALLENGES WHEN THEY'VE
COME UP.
ELECTIONS ARE SO INVOLVED,
THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY EASY.
BUT THAT'S WHERE IT TAKES A
TEAM OF PEOPLE, WHETHER THAT'S
THE 1300 POLL WORKERS WE USE,
OR ALL OF THE OTHER ELECTED
OFFICIALS AND PARTNERS THAT WE
HAVE ALONG THE WAY.
IT'S WHY I'M PROUD TO HAVE
COUNTY SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE
STATE, WHETHER IT'S COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS, CLERKS,
SHERIFFS OR OTHERS, BECAUSE WE
WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE OUR
ELECTIONS WORK WELL.
>> Betsy Russell: CAN YOU GIVE
US AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THOSE
TIMES THINGS HAVEN'T GONE
REALLY WELL AND WHAT YOU DID?
>> Phil McGrane: ABSOLUTELY.
A GREAT EXAMPLE JUST FROM THE
NOVEMBER ELECTION.
WE HAD AN ISSUE WHERE MANY
PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE WE
ROTATE THE NAMES OF CANDIDATES
ON THE BALLOT.
MAKING SURE EACH CANDIDATE
GETS A TURN AT THE TOP.
WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS AN
ERROR RELATED TO ONE OF THE
RACES PRINTING THOSE BALLOTS.
WE WERE QUICK TO JUMP ON THAT
AND TO PRINT NEW BALLOTS TO
MAKE SURE THAT VOTERS AND
EARLY VOTING AND ON ELECTION
DAY WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT
RESOURCES.
WE LEARNED THAT THE ELECTION
WAS CLOSE, I SHARED THAT
INFORMATION WITH ALL INVOLVED,
INCLUDING THE CANDIDATES.
WE CONDUCTED A RECOUNT WHERE
EVERYTHING MATCHED, AND WORKED
WITH EVERYBODY INVOLVED AND I
THINK IT'S ONE OF THE BEST
EXAMPLES OF ELECTIONS
INTEGRITY.
MAKING SURE EVERYONE HAS THE
RESOURCES.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED
THROUGH THAT PROCESS WAS THAT
WE NEEDED A TOOL TO ADDRESS IT
IN CASE WE EVER NEED TO TAKE
AN ELECTION TO A JUDGE.
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY I GOT
LEGISLATION THROUGH THIS PAST
SESSION TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.
THAT WE CAN HAVE JUDICIAL
REVIEW IN A CLOSE ELECTION AND
GIVING AUTHORITY TO A JUDGE TO
CALL A NEW ELECTION IF IT'S
NECESSARY.
I THINK THOSE -- THAT'S A GOOD
EXAMPLE OF JUST HAVING THAT ON
THE GROUND EXPERIENCE AND
KNOWING WHEN SOMETHING NUANCED
LIKE THAT HAPPENS, WHAT TO DO
AND HOW TO REACT.
>> Melissa Davlin: SENATOR
SOUTH, YOU'RE NEXT, AND IF I
MAY POSE THE QUESTION TO YOU
YOU --
>> Mary Souza: I WANTED TO
RESPOND TO WHAT CLERK MCGRANE
JUS SAID.
THANK YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A
COMMENT ABOUT THE MERIDIAN
CITY COUNCIL RACE THAT YOU
WERE REFERRING TO IN THE
NOVEMBER ELECTION.
AND THAT I HAD A CONVERSATION
WITH A GENTLEMAN THAT WAS NOT
ROTATED AS HIS NAME WAS ON THE
BALLOT.
AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT
UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION AND
AFTER YOU REALIZED YOUR OFFICE
REALIZED IT WAS GOING TO BE A
CLOSE ELECTION, THAT YOU LET
THE PEOPLE INVOLVED KNOW THAT
THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM.
THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT
WASN'T DONE CORRECTLY.
I'VE BEEN A BUSINESS OWNER FOR
37 YEARS WITH MY HUSBAND, AND
I WAS GENERAL MANAGER FOR 15
OF THOSE YEARS.
I KNOW THAT MISTAKES HAPPEN.
BUT IT'S HOW YOU HANDLE THE
MISTAKE THAT MAKES THE
DIFFERENCE.
TRANSPARENCY IS REALLY
IMPORTANT IN OUR ELECTIONS,
AND I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO
SEE YOU OR YOUR OFFICE GIVE
THAT INFORMATION TO THE PEOPLE
INVOLVED ON THAT BALLOT RIGHT
AS SOON AS YOU DISCOVERED IT,
SO THEY WOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED
THAT THIS COULD BE SOMETHING
THAT THEY SHOULD WATCH.
>> Melissa Davlin: I'LL GIVE
YOU 60 SECONDS TO RESPOND.
>> Phil McGrane: THANK YOU,
MELISSA.
I THINK THAT HIGHLIGHTS JUST
THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE WHEN IT
COMES TO HOW COMPLEX OUR
ELECTIONS ARE AND EVERYTHING
THAT'S INVOLVED.
I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES, THERE ARE SO MANY
MOVING PARTS.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE.
THE ROTATION ON THE BALLOTS,
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HAVING
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
CANDIDATES.
AND ON A TOP TICKET RACE LIKE
THE MERIDIAN CITY COUNCIL
RACE, IT HAS A MINIMAL IMPACT.
IT'S THE DOWN BALLOT RACES
WHERE IT HAS A HUGE EFFECT.
IN EVERY INSTANCE, WE TRACK
AND MONITOR AND MAKE SURE WE
KEEP TRACK OF EVERYTHING SO WE
CAN SHARE IT WITH THE
CANDIDATES AND GIVE THEM THE
TOOLS.
I WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE
CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE TO MAKE
SURE HE HAD ALL THE
INFORMATION, TOOLS, AND EVEN
GUIDE TOUCHDOWN HIM THROUGH
THE RECOUNT PROCESS TO MAKE
SURE HE COULD SEE ALL ASPECTS
OF OUR ELECTIONS.
I THINK THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
IS I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO PUT
THIS BEFORE A JUDGE, AND IT'S
WHY I WORKED ON LEGISLATION
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE IT IN
OUR ELECTIONS TO TRY AND
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, AND NOW WE
DO.
I THINK IT'S THAT KIND OF
LEADERSHIP THAT WE NEED IN THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.
>> Mary Souza: I'VE GOT TO
ADDRESS THIS TOO.
THIS ISN'T THE END OF THE
STORY.
>> Melissa Davlin: I'LL GIVE
YOU 60 SECONDS.
>> Mary Souza: MICHAEL HAWN, I
EXPWIEWD HIM AND I THINK CLERK
MCGRANE, THE FACT OF THE
MATTER IS YOU WERE AWARE THE
BALLOTS WENT OUT NOT
RANDOMIZED.
IT WAS 2100.
SO I GUESS IT WAS
STATISTICALLY -- THESE 56
VOTES THAT HE LOST BY,
STATISTICALLY WAS THAT ENOUGH,
TO WHERE HE COULD HAVE
PREVAILED.
SO I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THAT
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT
IMMEDIATELY, IT SHOULD HAVE
BEEN STOPPED IMMEDIATELY,
INSTEAD OF LETTING IT GO, AND
YOU HAD TO SEEK COUNSEL FROM
THE STATE OF STATE -- THE
SECRETARY OF STATE AND
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, AS
MUCH EXPERIENCE AS YOU HAD, I
WOULD HAVE THOUGHT YOU WOULD
HAVE RERUN, RETRIEVED THOSE
2100 BALLOTS AND DONE THE
ELECTION -- THE FACT YOU
DIDN'T HAVE A REMEDY RIGHT
AWAY WAS VERY CONCERNING TO
THE CANDIDATE, ALSO TO ME.
>> Melissa Davlin: I'LL GIVE
YOU 30 SECONDS AND THEN WE
NEED TO MOVE ON.
>> Phil McGrane: ONCE AGAIN,
THIS SHOWS THE LACK OF
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW OUR
ELECTION LAWS WORK IN IDAHO.
I SOUGHT THE COUNSEL AND
ASSISTANCE OF THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL AND THE SECRETARY OF
STATE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
IDAHO LAW REQUIRES.
I DID NOT HAVE THE LEGAL
AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS IT SO I
WENT TO THOSE WHO DO HAVE THE
LEGAL AUTHORITY AND GUIDED
SECRETARY DENNY IN A WAY THAT
WE COULD HAVE PUT IT BEFORE A
JUDGE.
IT'S THAT LEVEL OF
EXPERIENCING AND KNOWING TITLE
34 IN OUR ELECTIONS CODE THAT
IS THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO BE
SECRETARY OF STATE.
>> Betsy Russell: SENATOR
SOUZA, YOU SPENT YOUR
POLITICAL CAREER IN THE
LEGISLATURE, NOT RUNNING AN
ELECTIONS OFFICE.
WHAT IN YOUR EXPERIENCE
QUALIFIES YOU TO BE IDAHO'S
SECRETARY OF STATE AND TO
OVERSEE ELECTION STATEWIDE?
>> Mary Souza: THAT'S AN
EXCELLENT QUESTION.
THE ROLE OF SECRETARY OF STATE
IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE
ROLE OF COUNTY CLERK.
THE ROLE -- THE COUNTY CLERKS
ARE IN CHARGE AS CLERK MCGRANE
AS EXPLAINED, THEY ARE IN
CHARGE OF THE DAY-TO-DAY
LOGISTICS DURING THE ELECTION
SEASON.
AND PREPARING AND GETTING ALL
OF THE RECORDS CORRECT.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS MUCH
MORE OF A SUPERVISORY JOB.
THE SECRETARY IS TITLED THE
CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER OF THE
STATE.
NOT TO RUN ELECTIONS, BUT TO
OVERSEE THE ELECTION LAWS THAT
WE HAVE ON OUR BOOKS, AND TO
MAKE SURE THAT THOSE LAWS ARE
ENFORCED AND UPDATED AS
NEEDED.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE VERY
ANTIQUATED LAWS IN OUR
ELECTION SYSTEM.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2009, I WAS IN
NORTH IDAHO, WHERE I LIVE, AND
WE HAD A CITY COUNCIL RACE
THAT WAS DETERMINED BY FIVE
VOTES.
BETSY, I WAS ACTUALLY WRITING
A POLITICAL COLUMN FOR THE
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS, I WASN'T
IN POLITICS.
AND I WAS IN THE AUDIENCE
TAKING NOTES ON THIS COURT
TRIAL THAT PURSUED, THAT
ENSUED FROM THE CITY COUNCIL
RACE THAT WAS SO CLOSE.
MY EYES WERE OPENED.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT WE
FOUND, WHAT WAS FOUND, AND I
THOUGHT OUR SYSTEM WAS
ROCK-SOLID, BUT IT WASN'T.
AND ONE OF THE EXAMPLES IS
THAT A WOMAN FROM CANADA WHO
HAD LIVED THERE FOR 20 YEARS
VOTED LEGALLY IN OUR CITY
COUNCIL RACE, BECAUSE THE
DEFINITION OF "RESIDENT" HAD
NOT BEEN CHANGED FOR A VERY
LONG TIME.
AND IT STILL HASN'T BEEN
CHANGED TO THIS DAY.
>> Betsy Russell: REPRESENTATI
VE MOON, SAME QUESTION.
WHAT IN YOUR EXPERIENCE
QUALIFIES YOU TO BE IDAHO
SECRETARY OF STATE AND OVERSEE
ELECTIONS STATEWIDE?
>> Dorothy Moon: THANK YOU,
BETSY.
I THINK MY QUALIFICATIONS ARE
THE FACT THAT I'VE RUN
BUSINESSES.
I HAVE THE MOON AND ASSOCIATES
BUSINESS, WE'VE BEEN -- WE'VE
PROBABLY HAD 20 EMPLOYEES,
MAYBE 25 OVER THE COURSE OF,
SINCE 1994.
SO I KNOW HOW TO MANAGE
PEOPLE, I DEFINITELY KNOW HOW
TO HIRE, I DEFINITELY KNOW HOW
TO FIRE.
AS FAR AS MY GET IT DONE
ATTITUDE IN EDUCATION -- AND
USE EDUCATION AS A GOOD WAY TO
MAKE SURE OUR POLL WATCHERS,
AND CLERK UNDERSTAND WHAT
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE
EVERY TIME AN ELECTION COMES
UP.
I UNDERSTAND THAT AFTER THE
ALL-ABSENTEE BALLOT ELECTION
PRIMARY THERE WAS A LOT OF
CONCERN ABOUT HOW POLL
WATCHERS WERE TREATED, HOW
THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO WATCH
THE MACHINES WHEN THEY WERE
TABULATING, SO THERE WERE A
COUPLE OF TIMES I HAD TO CALL
THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
OFFICE AND SAY IF MY POLL
WATCHER LEAVES THIS COUNTY,
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE
TO COME BACK IN THROUGH THAT
DOOR.
SO THERE WAS A LOT OF TRIAL
AND ERROR DURING THAT PERIOD.
BUT FACT OF THE MATTER IS,
EVERYBODY SERVES A CERTAIN
POSITION DURING ELECTIONS.
AND AN EDUCATOR ONE OF THE
FIRST THINGS I WOULD DO IS GO
TO ALL 44 COUNTIES AND MAKE
SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS
WHAT THEIR JOB IS WHAT IT
ENTAILS.
AND THEN YOU HAVE CHALLENGERS
THAT COME INTO THE EQUATION AS
WELL.
SO TO ME EDUCATION TO MAKE
SURE EVERYONE THOSE WHICH LANE
THEY STAY IN, WHAT THEY NEED
TO BE DOING TO MAKE SURE THE
PUBLIC FEELS CONFIDENCE IN THE
SYSTEM, AND REMOVES ANY DOUBT
THAT THERE'S PROBLEMS IN THE
SYSTEM.
>> Melissa Davlin: NEXT
QUESTION COMES FROM RYAN
SUPPE.
>> Ryan Suppe: QUESTION FOR
ALL THE CANDIDATES.
DO YOU BELIEVE JOE BIDEN
FAIRLY WON THE 2020
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?
PLEASE ANSWER YES OR NO AND
SAY WHY OR WHY NOT.
CLERK MCGRANE.
>> Phil McGrane: RYAN, I THINK
IT'S SO INTERESTING THAT YOU
ASKED THAT QUESTION.
BECAUSE IT'S A REFLECTION OF
JUST WHERE WE ARE.
SO MANY OF THE CURRENT
CONCERNS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF
THE 2020 ELECTION.
JOE BIDEN WAS ELECTED
PRESIDENT DURING THAT
ELECTION.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE
SEEN AND EXPERIENCED AS I'VE
TRAVELED AROUND THE STATE IS
THE CONCERNS THAT IDAHO VOTERS
HAVE.
WHEN MOST IDAHOANS REFLECT ON
THEIR VOTING EXPERIENCE AND
HEADING TO THE POLLS AND POLL
WORKERS THERE CHECKING THEM
IN, THEY FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT
THEIR ELECTIONS LOCALLY.
BUT WHEN THEY LOOK ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, THERE ARE MANY
CONCERNS, EVEN THE REACTIONS
LIKE WE WATCHED IN ARIZONA IN
TERMS OF HOW THEY HANDLED THE
POST-ELECTION PROCESS.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS I WANT
TO DO AS SECRETARY OF STATE IS
MAKE SURE THAT IDAHOANS FEEL
CONFIDENT THAT WHEN THEY DROP
THEIR BALLOT IN THE BALLOT
BOX, THAT YOUR VOTE WILL
COUNT.
AND YOUR VOTE WILL COUNT JUST
THE SAME AS ANYONE ELSE, AND
NO ONE IS TAMPERING WITH OUR
ELECTIONS.
WE HAVE A GREAT ELECTION
SYSTEM HERE IN THE STATE, AND
I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I
CAN TO CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT
WELL INTO THE FUTURE.
>> Ryan Suppe: SENATOR SOUZA,
SAME QUESTION.
>> Mary Souza: THANK YOU,
RYAN.
I HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION.
I DO NOT THINK THAT JOE BIDEN
WON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
BUT HE HAS BEEN NAMED
PRESIDENT, AND THAT'S BEEN
CERTIFIED.
SO I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE WOULD
GO BACK.
BUT WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM WHAT
HAPPENED.
AND THERE WERE MANY THINGS, I
WILL CALL IT DEATH BY A
THOUSAND CUTS AS THE CHINESE
WOULD PUT IT.
IT WAS BALLOT HARVESTING.
IT WAS BALLOT BOXES THAT WERE
EITHER VIDEOTAPED OR -- BUT
THEY WERE NOT MANNED.
IT WAS A LOT OF SMALL CHANGES
IN LAW THAT WERE SIGNIFICANT
DURING THE COVID CRISIS IN
MANY OF THE SWING STATES.
AND THEY WERE NOT DONE LEGALLY
BY THE STATE LEGISLATURES.
THEY WERE DONE BY JUDGES, OR
SECRETARIES OF STATE.
I AM A MEMBER OF THE HONEST
ELECTION PROJECT, WHICH IS
ONLY A DOZEN LEGISLATORS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND WE GET TOGETHER TWICE A
YEAR FOR INTENSE WORKSHOPS
WITH ELECTION EXPERTS.
ALL OF THE OTHER 11
LEGISLATORS ARE FROM SWING
STATES, LIKE WISCONSIN,
PENNSYLVANIA, ARIZONA, AND
MORE.
AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
NOW TO LOOK BACK AND SEE WHAT
HAPPENED IN THOSE STATES,
WISCONSIN IS COMING OUT WITH A
SHOCKING 150-PAGE REPORT ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED IN THEIR STATE.
BEING DONE BY OUR OFFICE OF
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS.%
IT'S INCREDIBLE.
AND I WILL REFER TO IT LATER.
BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR EYES
WIDE OPEN IN IDAHO, AND SAY,
WE HAVE TO SECURE OUR SYSTEM,
EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE FRAUD
RIGHT NOW, WE -- IT IS COMING,
AND IT IS ALL AROUND US, AND
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A
SAFETIES ITEM.
>> Ryan Suppe: REPRESENTATIVE
MOON.
>> Dorothy Moon: NO.
WHEN WE NOTICED AROUND THE
BATTLEGROUND STATES WERE GOING
TO BED, AND THEY WERE GOING TO
START BACK UP IN THE MORNING,
IN MY LIFETIME I HAD NEVER
SEEN THAT HAPPEN.
NOR HAD MOST AMERICANS WHO
STAY UP THAT LATE TO WATCH FOR
THE RESULTS.
SADLY, THE FACT OF THE MATTER
IS, WE HAD TO DEAL WITH IT.
EVERYONE WAS IN SHOCK, A LOT
OF US BASED ON POLLING,
PRESIDENT TRUMP SHOULD HAVE
BEEN REELECTED.
65% OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS
STATE VOTED FOR TRUMP.
THE HIGHEST IN THE ENTIRE
NATION.
AS A LEGISLATOR, MOST PHONE
CALLS I HAVE RECEIVED AND MOST
EMAILS AND MOST PERSONAL
CONTACTS HAVE ALL BEEN ABOUT
ELECTION INTEGRITY ISSUES EVER
SINCE THAT ELECTION.
IN FACT, IT WAS SO BAD I
DECIDED TO GO OUT AND MEET
WITH PEOPLE.
I WENT ON A TOUR FROM DECEMBER
ON, AND MET WITH THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN FOUR
MONTHS AT 40 VENUES ON
WEEKENDS WHILE IT WAS IN
SESSION.
AND THE BIGGEST ISSUE WAS
WITHOUT A DOUBT HOW COME WE
DIDN'T JOIN THE TEXAS LAWSUIT,
THE MINUTE THAT THIS LAWSUIT
CAME ABOUT?
AND IT TOOK OUR LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR TO FILE AN AMICUS
BRIEF IN WHICH 40 LOSHES
SIGNED ON TO, AND I WAS ONE OF
THEM.
IN FACT, I WAS ONE OF ONLY 11
TO SIGN ON TO A PETITION FOR A
FORENSIC AUDIT.
SO I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
WE CANNOT LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN.
AND IDAHO NEEDS TO BE THE
BEACON ON THE HILL AND SHOW
THAT OUR ELECTIONS WILL NOT BE
COMPROMISED, AND WE WILL
DEFINITELY FIGHT TO MAKE SURE
THERE IS NO DOUBT IN OUR
SYSTEM.
>> Melissa Davlin: HOW WOULD
YOU REBUILD THAT TRUST IF YOU
THINK IT FAILED SO
MONUMENTALLY?
>> Dorothy Moon: FIRST I'D
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A
SECURE ELECTION ACT THAT GOT
THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE THIS
YEAR.
I BROUGHT A BILL FORWARD THAT
WOULD HAVE TIGHTENED UP
IDENTIFICATION AS FAR AS
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS, THINGS
YOU COULD AND COULDN'T USE AND
CITIZENSHIP.
AND CITIZENSHIP I'M SURE WILL
BE A QUESTION PRETTY SOON.
AN AFFIDAVIT, WE'RE ALLOWING
PEOPLE TO SEND A PIECE OF
PAPER SAYING THEY ARE WHO THEY
ARE, AND WE GIVE THEM A BALLOT
AND UPON RECEIPT OF THAT
BALLOT THEY VOTED, AND MAYBE A
FEW DAYS LATER THE CLERK MIGHT
FIND OUT HEY, THIS PERSON
DOESN'T LIVE IN THIS COUNTY.
THEY JUST FILED AN ILLEGAL
BALLOT.
WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE JUST BEEN
CANCELED OUT.
AND WE CANNOT ALLOW ANY
ILLEGAL VOTE TO TAKE OUT A
LEGAL VOTE IN THIS STATE.
AND THAT IS WHAT I WILL DO,
AND HOPEFULLY WORKING WITH THE
LEGISLATURE, WE CAN GET RID OF
THE AFFIDAVITS, WE CAN TIGHTEN
THINGS UP, AT LEAST THAT ARE
PHOTO I.D. IS NOT A REASONABLE
REQUIREMENT.
WE HAVE TO HAVE
GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PHOTO I.D.
TO RECEIVE A BALLOT.
>> Melissa Davlin: RYAN, DID
YOU HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION?
>> Ryan Suppe: REPRESENTATIVE
MOON, YOU ASKED FOR THE
CITIZENSHIP QUESTION, HERE IT
COMES.
>> Dorothy Moon: ALL RIGHT.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THE
FIRST ONE.
GO AHEAD.
>> Ryan Suppe: AN EARLY
VERSION OF YOUR BILL REQUIRED
PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP AT THE
POLLS.
WHY SHOULD VOTERS NEED TO
PROVE CITIZENSHIP AT THE POLLS
AND WHO SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR VERIFYING IT?
>> Dorothy Moon: ONE, IT'S THE
LAW.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE A
CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES
AND OF IDAHO TO VOTE.
AS FAR AS CITIZENSHIP
REQUIREMENT, WHEN MY BILL, THE
SECURE ELECTION ACT, WAS
PRESENTED, ONE THING ABOUT
PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO CONFUSE
THE BILL AND SAY THAT YOU HAD
TO HAVE A CITIZEN REQUIREMENT
EVERY TIME YOU WOULD GO IN AND
REGISTER TO VOTE.
SO IF YOU MOVED FROM CUSTER
COUNTY TO COOT NINTENDO WII
COUNTY YOU'D HAVE TO DO IN
WITH A BOAT LOAD OF DOCUMENTS.
NO, THAT'S UPON INITIAL
REGISTRATION.
AS FAR AS CITIZENSHIP, THERE
WAS A BILL MOVED BY
REPRESENTATIVE MITCHELL THAT
WOULD HAVE YOUR DRIVER'S
LICENSE HAVE A STAMP THAT
STATED WHETHER YOU WERE A
CITIZEN OR NONCITIZEN.
AND SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT
MOVED THROUGH SADLY, THOUGH,
IT WASN'T MANDATORY, IT WAS
VOLUNTARY.
HAD IT BEEN MANDATORY THAT WAS
SOMETHING THAT COULD BE EASILY
SEEN, BUT -- ANY ELECTION
WORKER AT THE POLLS.
BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
SO IT WAS WATERED DOWN WITH A
MANDATORY REQUIREMENT.
HOWEVER, AS FASCIAS THE
CITIZENSHIP GOES, THERE IS
MULTIPLE WAYS THAT THEY CAN
PROVE CITIZENSHIP, IT HAS TO
BE PROVED ON TIME, AND EVEN IF
YOU COME IN FROM ANOTHER STATE
AND YOU'VE PROVEN CITIZENSHIP
THERE AND YOU HAVE A CARD SUCH
AS THIS LICENSE I'VE DESCRIBED
THAT WE HAVE HAD PASSED BY
REPRESENTATIVE MITCHELL, THEN
THAT CARD, THEY COULD BRING
OVER FROM INDIANA, AND USE
THAT CARD TO GO AHEAD AND
REGISTER TO VOTE.
BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY GONE
THROUGH THE PROCESS OF PROVING
CITIZENSHIP.
>> Ryan Suppe: CLERK MCGRANE,
SAME QUESTION TO YOU.
>> Phil McGrane: I THINK THIS
IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF JUST MY
EXPERIENCE.
I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO HAS
ACTUALLY WORKED ON THESE
ISSUES, WHO'S WORKED WITH THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY TO ADDRESS
CITIZENSHIP ISSUES.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS
WE DON'T HAVE NONCITIZENS
VOTING IN OUR ELECTIONS AND
ANY INSTANCE THAT QUESTION
EVER MIGHT WE'RE QUICK TO
PURSUE IT.
NORTHBOUND ADA COUNTY WE'VE
ONLY HAD ONE INSTANCE WHERE
THERE'S BEEN AN ACCUSATION OF
A NONCITIZEN VOTING.
WORKING WITH HOMELAND
SECURITY, OUT OF THE 300,000
REGISTERED VOTERS THAT WE
HAVE, WE'VE NARROWED IT DOWN
TO EVEN EIGHT POSSIBLE
NONCITIZENS.
I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT
MESSAGE IS THAT WE ADDRESS
THIS.
AND WE WORK ON IT.
WE HAVE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE,
WHEN SOMEONE REGISTERS TO
VOTE, NOT ONLY DID THEY NEED
TO PROVE, SHOW PHOTO
IDENTIFICATION AND PROOF OF
RESIDENCE, BUT WE ACTUALLY
VERIFY AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT
OF MOTOR VEHICLES, SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, VITAL
STATISTICS TO MAKE SURE
THEY'RE ALIVE, AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
IN FACT, THE MOST COMMON FORM
OF VOTER FRAUD THAT WE SEE IS
FELONS VOTING.
IT'S NOT PEOPLE COMING FROM
CANADA OR ELSEWHERE TRYING TO
INFLUENCE OUR ELECTIONS.
WE HAVE A GOOD SYSTEM HERE IN
IDAHO AND WE HAVE SAFEGUARDS
IN PLACE ACROSS ALL 44
COUNTIES.
AND IS THE ROLE OF THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE TO
ENSURE THAT THAT SYSTEM IS IN
PLACE SO THE CLERKS CAN RELY
ON IT AND MAKE SURE OUR
ELECTIONS ARE SECURE.
I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD SYSTEM
IN PLACE, WE HAVE MANY
SAFEGUARDS, AND ONE OF THE
THINGS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
PHOTO IDENTIFICATION, WE'VE
EVEN IMPLEMENTED TOOLS SO
PEOPLE CAN SCAN THEIR PHOTO
I.D. WHEN -- RIGHT BEFORE THEY
VOTE TO LOOK THEM UP.
IT'S IMPROVED THE SECURITY OF
OUR SYSTEM, AND MADE IT MORE
CONVENIENT FOR VOTERS.
>> Melissa Davlin: REPRESENTAT
IVE MOON, 30 SECONDS.
>> Dorothy Moon: CLERK
MCGRANE, YOU SAID YOU KNOW OF
NO CASES OF A NONCITIZEN
VOTING IN THIS ELECTION, THEN
YOU SAID YOU KNOW OF ONE AND
POSSIBLY EIGHT MORE.
SO, YES, THERE HAVE BEEN
NONCITIZENS WHO HAVE VOTED IN
THIS ELECTION.
IN FACT, JUST RECENTLY I HAVE
AN EMAIL THREAD FROM A COUPLE
THAT HAD TURNED IN A PERSON
THAT THEY KNOW WHO HAD VOTED
ILLEGALLY THREE TIMES IN AN
ADA COUNTY ELECTIONS.
AND THIS WAS TURNED OVER TO
THE SECRETARY OF STATE, THE
SECRETARY OF STATE TURNED IT
OVER TO YOU, SUPPOSEDLY IT HAS
GONE TO THE SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GONE
FROM THERE.
BUT AS FAR AS --
>> Phil McGrane: I'M HAPPY TO
UPDATE YOU.
SORRY FOR MISSPEAKING.
I THINK THAT'S FAIR.
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
ACTUALLY THE FIRST REQUEST
CAME TO ME DIRECTLY.
AND IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE
RECOGNIZED OUR ROLE IN THESE
ELECTIONS.
AND IN THIS CASE WE DID PURSUE
IT.
WE'VE WORKED WITH THE
SHERIFF'S OFFICE, FIRST THE
VOTER HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM
THE ROLLS.
IT'S BEEN INVESTIGATED AS A
POTENTIAL VOTER FRAUD CASE,
AND IT HAS BEEN PASSED ON TO
THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, AND
ADA COUNSEL CITY AS WELL AS
THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR
PROSECUTION.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF
ELECTIONS INTEGRITY BECAUSE WE
DO TAKE THESE THINGS
SERIOUSLY.
AND BOTH AS CLERK AND AS
SECRETARY OF STATE, I WILL
CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO PROTECT
OUR ELECTIONS.
>> Melissa Davlin: RYAN, THE
NEXT QUESTION IS FOR SENATOR
SOUZA.
>> Mary Souza: I DON'T GET THE
SAME QUESTION?
>> Melissa Davlin: YES, SAME
QUESTION.
>> Mary Souza: I WAS GOING TO
REMARK THAT CLERK MCGRANE'S
ANSWERS TO THE VOTER I.D.
ISSUE HAVE BEEN MIXED
MESSAGES.
AND I HAD A VOTER I.D. BILL AS
WELL, IT WAS A COMPREHENSIVE
VOTER I.D. BILL, CLEANING UP
OUR CURRENT LAWS WHICH HAVE A
MISHMASH OF REQUIREMENTS FOR
ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN
REGISTER TO VOTE AND ALL THE
DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN VOTE.
AND WE NEED CONSISTENCY IN OUR
LAWS.
AND CLARITY.
STUDENT I.D.ES ARE NOT
CITIZENSHIP TESTED.
THEY ARE NOT EVEN VALID FOR A
LOT OF OTHER REASONS.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A
VOTING TOOL, BUT IN ADA
COUNTY, ON THEIR MOBILE VOTING
TRUCK, THE CITIZEN -- THE
STUDENTS CAN USE THEIR STUDENT
I.D.s TO COME OUT OF COLLEGE
AND REGISTER TO VOTE AND VOTE
IMMEDIATELY.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT,
BECAUSE THERE'S NO CONTROL
OVER WHAT CAN BE USED.
I WOULD TAKE STUDENT I.D.s
OFF THAT LIST IMMEDIATELY, AND
REQUIRE THAT THE OTHER I.D.s
MUST HAVE CITIZENSHIP
REQUIREMENTS ON THEM IN ORDER
TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND TO BE
SHOWN AT THE POLLS.
WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE A
DIFFERENT SET OF I.D.s.
THEY CAN ALL BE USED.
HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THAT I
THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE CLEAR
ON WHAT OUR REQUIREMENTS ARE
SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT TO
EXPECT.
THERE ARE FRAUDULENT VOTERS IN
OUR STATE.
AND CLERK MCGRANE CONSTANTLY
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IS
SAYING THAT WE HAVE NO
PROBLEM, WE HAVE NO PROBLEM,
EVERYTHING IS JUST FINE.
WE NEED TO OPEN OUR EYES AND
MAKE SURE WE HAVE A COMMON
SENSE ANSWER TO THESE
SITUATIONS.
>> Melissa Davlin: 15 SECONDS,
AND WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.
>> Phil McGrane: I THINK ONE
OF THE BIGGEST THINGS, THIS IS
MISLEADING IN TERMS OF
LEGISLATION.
DO WE NEED GREATER CLARITY?
ABSOLUTELY.
BUT IS IT THE LEGISLATURE'S
ROLE TO DETERMINE OUR LAWS?
IT'S OUR JOB TO EXECUTE THEM.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT
THE LEGISLATION YOU MENTIONED
DIDN'T PASS IS BECAUSE IT
SPECIFICALLY MADE IT DIFFICULT
FOR THE MILITARY TO VOTE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO ASK OUR
SERVICE MEMBERS TO SERVE AND
FIGHT FOR US OVERSEAS, THEY
SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE,
ESPECIALLY IF IT'S THE
GOVERNOR THAT SENT THEM THERE.
>> Melissa Davlin: THE NEXT
QUESTION -- I'LL GIVE YOU 15
SECONDS TO RESPOND AND THE
NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KELCIE.
>> MY VOTER I.D. BILL TOOK
INTO CONSIDERATION THE
MILITARY VOTE.
YOU WERE NOT THERE TESTIFYING
ON IT.
BUT CLERK MCGRANE LIKES TO SAY
IT'S UP TO THE LEGISLATURE TO
AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
BUT HE ALSO INTERVENES, AND HE
INTERVENES IN A WAY TO STOP
THE BILLS FROM BEING HEARD.
IF HE DOESN'T LIKE THEM FOR
POLITICAL REASONS.
>> Kelcie Moseley-Morris: AS
OF APRIL 13th, IDAHO HAD
MORE THAN 990,000 REGISTERED
VOTERS ACROSS 44 COUNTIES AND
35 LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS.
ELECTIONS ARE COMPLEX AND CAN
INCLUDE EVERYTHING FROM CITY
COUNCILS TO SCHOOL BOARDS TO
BONDS AND LEVIES.
SENATOR SOUTH, WHAT DO YOU
BELIEVE IS THE MOST
CHALLENGING ASPECT OF RUNNING
AN ELECTION, AND WHAT WOULD
YOU CHANGE?
>> Mary Souza: THANK YOU,
KELCIE.
I WOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
REALLY STRONG LEADERSHIP FROM
THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
OFFICE, AND STRONG
COMMUNICATION TO ALL OF THE
COUNTIES.
EACH OF OUR COUNTIES RUNS
THEIR ELECTIONS IN A SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT WAY.
PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF IT IS
THEIR CHOICE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE
WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE STATE,
AND CAMPAIGNING ALL AROUND THE
STATE, I WILL TELL YOU, IT IS
QUITE DIFFERENT FROM ONE PART
OF THE STATE TO ANOTHER.
SO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
OFFICE WAS NEVER INFORMED WHEN
CLERK MCGRANE AND ADA COUNTY
DECIDED TO TAKE $500,000 OF
FACEBOOK MONEY WITHOUT
CONSULTING WITH THE CHIEF
ELECTIONS OFFICER OF THE
STATE.
THAT SHOWS -- AND THEN HE ALSO
RECOMMENDED TO ALL THE OTHER
COUNTY CLERKS THAT THEY TAKE
THIS KIND BE OF MONEY TOO.
THAT THEY APPLY FOR FACEBOOK
MONEY AS WELL.
THAT SHOWS TO ME A LACK OF
RESPECT, LEADERSHIP, AND
COMMUNICATION, AND I THINK
THAT IS KEY.
AS A BUSINESS OWNER OF 37
YEARS, AND A GENERAL MANAGER,
WE HAD A BIG STAFF, WE STILL
DO, AND I WAS A CRITICAL CARE
NURSE AND A CHARGE NURSE
BEFORE THAT.
SO IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS,
COMMUNICATION IS ESSENTIAL.
WE MUST BE ABLE TO RESPECT THE
OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM, BUT
ALSO HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION,
OBVIOUSLY THE CLERKS DIDN'T
FEEL THE SAME WAY, BECAUSE
THEY WEREN'T WILLING TO TALK
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
OFFICE.
>> Melissa Davlin: CLERK
MCGRANE, I'LL GIVE YOU A
CHANCE TO RESPOND IN A SECOND,
BUT THE NEXT QUESTION IS FOR
REPRESENTATIVE MOON.
>> Kelcie Moseley-Morris: YOU
SAID DURING A DEBATE THE LAST
PEOPLE I WOULD TRUST TO HELP
YOU FILL OUT A PLAT IS THE
GOVERNMENT.
SO IF NOT THE GOVERNMENT, WHO?
AND HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE
THAT?
>> Dorothy Moon: LET ME GIVE
THAT SOME CONTEXT.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT A BILL,
HOUSE BILL 441, THAT SENATOR
SOUZA HAD BROUGHT FORWARD.
AND THIS WAS A BILL THAT WOULD
ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO GO IN
EMPLOYEES OR VOLUNTEERS OF THE
CLERK OF THAT COUNTY TO GO IN
AND HELP SENIORS AND ASSISTED
LIVING OR -- SENIOR HOMES,
NURSING FACILITIES AND HELP
THEM TO VOTE.
MY POINT IS, I DO NOT TRUST
THE GOVERNMENT, BECAUSE YOU
NEVER KNOW WHICH
ADMINISTRATION IS IN PLACE,
AND EVEN THOUGH THIS SHOULD BE
A NONPARTISAN POSITION, IN ALL
REGARDS, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE
ELECTED AS REPUBLICAN, I KNOW
ONCE I STEP INTO THAT OFFICE,
I WILL BE WORKING TO MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING IS UNIFORM AND A
LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR
EVERYONE.
AS FAR AS THIS BILL GOES, IT WAS
ACTUALLY GOVERNMENT SPONSORED
BALLOT HARVESTING, AND I'VE SAID
THAT NUMEROUS TIMES.
WHEN WE CAN HAVE A COUNTY
CLERK TRAIN A VOLUNTEER TO GO
IN AND HELP, OR THE OTHER
ALTERNATIVE, TO HAVE ONE
REPUBLICAN AND ONE DEMOCRAT
BOTH OF THEM TO GO INTO THIS
ASSISTED LIVING CENTER TO HELP
THEM FILL OUT THEIR BALLOTS,
NO.
THEY HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS, THEY
HAVE GUARDIANS, THERE'S
ANOTHER WAY THAT WE'VE ALREADY
BEEN DOING.
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE
FROM COMING IN WITH CERTAIN
POLITICAL GROUPS AND TRYING TO
GET THEM TO VOTE A CERTAIN
WAY, THAT'S ONE THING.
BUT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE BALLOT
HARVESTING IN ANY REGARD,
ESPECIALLY IF IT'S GOVERNMENT
SPONSORED.
>> Kelcie Moseley-Morris: YOU
MENTIONED IT'S -- BE.
>> Melissa Davlin: YOU CAN
RESPOND AFTER HER QUESTION.
>> Kelcie Moseley-Morris: YOU'
VE BEEN A PARTISAN LEGISLATOR
AS A REPUBLICAN, SO YOU SAY IT
SHOULD BE A NONPARTISAN OFFICE
BUT YOU CAMPAIGNED AS A VERY
PARTISAN PERSON.
>> Dorothy Moon: DEMOCRATS ARE
ALSO PARTISAN.
IT GOES BOTH WAYS.
THERE'S NO DOUBT I'M A
CONSTITUTIONAL CONSERVATIVE
REPUBLICAN.
I'VE NEVER MADE ANY -- I
REPRESENT THE MOST RURAL PART
OF THIS STATE.
I REPRESENT MY CONSTITUENTS.
THAT'S -- THEY HIRED ME TO DO
THAT.
SO THAT'S MY JOB.
I WILL DO MY JOB TO THE BEST
OF WHAT THEY WANT AS A
MAJORITY IN THAT GROUP.
NOW, AS FAR AS THE STATE GOES,
IN RUNNING THIS OFFICE, I HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN EXTREMELY FAIR.
I'M VERY PROUD OF HOW FAIR I
AM IN DEALING WITH ISSUES.
TO ME, IF SOMEBODY IN THE
DEMOCRAT PARTY WAS BEING
SCRUTINIZED OVER A CAMPAIGN
FINANCIAL REPORT UNLIKE
SOMEONE IN THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY, I WON'T HEAR OF IT.
EVERYBODY IS PUTTING IT ON THE
LINE TO RUN FOR OPENS.
EVERYBODY IS SACRIFICING TO BE
AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES AND
FAMILIES TO RUN FOR OFFICE.
AND I THINK THEY SHOULD ALL BE
GIVEN DUE RESPECT FOR WHAT
THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO.
AND THEY WANT TO REPRESENT
THEIR PARTY, AND FOR THEIR
CONSTITUENTS.
SO AS FAR AS MY FAIRNESS, I
DON'T EVEN THINK THAT SHOULD
COME INTO QUESTION.
>> Melissa Davlin: SENATOR
SOUTH I WILL GIVE YOU 30
SECONDS.
>> Mary Souza: 30 SECONDS IS
NOT ENOUGH.
DOROTHY, YOUR EVALUATION OF MY
BILL IS FAKE NEWS.
THAT ABSOLUTELY IS TOTALLY AND
COMPLETELY THE OPPOSITE OF
WHAT THE BILL DID.
PURPORTED TO DO.
AND IT WAS VETTED BY
ELECTION -- NATIONAL ELECTION
EXPERTS.
LET ME TELL YOU ONE OF THE
NEGATIVE OUTCOMES WITHOUT THIS
KIND OF PROTECTION FOR OUR
NURSING HOME RESIDENTS.
THE REPORT THAT JUST CAME OUT
SHOWS THAT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T
HAVE SECURE VOTING ASSISTANCE
IN NURSING HOMES, THEY LET ME
READ THIS TO YOU, WISCONSIN
ACTUALLY HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS,
THEY UNLAWFULLY VIOLATED THEIR
RULES BY PROA -- OF PROTECTING
NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WHICH
RESULTED IN A 100% VOTING RATE
IN MOST OF THEIR NURSING
HOMES.
AND THESE ARE NURSING HOMES
WITH DEMENTIA PATIENTS AND
PATIENTS WHO ARE INELIGIBLE
VOTERS, AND YET THEY WERE
VOTING AT A 100% RATE.
BECAUSE THE STAFF IN THE
NURSING HOMES WAS ILLEGALLY
ASSISTING AND VOTING FOR THE
RESIDENTS.
WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN,
AND PEOPLE AND STAFF WHO ARE
VOLUNTEERS TRAINED BY OUR
ELECTIONS OFFICES, ARE NOT
GOVERNMENT BALLOT HARVESTERS.
AND THAT IS A TERRIBLE --
>> Melissa Davlin: I'M GOING
TO HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF.
KELCIE, THE NEXT QUESTION IS
FOR CHLOROQUINE MCGRANE.
>> Kelcie Moseley-Morris: YOU
ARE THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THE
RACE WHO HAS PLAYED A ROLE IN
RUNNING AN ELECTION.
WHAT SPECIFICALLY DO YOU HAVE
IN MIND FOR IMPROVING IT AT
THE STATE LEVEL?
>> Phil McGrane: THANK YOU FOR
THE QUESTION.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WAS ALREADY TOUCHED ON HERE, I
BELIEVE YOU CAN HOLD
CONSERVATIVE VALUES, AND STILL
BUILD TRUST ACROSS ALL
POLITICAL SPECTRUMS.
AND IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS
I'VE DONE IN MY ROLE, BOTH AS
COUNTY CLERK AND AS AN
ELECTION SPECIALIST OVER THE
YEARS.
I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST
THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS TO
PROVIDE TRAINING AND EDUCATION
FOR OUR CLERKS AND FOR THE
ELECTION WORKERS.
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'M
PROUD OF.
I'VE ALREADY TAKEN A
LEADERSHIP ROLE.
FOUR YEARS AGO, I STARTED THE
IDAHO ELECTIONS CONFERENCE.
BRINGING ELECTION OFFICIALS
FROM ALL PARTS OF THE STATE
TOGETER, TO LEARN AND TO WORK
WITH EACH OTHER TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE SHARING BEST PRACTICES,
WE'RE LEARNING FROM EXPERTS
ALL THROUGHOUT THE NATION,
WE'RE HAVING LAW ENFORCEMENT
COME IN AND DO TRAININGS ON
SIGNATURE VERIFICATIONS, SOME
OF THE OTHER IMPORTANT SKILLS
TO MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY
OF OUR ELECTIONS.
I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO
BUILD ON THAT.
ELECTIONS ARE COMPLEX.
AS WE HAVE MORE AND MORE
VOTERS OVER A MILLION VOTERS
DURING THE 2020 ELECTION, IT
BECOMES MORE COMPLEX AND WE
NEED THE TOOLS TO DEAL WITH
THAT.
SOME OF THAT RELIES ON
TECHNOLOGY.
WHEN I STARTED AND WE WERE
USING PUNCH CARDS, WE WEREN'T
WORRIED ABOUT CYBER SECURITY,
AND ATTACKS FROM CHINA, OR
RUSSIA OR ELSEWHERE.
NOW CYBER SECURITY IS ONE OF
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE
FACE.
AND I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS
WORKED ON THESE ISSUES, AND
WORKED WITH PARTNERS BOTH AT
THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND THE
LOCAL LEVEL, INCLUDING THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE,
TO MAKE SURE OUR ELECTIONS ARE
SECURE.
I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
DO THAT, BECAUS I REALLY DO
BELIEVE THERE ARE TOOLS AND
WAYS WE CAN MAKE VOTING BOTH
ACCESSIBLE AND MORE SECURE AT
THE SAME TIME.
>> Melissa Davlin: THE NEXT
QUESTION IS FROM BETSY
RUSSELL.
>> Betsy Russell: THIS
QUESTION IS ABOUT WHERE YOU
DRAW THE LINE BETWEEN WHAT YOU
JUST MENTIONED, MAKING VOTER
VOTING ACCESSIBLE, AND MAKING
IT SO BURDENSOME THAT
LEGITIMATE VOTERS CAN'T VOTE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL
THREE OF YOU, STARTING WITH
CLERK MCGRANE, WHICH WOULD BE
WORSE?
A FRAUDULENT VOTE BEING CAST,
OR A LEGITIMATE VOTER BEING
TURNED AWAY FROM EXERCISING
THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE?
>> Phil McGrane: BETSY, YOU
TOUCH ON A REALLY IMPORTANT
ISSUE.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S MANY
PEOPLE IN IDAHO WHO HAVE SPENT
MORE TIME TRYING TO ENSURE
ACCESS TO VOTERS THAN I HAVE.
EXPANDING THINGS LIKE EARLY
VOTING, WHICH IS ACTUALLY OUR
MOST SECURE FORM OF VOTING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS
QUESTION BRINGS TO MIND IS KIM
WYMAN, THE REPUBLICAN
SECRETARY OF STATE OF
WASHINGTON.
SHE NOTED THIS LAST YEAR
DISCUSSING SOME OF THE FEDERAL
LEGISLATION WHERE THERE WAS AN
EFFORT TO TAKE OVER ELECTIONS.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO
THOUGHTFULLY ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES.
OUR COUNTRY DOES HAVE A
HISTORY OF VOTER FRAUD.
OUR COUNTRY DOES HAVE A
HISTORY OF VOTER SUPPRESSION.
AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
HONEST CONVERSATIONS SO THAT
WE DON'T MAKE VOTING SO
DISIEWR THAT NO ONE CAN ACCESS
IT, BUT ALSO WE DON'T MAKE IT
SO OPEN THAT IT'S -- THERE'S
OPPORTUNITY FOR FRAUD.
I THINK THIS BALANCING ACT IS
SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE IS
ALWAYS TRYING TO DO.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR
RIGHT TO VOTE IS A
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
IT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH
IN ON OUR GOVERNMENT.
IT'S OUR VOICE.
AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE
PROTECT AND MAKE SURE THAT
VOTERS HAVE ACCESS TO THE
BALLOT BOX.
THERE'S TOO MANY EFFORTS TO
TRY AND STOP VOTERS WHEN THERE
ARE THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO
ADDRESS THIS AND MAINTAIN THAT
SECURITY.
AND IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THE
SECRETARY OF STATE, BECAUSE OF
MY EXPERIENCE IN ON THE GROUND
WORK I'VE DONE, I'M READY TO
WORK WITH ALL 44 CLERKS
WITHOUT THE STATE TO MAKE THIS
HAPPEN.
>> Betsy Russell: SENATOR, THE
SAME QUESTION.
WHICH WOULD BE WORSE, A
FRAUDULENT VOTE BEING CAST, OR
A LEGITIMATE VOTE BEING TURNED
AWAY FROM EXERCISING THEIR
RIGHT TO VOTE?
>> Mary Souza: I THINK THAT A
LEGITIMATE VOTER BEING TURNED
AWAY WOULD BE WORSE, BECAUSE
THEY ARE LEGITIMATE.
HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK WE NEED
TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THOSE TWO.
I THINK WE CAN FIX OUR SYSTEM
TO BE ACCESSIBLE, AND SAFE.
WE HAVE A VOTER I.D. PROBLEM,
AND AS REPRESENTATIVE MOON
MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE A
SITUATION RIGHT NOW, AND I
TRIED TO GET IT FIXED TWO
SESSIONS AGO, BUT CLERK
MCGRANE STOPPED IT, TELLING ME
THAT WE DID NOT NEED TO CHANGE
OUR AFFIDAVIT SYSTEM.
RIGHT NOW IF RYAN GOES IN AND
DOESN'T HAVE HIS I.D. AT THE
POLLS, HE CAN JUST SAY OH, I
LEFT IT IN MY CAR, I FORGOT,
THEY WILL GIVE HIM A PAPER
AFFIDAVIT, HE CAN SIGN HIS
NAME, PROMISING HE IS WHO HE
SAYS HE IS, THEY WILL GIVE HIM
A BALLOT, HE WILL VOTE IT AND
IT GOES IN WITH EVERYONE
ELSE'S BALLOTS, CAN NEVER BE
RETRIEVED OR IDENTIFIED AS IT
SHOULD BE FOR BALLOTS NOT
BEING ABLE TO BE IDENTIFIED.
BUT THEN WE HAVE THE
POSSIBILITY THAT HE WAS AN
UNREGISTERED VOTER.
THAT HE WAS FRAUDULENT.
LET ME JUST TELL YOU, IN THE
SCHEME OF THINGS, BECAUSE WE
TALK ABOUT VOTER SUPPRESSION,
AND ALL THE REST OF IT.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THE
CARTER BAKER COMMISSION IN
2005 SAID THAT PHOTO I.D. IS
ABSOLUTELY THE WAY WE SHOULD
GO IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND OUR COUNTRY IS ONE OF THE
VERY FEW WORLD DEMOCRACIES
THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE VOTER
I.D.
OF THE 47 COUNTRIES IN EUROPE,
46 OF THEM REQUIRE
GOVERNMENT-ISSUED VOTER I.D.
>> Melissa Davlin: WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO MOVE ON.
>> Mary Souza: PUBLIC OPINION
STRONGLY FAVORS PHOTO I.D. AT
78% ACROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHICS.
>> Melissa Davlin: WE HAVE TO
MOVE ON.
30 SECONDS TO RESPOND AND THEN -
>> Phil McGrane: I THINK IT'S
MISREPRESENTATION.
I PROVIDED ALTERNATE
LEGISLATION WHEN WE MET ON
THAT TO ADDRESS PHOTO
IDENTIFICATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO
SHARE IS YOU HEAR THIS TALK
ABOUT PHOTO I.D.
WITH THE TOOLS WE NOW USE, WE
TRACK THIS.
AND IN ADA COUNTY, 98% OF
VOTERS PROVIDED DRIVER'S
LICENSE WHEN THEY VOTE.
1% PROVIDE THEIR PASSPORT WHEN
THEY VOTE.
AND THE OTHER REMAINING
PRESENT -- PERCENT, EITHER
PROVIDE THEIR MILITARY I.D.,
TRIBAL I.D., THEIR STUDENT
I.D., THEIR CONCEALED WEAPONS
PERMIT, OR SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT.
THIS ISN'T A RAMPANT PROBLEM,
JUST LIKE IT'S BEING
EXPRESSED.
WE HAVE CONTROLS AND IN PLACE
WE CAN TRACK IT AND ENFORCE
OUR LAWS AT EACH POLLING
LOCATION.
>> Melissa Davlin: WE HAVE TO
LEAVE IT THERE.
WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.
[TALKING AT ONCE]
SENATOR SOUZA, WE HAVE TO
LEAVE IT THERE.
>> Betsy Russell: I WOULD LIKE
TO POSE THE SAME QUESTION.
WHICH WOULD BE WORST, A
FRAUDULENT VOTE BEING CAST OR
A LEGITIMATE VOTER BEING
TURNED AWAY?
>> Dorothy Moon: I'M GOING TO
SAY THE FRAUDULENT VOTER.
I'M GOING TO SAY THE
FRAUDULENT VOTER, BECAUSE IT'S
AGAINST THE LAW.
THEY HAVE NO CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHT TO BE VOTING.
AS FAR AS THE LEGITIMATE VOTER
BEING TURNED AWAY, I WILL MAKE
SURE AS YOUR NEXT SECRETARY OF
STATE THAT WE HAVE A HUGE
ELECTION PROCESS OF MAKING
SURE EVERYBODY THOSE WHERE
THEIR PRECINCT IS.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED
PAPERWORK FOR YOUR FIRST-TIME
REGISTRATION?
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BRING WHEN
YOU VOTE?
SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE A
DRIVER'S LICENSE BECAUSE YOU
DON'T WANT TO DRIVE, YOU CAN
STILL GET THE
GOVERNMENT-ISSUED I.D.
MAYBE WE NEED TO LET PEOPLE
KNOW THEY CAN GET ONE THAT
DOESN'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGES SO
THEY CAN STILL HAVE A
GOVERNMENT-ISSUED I.D.
THESE ARE THE THINGS I WOULD
TRY TO GET OUT IN SUBSERVICE
ANNOUNCEMENTS TO MAKE SURE YOU
HAVE YOUR I.D., GO GET A STATE
GOVERNMENT I.D. WITH NO
PRIVILEGES FOR $20, AND IF
NOT, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOME
FUNDS TO PAY FOR THAT.
AS I HAD IN THE BILL OF MY
SECURE ELECTION ACT FOR
ANYBODY WHO CAN AFFORD AN I.D.
SO ANYWAY, IT WOULD BE THE
FRAUDULENT VOTER.
THAT WOULD BE THE ONE FOR ME.
>> Dorothy Moon: COULD I
RESPOND?
>> Melissa Davlin: WE NEED TO
MOVE ON.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
BETSY.
>> Betsy Russell: THIS
QUESTION IS ABOUT THE LAND
BOARD.
WE WANT TO SQUEEZE IT IN.
THE LAND BOARD ON WHICH THE
SECRETARY OF STATE SERVES IS
CHARGED BY THE IDAHO
CONSTITUTION WITH MANAGING THE
STATE ENDOWMENT FOR MAXIMUM
LONG-TERM RETURNS TO THE EBEN
FISHERIES, THE LARGEST OF
WHICH IS IDAHO'S PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
CLERK MCGRANE, HOW COULD YOU
THINK THE BOARD CAN BEST
ACCOMPLISH THAT AND WHAT IF
ANYTHING WOULD YOU CHANGE IN
THE CURRENT DIRECTION?
>> Phil McGrane: THANK YOU.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK
ABOUT OUR LANDS.
SO MANY PEOPLE MOVE HERE
BECAUSE OF THE VALUE OF OUR
LANDS AND THE RESOURCES.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PUBLIC
EDUCATION THIS ENDOWMENT THAT
WE CAN PROVIDE THESE TOOLS AND
THE FUNDING THAT YOU
MENTIONED.
ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS THAT
I BRING TO THE LAND BOARD IS
I'M CURRENTLY THE ONLY TURN
RUNNING FOR A LAND BOARD
POSITION NOT RUNNING FOR
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
AND I HAVE THE RELATIONSHIPS
NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN
THIS ROLE.
I'M PROUD TO HAVE THE SUPPORT
OF THESE ASSOCIATED LOGGING
CONTRACTORS, THE CATTLE
ASSOCIATION, THE GRAIN
PRODUCERS, AND ALL THE PEOPLE
WHO WORK HARD USING OUR LAND
IN THIS STATE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE
THOSE RELATIONSHIPS SO WE CAN
MAXIMIZE THE VALUE.
THE LAND BOARD IS FACING SOME
TOUGH DECISIONS.
AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE MOVE
TO IDAHO, WE'VE ALL
EXPERIENCED AND SEEN THE RISE
IN PROPERTY VALUES.
AND NOW WE HAVE THE CHALLENGE
WHERE SOMETIMES THE SOIL IS
WORTH MORE THAN THE RESOURCES
THAT ARE GROWING ON TOP OF
THEM.
TIMBER HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT
PART OF OUR USE OF OUR LANDS,
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT, BUT
ALSO LOOK AT THIS LONG-TERM
INVESTMENT.
I HAVE KIDS IN PUBLIC
EDUCATION RIGHT NOW.
AND I WANT TO ENSURE THAT NOT
JUST THEY BENEFIT FROM IT, BUT
HOPEFULLY SOME DAY IN THE
FUTURE, MY GRANDKIDS AND GREAT
GRANDKIDS WILL BE
BENEFICIARIES OF OUR PUBLIC
EDUCATION SYSTEM, AND HAVE
ACCESS TO THE LANDS THAT SO
MANY OF US ENJOY.
>> Betsy Russell: REPRESENTATI
VE MOON, SAME QUESTION.
WOULD YOU STICK WITH THE
DIRECTION THE LAND BOARD HAS
BEEN GOING TO MAXIMIZE THE
LONG-TERM RETURNS, OR WHAT
WOULD YOU CHANGE?
>> Dorothy Moon: I'D GIVE THEM
A LITTLE GUIDANCE.
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN LANDS
FOR DECADES NOW.
AS -- WITH MY MASTER'S IN
RESOURCE PLANNING AND LIVING
AMONGST THE FIRES, AND AMONGST
THE WILDLIFE, AND SEEING ALL
THE DAMAGE THAT'S BEEN DONE
BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET ANY FUELS
REDUCTION PROGRAMS DONE IN
THAT -- ESPECIALLY IN THE
SALMON CHALICE, I THINK ONE OF
THE MOST EXCITING THINGS WITH
THE LAND BOARD AND WORKING
WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE IDAHO
DEPARTMENT OF LANDS IS THE
GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY.
YES, WE DO HARVEST TIMBER ON
OUR ENDOWMENT LANDS FOR OUR
SCHOOLS.
THAT'S A GIVEN.
BUT NOW SINCE 2015, THE GOOD
NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY CAME INTO
THIS STATE AND WOULD ALLOW US
THE STATE TO GO INTO THE
FEDERL LANDINGS AND ACTUALLY
SURVEY, CRUISE IT, MARKET IT
AND AUCTION IT OFF.
THE STATE WOULD GET THE
PROCEEDS FROM THOSE FUNDS.
WHICH IS EXCITING, BECAUSE
THEN WE CAN GO ON AND KEEP
CLEANING UP THE FOREST BECAUSE
THE POOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
TIED UP IN LEGISLATION AND LAW
SUITS SO OFTEN THEY CAN'T DO
THE REAL CHARGE.
IT WOULD BE NICE, THOUGH, IF
THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LANDS
COULD BE FUNDED MORE SO FROM
THE RESOURCES THAN THEY
CURRENTLY ARE.
BECAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER WITH
THE FOREST SERVICE, BACK IN
THE '70s, BEFORE
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS CAME
DOWN, THE FOREST SERVICE WAS
SELF-SUSTAINING FOR MINING
PERMITS, FROM LOGGING PERMITS,
FROM WOOD CUTTING PERMITS, AND
IT WAS ALL TAKEN CARE OF.
BUT NOW WE'RE ALWAYS TAPPING
INTO GENERAL FUNDS, WE'RE
GETTING INTO MONEY WE DON'T
NEED TO BE GETTING INTO.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
LAND BOARD IS SELF-SUSTAINING
OFF THE RESOURCES WE USE TO
MANAGE THE LANDS.
>> Betsy Russell: SENATOR
SOUZA, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE
ABOUT THE DIRECTION THE LAND
BOARD HAS TAKEN.
>> Mary Souza: THANK YOU,
BETSY.
I'M VERY SURPRISED TO HEAR
REPRESENTATIVE MOON'S ANSWER.
BECAUSE WE HAVE LOST HERE IN
IDAHO, WE HAVE LOST 40% OF OUR
FOREST FIREFIGHTERS, AND --
BECAUSE OUR PAY LEVEL IS LESS
THAN A FAST FOOD BURGER
FLIPPER.
AND THEY HAVE GONE TO OTHER
STATES OR TO FEDERAL SYSTEMS.
IN THE PAST, THIS PAST
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, IDAHO
DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, THEIR
BUDGET BILL CAME THROUGH WITH
A SLIGHT INCREASE IN BASE PAY
FOR THE WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS,
UP TO $15 AN HOUR.
AND SEPARATE BILL CAME THROUGH
FOR HAZARD PAY FOR THOSE
FOREST FIREFIGHTERS, BECAUSE
THAT IS WHAT ALL OF OUR
SURROUNDING STATES AND THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE
OFFERING.
REPRESENTATIVE MOON VOTED NO
ON EACH OF THOSE BILLS.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO BE
REASONABLE WHEN WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT
RISK ON THE FIRE LINES.
WE NEED TO PROTECT THEM AND WE
NEED TO PROTECT OUR FOREST,
WHICH GIVE US THE RESOURCES
AND THE GOOD NEIGHBOR
AUTHORITY IS GREAT.
BUT NONE OF THE SALES OF THAT
TIMBER GO INTO OUR ENDOWMENT.
AND IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LANDS
TOLD ME THAT THEMSELVES.
SO WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE THE
ENDOWMENT, AND WE USE IT FOR
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT
WE HAVE TO ALSO TAKE CARE OF
OUR GRAZING LAND AND ALL OF
THE OTHER ISSUES THAT COME
BEFORE THE LAND BOARD.
>> Melissa Davlin: WE'RE
ALMOST OUT OF TIME, BUT I'LL
GIVE YOU 20 SECONDS.
>> Dorothy Moon: I'VE GOT A
COMMENT THAT I DIDN'T VOTE FOR
IT.
NO, I DIDN'T.
ONE BUCKET IS CALLED GENERAL
FUNDS AND THE OTHER BUCKET OF
MONEY IS THE FIGHTING FUNDS
ASSESSMENT THAT EVERY PERSON
WHO LIVES NEAR THE FOREST, BE
IT BOISE, CHALICE, WE GET
STUCK WITH THE FEE.
I PAY $55 A YEAR EVERY YEAR TO
GO TOWARD FUEL SUPPRESSION AND
OTHER THINGS THEY'RE PUTTING
OUT FOREST FIRES.
THE FACT OF THE MATT
HASSELBECK IS, THAT MONEY WAS
$9 MILLION THAT WENT TO THE
IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LANDS,
THEY CAN USE THAT MONEY TO PAY
EXTRA MONEY TO FIREFIGHTERS.
IT SHOULD NOT BE COMING OUT OF
STATE GENERAL FUNDS.
>> Melissa Davlin: VERY TO
LEAVE IT THERE BECAUSE WE'RE
ALMOST OUT OF TIME.
>> MAXIMUM OF $400,000 --
>> Melissa Davlin: THANK YOU.
THE LAST QUESTION IS FROM
KELCIE, AND YOU'LL EACH HAVE
45 SECONDS TO ANSWER.
>> Kelcie Moseley-Morris: THE
SECRETARY OF STATE IS ALSO
RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLICLY
TRACKING ELECTED OFFICIALS,
CAMPAIGN DONATIONS.
BUT THEY'VE ALSO BEEN
CRITICIZED AS BEING TOOTHLESS
WITH LOW PENALTIES FOR
VIOLATIONS.
SHOULD THE ENFORCEMENT
MECHANISM FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE
LAW BE STRONGER?
FIRST ANSWER TO SENATOR SOUZA.
>> Mary Souza: THANK YOU,
KELCIE.
I WILL PLAN, AS SECRETARY OF
STATE, TO SIT DOWN WITH ALL
INTERESTED PARTIES AND REVIEW
OUR SUNSHINE CAMPAIGN
DONATIONS LAWS.
BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN --
THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES HERE
AND THERE IN THE LAWS, BUT
NOTHING CONSISTENT ACROSS THE
BOARD.
AND SO I THINK WE HAVE A BUMPY
RIDE.
I'VE HAD ALL KINDS OF
COMPLAINTS AS I'VE BEEN AROUND
THIS STATE.
THERE ARE SOME GROUPS THAT ARE
CLAIMING THAT THEY ARE HAVING
A RAFFLE, THEY'VE BEEN HAVING
A RAFFLE FOR A T-SHIRT OR HAT,
AND PEOPLE PUT $5 IN FOR A
TICKET, AND THEY ARE TOLD BY
THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
OFFICE THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE
EVERYBODY'S NAME, ADDRESS, ALL
OF THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION
FOR THAT $5 DONATION.
SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A
CONSISTENT, AND WE HAVE TO SIT
DOWN AND WORK OUT SOMETHING
THAT HAS COMMON SENSE AND WORK
FOR IDAHO.
>> Dorothy Moon: THE DARK
MONEY IS A CONCERN OF MINE,
AND I'M SURE FOR EVERYBODY IN
THIS ROOM.
BUT THE DARK MONEY IS A BIG
CONCERN, OUT OF STATE
INFLUENCE COMING IN OUR
DIRECTION, THE FACT OF THE
MATTER IS THERE'S A LOT OF
PACS THAT POP UP, THERE WILL
BE ONE GROUP THAT MAKES
MULTIPLE PACs.
I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
THIS AS FAR AS THIS HIDDEN
MONEY THAT KEEPS MAKING ITS
WAY TO CANDIDATES, FOR
DIFFERENT GROUPS.
OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK THE
REPORTING, THE MONTHLY
REPORTING ESPECIALLY NOW
THEY'VE GOT THE COMPUTER
PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING, AS
MANY OF YOU KNOW, YOU TRIED TO
LOOK BACK IN DECEMBER AND
NOVEMBER, IT WAS VERY
DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S WEBSITE.
THANKFULLY IT IS UP AND
RUNNING AND IT'S PRETTY EASY
TO NAVIGATE.
WE DO NEED TO WORK ON THE
REPORT, THERE'S SOME THINGS
THAT NEED TO BE WORKED ON.
>> Phil McGrane: I'M PROUD TO
HAVE WORKED ON THIS ISSUE AND
TRIED TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY
IN GOVERNMENT HERE IN IDAHO.
SPECIFICALLY ON CAMPAIGN
FINANCE LAWS.
I WORK CLOSELY WITH THE
INTERIM COMMITTEE ON CAMPAIGN
FINANCE REFORM, FOUR YEARS AGO
TO IMPROVE OUR SYSTEM.
IT USED TO BE IN IDAHO THAT
THERE WERE 79 DIFFERENT
ENTITIES IN WHICH PEOPLE WOULD
REPORT PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FINANCE
INFORMATION.
IT WAS INACCESSIBLE.
EVEN THE LEGALLY REPORTED
INFORMATION WAS DIFFICULT TO
FIND OUT WHO WAS GIVING TO
WHOM, WHERE THE MONEY WAS
GOING.
WE CONSOLIDATED ALL OF THAT
INTO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
OFFICE IN ONE SOURCE.
SO ANYONE CAN LOOK AT THAT
INFORMATION.
WE CONTINUE TO NEED TO
IMPROVE.
I AGREE GREATER TRANSPARENCY
IS IMPORTANT.
THAT INCLUDES THE MONTHLY
REPORTING THAT WE HAVE.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED
TO DO IS MAKE IT EASIER FOR
CANDIDATES TO COMPLY.
IF WE CAN IMPROVE OUR LAWS TO
MAKE THEM SIMPLER FOR PEOPLE
TO COMPLY WE CAN BEGIN TO
BETTER ENFORCE OUR LAWS TO
HOLD THOSE TRYING TO INFLUENCE
OUR POLITICIANS ACCOUNTABLE.
>> Melissa Davlin: IT IS TIME
FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS AND
CLERK MCGRANE YOU'RE UP FIRST.
>> Phil McGrane: THANK YOU,
AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO
WORKED TO PUT THIS ON.
IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT
STANDS OUT IS JUST THANK YOU
TO YOU AS A VIEWER FOR
WATCHING AND BEING INFORMED
AND ENGAGED.
OUR REPUBLIC DEPENDS ON PEOPLE
LIKE YOU.
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU
TAKE AWAY, PLEASE VOTE.
THE ELECTION IS ON MAY 17th.
AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
ELECTION FOR OUR STATE.
AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT
IDAHOANS COME OUT AND VOTE IN
OUR PRIMARY.
SO MANY RACES WILL BE
DETERMINED HERE.
I HOPE THAT IT HAS STOOD OUT.
I'VE SPENT MY ENTIRE CAREER
WORKING ON ELECTIONS AND
MAKING SURE IDAHO'S ELECTIONS
STAND OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND I WILL CONTINUE AS
SECRETARY OF STATE TO FIGHT TO
PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF OUR
ELECTIONS GOING FORWARD, AND
WILL BUILD ON OUR SYSTEM.
AS I MENTIONED IN THE
BEGINNING, I'M PROUD TO BE AN
IDAHOAN, I'M PROUD OF THE
VALUES I WAS RAISED ON, AND I
WANT MY KIDS TO BE JUST AS
BLESSED AS I HAVE.
I'M PHIL McGRANE, AND I'M
RUNNING TO BE YOUR NEXT
REPUBLICAN SECRETARY OF STATE.
>> Melissa Davlin: SENATOR
SOUTH.
>> Mary Souza: THANK YOU,
MELISSA.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE
ORGANIZED THIS EVENING.
THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION AND MY
MEMBERSHIP IN THE -- ON THE
SELECTION PROJECT HAS BROUGHT
ME CLOSE TO THESE PEOPLE.
THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION DID A
REVIEW, AN ELECTION INTEGRITY
SCORE CARD FOR EVERY STATE.
IDAHO IS RANKED 38th OUT OF
50.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN
IDAHO TO SECURE OUR ELECTIONS.
BUT IT'S A BIT LIKE GOING OUT
TO GET IN YOUR CAR IN THE
MORNING AND YOU REALIZE YOU'VE
LEFT THE GARAGE DOOR OPEN.
YOU LOOK AROUND, YOU CHECK
EVERYTHING, IT LOOKS OKAY.
AND YOU FEEL RELIEVED.
BUT YOU KNOW THE NEIGHBOR DOWN
THE STREET AND OTHER PEOPLE IN
PROBLEMS WITH THEFT AND
DAMAGE.
SO YOU -- DO YOU LEAVE THE
DOOR OPEN THE NEXT NIGHT?
OF COURSE NOT.
YOU CLOSE IT.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO HERE IN
IDAHO.
BECAUSE OF MY BACKGROUND ON
THE HONEST SELECTION PROJECT,
AND THE INFORMATION FROM THE
HERITAGE FOUNDATION, WE KNOW
WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO SECURE
OUR ELECTIONS IN IDAHO.
I HAVE A LIST, I'M WILLING TO
DO IT.
WE HAVE TO SECURE OUR VOTE
BECAUSE IT IS THE BASIS OF ALL
OF OUR FREEDOMS.
I'M SENATOR MARY SOUZA RUNNING
FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, AND I
WILL SECURE THE ELECTION
SYSTEM AND PROTECT YOUR VOTE.
>> Melissa Davlin: THANK YOU,
SENATORS.
>> Dorothy Moon: THANK YOU FOR
PUTTING THIS FORUM ON, IT'S
BEEN ENJOYABLE.
I'M AGAIN DOROTHY MOON, AND I
DO WANT TO BE YOUR NEXT
SECRETARY OF STATE.
I KNOW OUTSIDE INFLUENCES COME
INTO THIS STATE, THE GOOD
SENATOR HAS GONE AFTER THE
CLERK ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS
ABOUT TAKING ZUCKERBERG MONEY,
BUT SHE'S ALSO VOTED FOR A
METADATA CENTER, AND NOW
ZUCKERBERG WILL HAVE A
PERMANENT FOOTPRINT.
HE'S HERE, BUT THE SAD PART
IS, AS A RESOURCE PERSON THAT
DATA CENTER IS GOING TO TAKE
70,000 GALLONS OF WATER FROM
OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY.
WE'VE GOT TO BE VERY WISE WHEN
WE MAKE SLOATS.
I DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT, SHE DID.
AGAIN, MR. MCGRANE TOOK THE
ZUCKERBERG MONEY.
WE NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN LOOK
DEEPER INTO A BILL AND ALSO
LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE.
AND THE BIG PICTURE IDAHO
WANTS TO REMAIN IDAHO.
WE WANT TO KEEP OUR RURAL
VALUES.
WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE BIG
GLOBALIST TECH COMPANIES
COMING IN TO THIS STATE.
AT LEAST NOT FROM THE PEOPLE I
HEAR FROM.
I WOULD DEFINITELY WORK TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE SHORE UP OUR
ELECTIONS AND THAT WE HAVE
FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN OUR
REPUBLIC WILL BE SALVAGED
BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DO THE
RIGHT THING HERE IN ISES AND
I'M DOROTHY MOON RUNNING FOR
SECRETARY OF STATE.
>> Melissa Davlin: THAT'S ALL
THE TIME WE HAVE.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, WE'LL
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS.
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