Opinion: Hard workers

Among the unsung heroes of this furious political brawl called a presidential race are the elections officials in Florida who worked tirelessly, under great pressure, to try to come up with a fair and accurate vote. These judges and county workers showed respect for democracy and a genuine commitment to public service.

Two county officials in particular have stood out. Judge Robert W. Lee, the chairman of Broward County's canvassing board, kept the manual recounts on track as warring lawyers tried to hijack the process. Lee showed the right mix of tolerance and strength. In Palm Beach County, the canvassing chairman, Judge Charles Burton, instilled confidence the recount was proceeding responsibly with his wit and business-like demeanor. The Palm Beach canvassing board, which worked day and night, made one major miscalculation: After several 18-hour workdays, it took Thanksgiving Day off and was unable to complete its manual recount by 5 p.m. Sunday.

Of course, the political vultures flying into the state found plenty at fault with the thoughtful approach of these canvassing boards. George W. Bush's people accused them of acting as Democratic hacks stealing the election. Gore's lawyers sued them. Katherine Harris, the state's top election officer, ignored their work, refusing to extend Sunday's recount deadline a couple of hours. "A slap in the face," Burton called her decision.

The recounts gave both candidates more votes. Far from vilifying elections workers, we owe them a debt of gratitude.

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright