Ramsey, Skillern Praise Ousted Election Chief
posted April 14, 2005
Election Administrator Fran Dzik resigned Wednesday night, saying she was doing so under pressure of a hostile work environment. And three staff members have apparently departed with her.
Shannon DeFriese, Becky Bumgardner and Sherry Sivley were gone from the office Thursday morning. Interim Administrator Bud Knowles said he was told they are taking annual leave days Thursday and Friday. He said, "We will know on Monday if they are coming back."
All three had been hired by Ms. Dzik. Ms. DeFriese was in charge of computer programming for the office, and Ms. Bumgardner was her backup.
Ms. Dzik said she "resigned on my own terms and timetable, although within a hostile environment of fabricated allegations created to support the political power base agenda and nepotism of others."
County Mayor Claude Ramsey praised Ms. Dzik, calling her "an outstanding public official who did her job well. I never had any reason to question her integrity or her dedication to the job. I'm sorry to see her go."
County Commission Chairman Fred Skillern also said he regretted the departure of Ms. Dzik. He said, "I was very comfortable with the way she ran the office and with the integrity of the office. It is wrong for people to have to work under these type conditions."
Ms. Dzik submitted the resignation in a letter to commissioner Mike Walden, who has been supportive of her.
Mr. Walden said earlier this week he expects new Democrats on the commission to name outgoing commissioner Tyrone Waller as the new administrator.
New Democratic commissioners are Karen Lee, Linda Morris-Avila and Dorothy Eddington. Bart Quinn is a new Republican commissioner. The commissioners are named by the state legislative delegation.
Ms. Dzik at one time was chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party, but she recently has been allied with Republicans. She recently attended the Lincoln Day Dinner of the county GOP and was given a standing ovation.
County Commissioner Curtis Adams, who recently switched from Democrat to Republican, said he will have comments about the Dzik ouster during a speech to the Pachyderm Club on Monday. He said he expects Ms. Dzik will attend.
Ms. Dzik said, "Today I have tendered my letter of resignation as Administrator of Elections of the Hamilton County Election Commission to Commissioner Mike Walden. I have resigned my position upon my own terms and time table, although within a hostile environment of fabricated allegations created to support the political power base agenda and nepotism of others.
"When an administrator has illegally been stripped of their authority to lead, supervise and progress, they can no longer effectively fulfill the duties and responsibilities to the candidates and to the people whom they serve.
"I am very proud of the accomplishments of my staff. Many of them are dedicated people who faithfully assisted me in bringing the Hamilton County Election Commission into the 21st century. Together, we brought advanced technology and professional skills to the dynamics of the election process. In every election throughout my tenure, we delivered fair, honest and efficient election results at record speeds and always under budget. For their loyalty and hard work, I will be forever grateful.
"I want to thank the people of Hamilton County for allowing me to serve so close to the heart of our democracy. Commissioners Mike Walden and Luanne DeWitt have served with impartial distinction and unquestioned integrity. I also want to thank Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey, Chairman Fred Skillern, members of the Hamilton County Commission, the Chattanooga City Council, Judge Bob Moon, and so many other elected officials and citizens of Hamilton County who have been so very supportive and encouraging to me. I am also grateful to the Hamilton County Republican Party for their collective support and warm embrace. My husband, Joe, and my family have also been a great source of strength and comfort to me throughout these difficult times. To all of these wonderful people, I say thank you for the many kind considerations that you have shared with me.
"I hope that the cornerstone memory of my administration will be that of a producer of fair, honest and efficient elections. There has never been a time in American history when the need for responsible leadership at every level of government is more crucial to our existence as a free nation. Likewise, it is the election process that delivers that leadership and perpetuates our basic fundamental liberties. I am so very grateful to have been given the wonderful opportunity to promote, protect and preserve the American electoral process as the Administrator of Elections for Hamilton County."
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