Orlando Sentinel: 211 not good

Four blogs ago I wrote about Seminole election chief Mike Ertel outsourcing the voter information hotline to United Way. Instead of hiring citizens to man the phones (as has always been the case), Mike gave $20,000 to the United Way to let them handle it. With our primary right around the corner, I complained that no one called when I picked up. The Sentinel decided to try as well. This is what they said in today's paper:


" A quick test last week produced the following: The hold time was seven minutes, and the operator could not answer a relatively simple question about early voting. In the end, the operator recommended calling 407-708-7000--the elections supervisor's office." (Orlando Sentinel, 8/20/06)
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So, $20,000 just to be told to call the elections supervisor's office for voter information.

Thanks, Mike.