untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Every election in Flint for a number of years has had allegations of wrongdoing, allegations which have never been completely explored, proven or disproven.
The last council and Mayor's race had allegations of north end gang members being paid under the table to secure absentee ballots. Some gangs near west paterson have bragged about how much they received. This years rumor is that youth and gang members are being promised jobs that are being funded by the federal government if they agree to help favored candidates.
Illegal signs in the north end are allowed if that area is suppporting certain candidates. After Kupiec's signs and others came up missing the Kildee and other Democratic signs were everywhere in the parkways . Multiple complaints to the clerks office were required to have thse signs removed and the were back within 24 hrs. Nearly all of Kildee's signs were placed illegally, some in the actual parks.
For years there have been allegations of illegal activities when it comes to absentee ballots. Mays and Goodman sued over allegation of wrongdoing on their part years ago. But allegations against them continued to be made. One news publication put out a cartoon of mays getting absentee ballots in a cemetary amidst allegations the "dead" were voting.
Then you have the misrepresentations on the actual campaign reports.
In 2006 the detroit news put out an editorial urging Michigan to put some teeth in our weak campaign finance laws (3-21-06/ 8A ). " Candidatesignore and disrespect the current system".
The editorial focused on the recall organizers in Brownstown Township who did not want voters to know that a prominent developer wa bankrolling their campaign. Their report was filed deliberately after the deadline to hide the developer who had a vested interest in who held the office. The editorial stated the voters were aware of an attempt being made to dupe them.
Thus the recall committee's deceit will only cost them a $1,000 fine for filing late.
Terry lynn land actually made a diffeence by attempting to put some teeth into the law and trying to enforce the laws.She wanted to go so far as to give the Secretary of State supoena power to audit books and bank accounts.
The news had it right by saying:
"Voters have a right to know who is spending money to influence their vote and whois donating money to influence their elected officials."
This week I was told that Eric Mays was working on the Genesee Township recall on behalf of Joubran. This is certainly not illegal and Mays has the right to earn a living. But If this is true, the campaign committee has an obligation to show the donation and amounts spent by Joubran to influence the vote. After all Joubran has a horse in this race because he is fighting those being recalled over his signs that the court has said must be removed. The law says he can spend as much as he wants because recalls have no campaign spending limits. Recalls are elections and must meet the state rules on elections otherwise.
In our mayor's race, we also have a right to know who is influencing the election. I was dismayed to see some Mott Foundation financed videos that were made by Michigan state as some portions almost seemed to be campaign pieces. If Walling uses portions of these films, I would find it suspect and concerned that these video productions were an attempt to covertly back Walling in the election.
Walling also has a foundation and a consulting business. Kilpatrick used his nonprofits to funnel money in and around his campaign. I would hope that did not happen here. |
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