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Young takes signature fight to Johnston
(Thu, Jul 31 08) - Contributed by MOORE, RUSSELL J. By
RUSSELL J. MOORE
Democrat Senatorial candidate Christopher Young challenged signatures
gathered on Sen. Jack Reed’s behalf at a raucous Board of Canvassers
meeting last Thursday. At a meeting in Johnston Town Hall last Thursday,
perennial candidate Young, who received 26 percent of the vote against
Providence Mayor David Cicilline in the Democratic primary of 2006, and 19
percent of the vote in the U.S. Senate primary against Sheldon Whitehouse and
Carl Sheeler that same year, said certain signatures Johnston residents
provided on Reed’s behalf appeared to have been forged; a felony under
election law.
Young said the case had precedent. In 2002, former State Rep. Aisha W.
Abdullah-Odiase was investigated and indicted by a Providence County
Grand Jury on three counts of election fraud after the Providence Board of
Canvassers noticed numerous signatures that appeared fraudulent on her
nomination papers. At the canvassers meeting, Young requested a grand jury
investigation into whether or not the signatures were indeed forged. Even if
the signatures were found to be fraudulent, it wouldn’t affect Reed’s
appearance on the ballot in September. He had far in excess of the 1,000
required signatures.
But Young, during a series of interviews, said the issue was about selective
enforcement. The rules only seem to matter, Young said, when the people in
question aren’t politically connected. “I’m not questioning whether or not
Reed can appear on the ballot. I’m questioning whether or not these signatures
were forged,” he said.
Earlier this year, Republican candidates in Providence and West Warwick ,
appointed by the party chairman, have been kept off the ballot because the
party didn’t follow the correct protocol. A series of other candidates, such as
Republican Dana Peloso from Warren , are being investigated as to whether
or not their signatures are valid.
But at the canvassers’ meeting in Johnston , which featured a lot of back and
forth screaming between Young and the canvassing members, Young was
accused of publicly presuming the board would support him. “Did you go on
talk radio saying we agreed with you?”asked Chairwoman Elizabeth D’
Agostino.
In response, Young said an alternate member told him his accusations
appeared to have merit. Board member Joseph Falvo said the board would
have trouble finding out whether or not the signatures were actually forged
because “We’re not handwriting experts. Are you?” “You’re just trying to
make a big show of this,” added Falvo.
Young then said he thought the board should either turn the matter over to the
state police or call for a grand jury to investigate.
“That’s not up to you,” replied D’Agostino.
At that point, Young called into question the integrity and impartiality of the
board itself. To prove his point, he produced a document that showed Mayor
Joseph Polisena had gathered signatures "for Jack Reed" without addresses on
them, which were then affirmed by the canvasser’s office.“There clearly was
a rubber stamp put on Mr. Polisena’s document,” said Young. “Given that, I
have to question the impartiality of this board.”
That statement infuriated the board, in particular former independent
councilman Joseph Falvo, who served more than 20 years on the Town
Council. Falvo then asked if Young knew of his record and reputation.
But as soon as Young heard Falvo say, “Do you know who I am,” he thought
he was being threatened.
“I don’t care who you think you are. I don’t care who you know. And I don’t
care what you do. All I care about is these signatures,” screamed Young.
Reed, when contacted, said he wasn’t aware of the situation.“I know nothing
about that,” Reed said.
At that point, it was clear that the meeting had gotten out of hand and Police
Chief Richard Tamburini was called. Almost immediately after his arrival,
the board decided to adjourn. Yesterday, Falvo said the board will meet in the
near future to determine whether or not the signatures were in fact valid and, if
so, what course of action to take.
Young, for his part, said if he doesn’t hear back from the board shortly, he
will take the case to the FBI’s Boston bureau.
Polisena said yesterday he was aware some people who signed the
nomination papers "for Jack Reed" that he collected failed to provide their
addresses, but he didn’t want to bother them a second time by asking them to
include it. Instead, he said he thought the board would turn down the
signatures and the situation wouldn’t be a big deal. He noted he has no
authority over the board of canvassers and pointed out the council actually
appoints the members. Polisena also said in his opinion, the board of
canvassers does a fine job.
option=com_content&task=view&id=38131&Itemid=174
Young takes signature fight to Johnston
(Thu, Jul 31 08) - Contributed by MOORE, RUSSELL J. By
RUSSELL J. MOORE
Democrat Senatorial candidate Christopher Young challenged signatures
gathered on Sen. Jack Reed’s behalf at a raucous Board of Canvassers
meeting last Thursday. At a meeting in Johnston Town Hall last Thursday,
perennial candidate Young, who received 26 percent of the vote against
Providence Mayor David Cicilline in the Democratic primary of 2006, and 19
percent of the vote in the U.S. Senate primary against Sheldon Whitehouse and
Carl Sheeler that same year, said certain signatures Johnston residents
provided on Reed’s behalf appeared to have been forged; a felony under
election law.
Young said the case had precedent. In 2002, former State Rep. Aisha W.
Abdullah-Odiase was investigated and indicted by a Providence County
Grand Jury on three counts of election fraud after the Providence Board of
Canvassers noticed numerous signatures that appeared fraudulent on her
nomination papers. At the canvassers meeting, Young requested a grand jury
investigation into whether or not the signatures were indeed forged. Even if
the signatures were found to be fraudulent, it wouldn’t affect Reed’s
appearance on the ballot in September. He had far in excess of the 1,000
required signatures.
But Young, during a series of interviews, said the issue was about selective
enforcement. The rules only seem to matter, Young said, when the people in
question aren’t politically connected. “I’m not questioning whether or not
Reed can appear on the ballot. I’m questioning whether or not these signatures
were forged,” he said.
Earlier this year, Republican candidates in Providence and West Warwick ,
appointed by the party chairman, have been kept off the ballot because the
party didn’t follow the correct protocol. A series of other candidates, such as
Republican Dana Peloso from Warren , are being investigated as to whether
or not their signatures are valid.
But at the canvassers’ meeting in Johnston , which featured a lot of back and
forth screaming between Young and the canvassing members, Young was
accused of publicly presuming the board would support him. “Did you go on
talk radio saying we agreed with you?”asked Chairwoman Elizabeth D’
Agostino.
In response, Young said an alternate member told him his accusations
appeared to have merit. Board member Joseph Falvo said the board would
have trouble finding out whether or not the signatures were actually forged
because “We’re not handwriting experts. Are you?” “You’re just trying to
make a big show of this,” added Falvo.
Young then said he thought the board should either turn the matter over to the
state police or call for a grand jury to investigate.
“That’s not up to you,” replied D’Agostino.
At that point, Young called into question the integrity and impartiality of the
board itself. To prove his point, he produced a document that showed Mayor
Joseph Polisena had gathered signatures "for Jack Reed" without addresses on
them, which were then affirmed by the canvasser’s office.“There clearly was
a rubber stamp put on Mr. Polisena’s document,” said Young. “Given that, I
have to question the impartiality of this board.”
That statement infuriated the board, in particular former independent
councilman Joseph Falvo, who served more than 20 years on the Town
Council. Falvo then asked if Young knew of his record and reputation.
But as soon as Young heard Falvo say, “Do you know who I am,” he thought
he was being threatened.
“I don’t care who you think you are. I don’t care who you know. And I don’t
care what you do. All I care about is these signatures,” screamed Young.
Reed, when contacted, said he wasn’t aware of the situation.“I know nothing
about that,” Reed said.
At that point, it was clear that the meeting had gotten out of hand and Police
Chief Richard Tamburini was called. Almost immediately after his arrival,
the board decided to adjourn. Yesterday, Falvo said the board will meet in the
near future to determine whether or not the signatures were in fact valid and, if
so, what course of action to take.
Young, for his part, said if he doesn’t hear back from the board shortly, he
will take the case to the FBI’s Boston bureau.
Polisena said yesterday he was aware some people who signed the
nomination papers "for Jack Reed" that he collected failed to provide their
addresses, but he didn’t want to bother them a second time by asking them to
include it. Instead, he said he thought the board would turn down the
signatures and the situation wouldn’t be a big deal. He noted he has no
authority over the board of canvassers and pointed out the council actually
appoints the members. Polisena also said in his opinion, the board of
canvassers does a fine job.
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making such material available in my efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic,
democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided
for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed
without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
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from the copyright owner.
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I am
making such material available in my efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic,
democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided
for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed
without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission
from the copyright owner.
| Christopher Young (Democrat) |