Was the 2006 RTA Election Here in Tucson Rigged?
AuditAZ, a non-partisan election integrity group has alleged that evidence and circumstances seem to indicate the possibility that the 2006 RTA election was rigged by Pima County election officials. Chairman of the Pima Supervisors, Richard Elias says the facts seem to indicate that a re-count of the original ballots is needed.
Fox 11 Arizona, July 9th, 2008
By Deanna Morgan, Fox 11 News
It’s one of the basic elements of democracy: the people vote. But some people are now saying that two years ago, your vote on one local issue didn’t count as you intended.
The allegations are serious, involving the vote counting after the 2006 election which authorized the Regional Transportation Authority. It increased the sales tax by a half-cent, but members of the Pima County Democratic Party allege they have evidence that proves the RTA plan never passed.
“We have credible evidence from the mouth of the computer operator who said that he rigged it,” says Bill Risner, the lead attorney in the case. The only evidence is an affidavit, a statement from a man who says the computer operator of the Pima County Elections Division told him at a bar on First Avenue he, quote, “fixed” the RTA election because his bosses told him to.
About 120,000 ballots are sitting in the treasurer’s office that could be destroyed, but the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors says the County would be happy to recount them. “They are the ultimate evidence, and I think they should be counted,” says Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias. Click here to read more at Fox11 Television.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
News that Pima County officials wish to destroy the actual paper ballots used in the disputed RTA election is shocking. Pima Supervisors must stop this immediately. Indeed, Richard Elias yesterday, seemed to agree that a complete re-count is needed to restore confidence. Failing to do so will severely damage public confidence in the honesty of Pima County elections.
A former county employee is offering to testify under oath about the alleged illegal tampering of the RTA election. Further, the lengthy lawsuit between Pima County and the Democratic Party has exposed “irregularities” in the process. AuditAZ, a non-partisan, election integrity group now says that facts indicate criminal behavior. The new facts must be investigated by Arizona’s Attorney General.
The fact that the Elections Department wishes to proceed, at this time, with the hasty destruction can only be seen as an illegal act of wonton proportions. Lacking swift action by the Pima Supervisors, Attorney General Terry Goddard must step in.
Voters need to find out if our elections have been corrupted and we must all demand action now.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:38 am
There’s something rotten at Pima County Division of Elections and those 2006 RTA ballots should not be destroyed, but hand counted (recounted, to instill voter confidence.) Then the new affidavit by Osmolski can be dismissed as moot.
See Garry Duffy’s article in the Tucson Citizen on this:
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/90624.php