Oy
Wednesday, Feb 9, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
This can’t be a good thing.
Jim Gumm says he will officially drop out of the race for Milton Township Assessor today after his own investigation found support for claims of fraudulent signatures on his nominating petitions.
The claims first surfaced last week when Milton Township Republican Committeeman Joe Nesbitt filed an objection to Gumm’s petitions. The objection cited as many as 750 invalid and possibly forged signatures.
Nearly all of the signatures in question appeared on petitions circulated by political consultant Rod McCulloch. […]
“I don’t know why this guy has done what he’s done,” Gumm said. “I don’t want to speculate, but I don’t think a person like this should be able to stay in the business.
“He’s ruined me,” he said. “It’s a big hurt right now. But what’s right is right. If these signatures aren’t right, I’m not going to use them.”
Not using them means Gumm does not have the required number of signatures to get on the April 5 ballot. […]
Neither McCulloch, nor Nesbitt’s attorney Keri-Lyn Krafthefer could be reached for comment Monday evening.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 9, 05 @ 1:27 pm:
Rodney once worked for a pollster who has a reputation for making things up, so I’m not surprised by this. He learned his lessons well. Do you think his political career is over?
- JTrigg - Wednesday, Feb 9, 05 @ 6:59 pm:
Gumm should have investigated those signatures before he filed them, so I don’t feel a bit sorry for him not being on the ballot. McCulloch should probably be investigated and charged if appropriate and I know I’d never hire him to petition or consult ever again.
Here’s an even more tragic story about petition signature silly business from Galesburg.
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/020305/REG_B5FT8IQF.049.shtml
“A candidate for city treasurer withdrew from the race Wednesday after allegations arose that his petitions for office included the “signatures” of dead people.
Former Knoxville City Administrator Ron White, who quit the race for Galesburg treasurer after a challenge to his petitions filed Tuesday, also is the subject of a Galesburg Police Department investigation.
Police Lt. David Clague said the probe was triggered by a signature on White’s nominating petitions that purportedly was that of a Galesburg resident who now lives out of state.”
And then this two days later.
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/020505/REG_B5GDG79I.033.shtml
“Former Knoxville city administrator and recent Galesburg city treasurer candidate Ron White was pronounced dead Friday in what police are calling an apparent suicide at his parents’ Lake Bracken home.
White, the subject of a police investigation into alleged wrongdoings in his bid for treasurer, was pronounced dead at 12:25 a.m. at 1116 Windcrest Acres.
Police say White, 45, 1445 Spruce Ave., was found in his father’s pickup in the enclosed garage of his parents’ empty home with a briefcase sitting next to him containing personal items. Police believe White ran an aluminum pipe from the tailpipe into the cab. An empty bottle of prescription sleeping pills also was found in the cab.”
Criminal investigations on stuff like this are extremely rare. No one cared about the “monkey business” from Topinka or the notary on Keyes’ candidacy filing, but they investigate the little guy in Knoxville. Arbitrary or politically un-connected comes to mind.