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Former candidate facing felony charges for allegedly filing false petition signatures

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Illinois

* Last August…

An objection has been filed against the nominating papers of Donny Anderson, who is running as a Republican in the 18th District for the Sangamon County Board. […]

The three [petition objectors] allege that Anderson filed papers that included signatures of persons not registered to vote or not registered at the proper address; that some people did not personally sign their own names and that some signers’ addresses were incomplete.

Gray said Anderson would have had to submit nine valid signatures to get on the ballot.

Nine valid signatures. Nine. Keep that in mind.

* The next day…

A Republican-appointed candidate for the Sangamon County Board seat in District 18 has withdrawn his nominating papers.

Donny Anderson, whose nominating papers had been challenged on several fronts, withdrew his nominating papers late Wednesday afternoon.

* Today…

Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a former candidate for Sangamon County Board was arraigned on charges he knowingly delivered forged candidacy petition signatures, resulting in those petitions being filed with the Sangamon County Clerk.

Attorney General Raoul charged Donald Anderson, 44, of Springfield, Illinois, with four counts of perjury, Class 3 felonies punishable by up to five years in prison, and four counts of forgery, Class 3 felonies punishable by up to five years in prison. Anderson was indicted by a Sangamon County grand jury on May 24 and pleaded not guilty on Thursday in Sangamon County Circuit Court. His next court date is scheduled for July 31.

“Any candidate for public office in Illinois must follow election law, which starts with obtaining genuine signatures from members of your community,” Raoul said. “Individuals who aspire to serve the public in elected office cannot violate the public’s trust from the outset, and I appreciate the work of the Springfield Police Department in investigating this case.”

According to Raoul, Anderson was a candidate for Sangamon County Board in the July 2022 election and is accused of delivering both pages of his candidate petitions with signatures that were not genuine. According to Raoul, Anderson falsely swore in his circulator’s affidavit that he observed the voters sign the petition in his presence, and that the signatures were genuine. Anderson withdrew his petition for the Sangamon County Board before the election took place.

The Springfield Police Department assisted in investigating this case.

“The election process is one of the most integral components of identifying leaders in our communities,” Springfield Police Chief Ken Scarlette said. “Those who seek election must demonstrate moral turpitude, both during elections and once in office. Mr. Anderson violated this sacred tradition in an attempt to defraud the constituents. As demonstrated in this investigation, the Springfield Police Department remains committed to thorough investigations which result in justice being fairly administered.”

The public is reminded that the defendant is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Assistant Attorney General Mara Somlo is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s Public Integrity Bureau.

Dude allegedly couldn’t be bothered to find nine qualified people to sign his petitions. And now he’s looking at 8 felony counts. Unreal.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 9:58 am

Comments

Lemme guess. Weaponization of the AG office.

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 10:03 am
You’d have 9 neighbors, co-workers, etc. This wouldn’t be hard, why would you just not do it?

Comment by Lincoln Lad Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 10:10 am
He was going up against Sam Cahnnan. Leave it to the Sangamon County GOP to screw this up.

Comment by FIREDup! Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 10:10 am
I could get that many without having to leave the house. Dude has no friends?

Comment by Sangamo Girl Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 10:15 am
Dude could have sat at a Casey’s and gotten 9 valid signatures in under an hour. Yikes

Comment by StealYourFace Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 10:18 am
Clearly a politically motivated attack. Remember, fellow patriots, if the Soros-funded deep state can come after poor Donny Anderson for something as trivial as felony forgery and election fraud, they can do the same to you.

Comment by Roadrager Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 10:18 am
This is Santos-level incompetence.
I fully expect him to be written-in and win.

Comment by Bothanspied Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 10:24 am
The law and order party.

Comment by Big Dipper Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 10:30 am
=He was going up against Sam Cahnnan.=

Whose real ambitions during that race was trying to regain his old Springfield Ward 5 seat and in the process got his clock cleaned by Lakeisha Purchase.

Comment by Stuck in Celliniland Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 10:45 am
Keeping party, partisan thoughts out for just a minute… whew.

Ok, let’s look at this.

The guy can’t find 9 folks in a whole county district that can sign for him?

That’s an indictment… and indictment of laziness, lacking ethics, and treating any office as a contract with voters based on… trust and honesty.

It’s a personal character flaw. Full stop.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 10:45 am
That’s astonishing. How can you not find NINE signatures? Has he no friends? Has he no family? No co-workers?

No one likes him? He’s lazy as heck? What?

This is so weird.

Comment by JoanP Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 11:02 am
Just astonishing. Expect this to be picked up by maybe even national news it is so ridiculous. Am curious what his social media posts look like.

Comment by Original Rambler Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 11:08 am
Nine? I could fine 9 valid signatures on my block!
What kind of cave does he live in?

Comment by cermak_rd Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 11:18 am
“No one likes him? He’s lazy as heck? What?”

It is an expression of contempt for the rules, for those who follow the rules, and for those charged with enforcing the rules.

One need only look at today’s headlines to see how endemic such behavior has become.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 11:36 am
“must demonstrate moral turpitude”?? Look that one up…

Comment by Behind the Scenes Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 11:52 am
I bet he’s really kicking himself now for using invisible ink during his petition drive.

Comment by Proud Papa Bear Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 12:57 pm
I had a boss who used to harass my colleague and I that we hadn’t truly experienced silly season or seen anything unless we’d worked in Democratic politics.

I hope they’re online today and see this post. Your move.

Comment by Dirty Red Friday, Jun 9, 23 @ 2:57 pm