Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Rauner taking final swing at AFSCME
Next Post: Bid on tickets through Friday night to support LSSI!
Posted in:
* Kass…
To get on the [13th Ward aldermanic] ballot, [David] Krupa was required to file 473 valid signatures of ward residents. He filed 1,703 signatures to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.
Amazingly, an organized crew — of Quakers or unicorns — walked door to door in the 13th Ward and turned in 2,796 affidavits from residents asking that their signatures for Krupa be revoked.
Do the math. That organized crew got far more affidavits of revocation of signature than were needed. Affidavits are legal documents, and notarized.
It appears many residents of Boss Madigan’s ward have left themselves open to felony perjury charges. Madigan’s ward is chock-full of workers on one government payroll or another. Felony perjury convictions would cause them to lose their government jobs.
OK, first of all, the affidavits were filed before Krupa turned in his own petitions. For lots of reasons, campaigns almost never file all the signatures they collect. It’s therefore possible that people who signed the affidavits could’ve signed Krupa’s petition, but their sheets weren’t submitted. It’s also possible that people made mistakes and thought they’d signed Krupa’s petition when they’d actually signed another one.
There’s also an allegation that 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn’s campaign workers misled people at the doors. Derrick Blakley talked to some who’d signed the affidavits. Here’s his conclusion…
Many voters said they were falsely told the revocation petitions aimed at Krupa were simply signature verifications.
Derrick never got anyone to say that on camera, but it wouldn’t surprise me if that was the case.
* Now, on to the claim that some of the affidavit signers committed felony perjury. I asked the spokesperson for the Chicago Board of Elections Commission if this was indeed a felony. He said the board was not making that claim, Krupa’s attorney is making that claim. I also asked the board for one of the affidavits that people signed. I’ve redacted some info…
* From the state election code…
The petitions, when filed, shall not be withdrawn or added to, and no signatures shall be revoked except by revocation filed in writing with the State Board of Elections, election authority or local election official with whom the petition is required to be filed, and before the filing of such petition.
* Also from the election code…
Sec. 29-10. Perjury. (a) Any person who makes a false statement, material to the issue or point in question, which he does not believe to be true, in any affidavit, certificate or sworn oral declaration required by any provision of this Code shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony.
(b) Any person who is convicted of violating this Section shall be ineligible for public employment for a period of 5 years immediately following the completion of his sentence.
So, this all hinges on intent. If anyone signed the affidavits knowing they were making a false statement, then it’s perjury. As far as I can tell, nobody has yet made that claim. And it’ll be really tough to do that in court. But if Blakley’s report is accurate, then suborning perjury might be a possible angle.
Maybe the 13th Ward should just drop this whole thing.
* Meanwhile, the Chicago Reader retweeted this, so it wound up in my timeline…
Knew I'd seen that aldermanic candidate before. https://t.co/jRG6Q83gxG
— josh terry (@JoshhTerry) December 10, 2018
* The linked story was one of those “reporter goes on safari to Trumpland” pieces from 2016. But, despite the area’s portrayal in the story, Hillary Clinton wound up winning the 13th Ward with 70 percent of the vote to Trump’s 26 percent…
The 13th, 14th, and 23rd Wards, gerrymandered into skinny puzzle pieces through the neighborhoods of Clearing and Garfield Ridge, are where a lot of the working-class white people Trump was banking on reside.
This is the land of trucks with White Sox vanity license plates, warehouses that go on for blocks, Polish bars, and Midway Airport. Little yellow brick bungalows fill the spaces between aging strip malls. You can still meet old men with Irish brogues, but Latino families have also made a home for themselves here, and the local grocery stores now carry Mexican products alongside every variety of canned vegetable and nonorganic meat.
Upon arrival Tuesday afternoon, I didn’t have to search long for ardent Trump supporters. Eighteen-year-old Dave Krupa and 53-year-old Edna Bice were standing in front of a polling place at a Centro Cristiano. Krupa waved a giant Trump flag, while Bice worked with a sign reading “Hillary for prison 2016″ and a flag with a patriotic collage of stars and stripes, a bald eagle head, and military insignia. Many a passing car and semitruck honked at them in appreciation. Some people honked and flipped the bird.
Krupa was happy to have the day off from school due to a parent-teacher conference. He describes himself as a “day-one Trump supporter” and hopes Trump’s law-and-order politics will shake up both the “inner city” (which he defined as “State and Madison”) and his own neighborhood.
“In the inner cities, if you’ve got your pants down to your ankles, and it looks like you’re a shady character, stop and frisk is the way to go,” he says, “because chances are if you have a gun you don’t have a license to carry that.”
Interesting philosophy. The accompanying photograph…
* Krupa now…
Looks like he’s cleaned himself up a bit.
* The only money Krupa has reported raising so far is $800 from himself. He’s also contributed about $3,300 in in-kinds to his own campaign, for a campaign office TV and for legal services that are not detailed. His attorney is Michael Dorf, who has been sparring with the Madigan machine for years.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:04 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Rauner taking final swing at AFSCME
Next Post: Bid on tickets through Friday night to support LSSI!
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Everything Trump Touches Dies. That picture will follow him for the rest of his life as history tears apart the Trump legacy.
Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:14 pm
“because chances are if you have a gun you don’t have a license to carry that.”
Why would someone need a license to exercise a fundamental constitutional right?
Comment by Anon E Moose Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:14 pm
Well, that explains why Kass is taking up his cause. This fits his “white conservatives are the real victims of society” worldview.
Comment by AlphaBettor Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:14 pm
I take it this guy does’t exactly have a positive view of the African-American community. “In the inner cities, if you’ve got your pants down to your ankles, and it looks like you’re a shady character, stop and frisk is the way to go.” - Mr. Dog Whistle
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:15 pm
2:15 is me.
Comment by Stark Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:16 pm
THIS is the guy that has the 13th Ward so frightened they’ve gone to extraordinary lengths to deny him a spot on the ballot? Really? They’re afraid of this guy?
How weak is Quinn that he can’t beat this kid head-to-head?
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:17 pm
Anon, probably something with his perspective of those who look “like you’re a shady character.”
I wonder what that means…(eyeroll)
Is it any surprise that Kass is carrying water for this dude?
Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:17 pm
Small wonder Kass loves this piece of work.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:20 pm
Oh man. Let this guy on the ballot. He’ll get posterized.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:21 pm
Oh. Kass. Never mind.
Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:22 pm
=== Maybe the 13th Ward should just drop this whole thing. ===
Interesting point, Rich. They still may be able to kick Krupa off the ballot even if they decide to withdraw their objection based on the revocations. There are other reasons that were cited in the objection (which is available on the Chicago Board of Elections website) that can be used to invalidate signatures.
For example, certain signatures will be discounted because the signors were not registered at the address listed on the petition or they live outside the Ward. Also, certain signatures may be deemed to be not genuine. Most importantly, however, because this is a municipal election, petitions signors are only permitted to sign for one candidate per race. So if a signor signed for both Marty Quinn and David Krupa, only one of those signatures will count. From the looks of the objection, there were a significant number of affidavits filed from those that signed both petitions indicating that they want their signature for Quinn to stand over Krupa. Depending on how this shakes out, Krupa may still not have enough signatures to remain on the ballot even if the Ward withdraws its objection based on the revocations discussed above.
Its a complicated process, and I do not understand for the life of me why Kasper doesn’t do his client a favor and explain this process to the public so that his client isn’t being bombarded with negative press based on allegations of wrongdoing.
Comment by Powdered Whig Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:24 pm
This kid has a lot of baggage for being so young. Still, never under estimate the voting public. Plenty of less than stellar candidates have been elected. Some just recently.
Comment by SSL Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:25 pm
He had me at the “inner city” is State and Madison.
I think Kass has found a worthy successor to Ray Wardingley. William Kelly must be burning.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:27 pm
“Oh. Kass. Never mind.”
100% The Tribune once got me to click on a Kass story because they hadn’t added his name to the front like they usually do. I’ve rarely felt so betrayed by a deception.
Comment by lakeside Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:28 pm
=== How weak is Quinn that he can’t beat this kid head-to-head? ===
He would destroy this kid head-to-head. At least 80-20. If this kid makes the ballot, however, the 13th Ward will give this kid the “Tier 1″ effort because the Ward doesn’t know how to take their foot off the gas.
Comment by Powdered Whig Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:31 pm
Question, does a revocation have to be in the form of an affidavit?
In one state where I did work you could do revocation signatures the same way the other side did regular signatures, which is to say just door-to-door collection or in a high-traffic area.
Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:37 pm
47th ward…. I don’t for the life of me believe that Alderman Quinn is scared by any means of this 19 year old trump lover. I do believe that he was trying to protect his ward of being deceived by a republican who was posing as a democrat trying to obtain signatures needed to get on the ballot.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:38 pm
It’s just Kass printing another biased one sided story on Madigan.
Comment by Old news Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:40 pm
Anonymous at 2:38 PM: It’s a non-partisan election.
Comment by Tri State Tollway Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:40 pm
I wonder how many people they approached didn’t sign one?
There seems like there would be some sort of legal ‘risk’ in signing a form that says
If I was called to testify I could testify to X and it turns out that sort of testimony would be incorrect.
If they were called to testify to that and did then evidence was provided they were incorrect, that would seem to imply some sort of issue.
if you are called to testify, I would think you would be under oath, might be wrong about that.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:46 pm
Tri state tollway….
Understood. However many of us (13th ward resident) were unaware of Krupa and his past. We were misled when he came to our door
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:48 pm
===I do believe that he was trying to protect his ward of being deceived by a republican…===
Oh please. I would suggest the best way to do that is mount a vigorous campaign and so inform the voters instead of going to extraordinary lengths to prevent a campaign in the first place.
They are giving this kid oxygen. It’s dumb and it could backfire. They should take care of him the old-fashioned way: by exposing him as a nut job who is grossly unqualified to be Alderman.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:55 pm
I do not understand why they didn’t just leave him to appear on the ballot so he could lose the race the old fashioned way. The skullduggery of the “Quakers or unicorns” that prompted all this publicity seems so unnecessary and juvenile.
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 2:56 pm
==Many voters said they were falsely told the revocation petitions aimed at Krupa were simply signature verifications.==
It clearly says Revocation in the headline in bold and in the copy, not verification.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 3:06 pm
Responsa…. the reason why it is getting any publicity at all is because of Madigan.
Comment by PC-19 Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 3:07 pm
Kasper would not have let the Revoke Affadavits be filed if he thought they would result in perjury charges and were illegal. Surely, he knew that most of the 2,800 people who signed the Revoke Affadavits would not show up on Krupa’s nominating petitions. He wrote many of the election laws.
Comment by "Old Timer Dem" Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 3:07 pm
47th ward…. my apologies. I forgot you know all.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 3:08 pm
===I forgot you know all===
No apology necessary, just don’t let it happen again.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 3:15 pm
=== Oh please. I would suggest the best way to do that is mount a vigorous campaign and so inform the voters instead of going to extraordinary lengths to prevent a campaign in the first place. ===
To be fair, I don’t think you understand what it means in the 13th Ward to put on a vigorous campaign. There would be a lot of financial and human resources utilized to put on such a campaign.
Comment by Powdered Whig Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 3:20 pm
I don’t think he’s an independent if he made it up to Green Bay for a DT rally.
https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2016/10/17/greenbay-trump-supporters/92062810/
Comment by Shmindependent Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 3:26 pm
–They are giving this kid oxygen. It’s dumb and it could backfire==
Agreed. If you can gather that many revocation sigs, you can turn out enough peeps to cream the kid on election day.
The real question is — has Judge Kenneally ruled yet on whether Krupa is a “real” candidate? Has anyone measured Krupa’s rumpus room/hq? Deposed his mom?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 3:28 pm
“have the day off from school due to a parent-teacher conference.”
I thought this kid was in college at DePaul. What college has parent-teacher conferences?
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 3:37 pm
–I don’t think he’s an independent if he made it up to Green Bay for a DT rally.–
So he’s a Packer fan? If that’s not disqualifying by law, it should be.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 3:37 pm
Huh?….
Trump election was in 2016, krupa was still in high school
Comment by Yo Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 3:44 pm
Yo - thanks. That is what I get for scanning the post.
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 3:52 pm
Why isn’t any of this knowledge that Rich shared with us out in the media now?
Comment by Question... Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 3:54 pm
So the kid’s a Trump supporter. Doesn’t excuse signature shenanigans from an incumbent alderman that might as well be Madigan’s son.
Comment by Chicagonk Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 3:57 pm
==Why isn’t any of this knowledge that Rich shared with us out in the media now? ==
If he stays on the ballot, it will be.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 4:02 pm
With so many “revocations” from people who hadn’t signed to begin with, they should have been drafted with some sort of qualifying language about revoking any signature “if I signed the petition” rather than saying that they did sign it.
Comment by titan Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 4:05 pm
Wow…lots of people are sure using a lot of energy to smash a gnat. Must be more than meets the eye here!
Comment by GnatsArePowerful Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 4:08 pm
I keep asking Kass why he nrver wrote about Madigan or the 13th Ward when his family owned West Lawn Finer Foods. Still waiting for an answer
Comment by Retired 126 Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 4:17 pm
Chicagonk….. have you not read any of the above information. According to the election law there are no so called “signature shenanigans”. Just a kid getting his 15 minutes of fame. Which in turn was given to him by a long time Madigan hater. Aka. Kass.
Nothing will come of this….
Comment by ChicagoPD Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 4:47 pm
In response to gnats are powerful….
My question to you is who is putting this 19 year old republican up….?
Comment by Gnatswithanagenda Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 4:49 pm
Retired 126, good point.
Comment by Good point Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 5:03 pm
@ChicagoPD - Yeah and apparently I can read a whole lot better than the people who signed the affidavit considering it clearly states “I signed the nominating petition of David Krupa.”
Comment by Chicagonk Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 5:22 pm
If the kid wants to take on the machine, he’s got to be prepared for what comes his way. Nothing was done illegal here. Let the boy get his time in the spot light.
If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen…..
Comment by ChicagoPD Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 5:37 pm
==- Question… - Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 3:54 pm:==
Because apparently Krupa’s attorney Michael Dorf–who said to John Kass that he, Dorf, encourages campaigns to commit fraud (including his current client?)–is the only election attorney in Illinois.
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Dec 13, 18 @ 8:52 am