November 16, 2005

"Trustee questions voting system"

"A trustee for Colton Joint Unified School District who apparently lost his seat in the election is questioning the validity of San Bernardino County's voting system.

According to semifinal election results, incumbent Tobin Brinker lost his seat by more than 100 votes to Mel Albiso.

However, in an e-mail to the San Bernardino County registrar of voters, Brinker noted several concerns that he hoped would prompt another look at the results.

One of his concerns involved another candidate, Loretta Pearce, who garnered 4,241 San Bernardino County votes -- about 232 less than Brinker.

In his e-mail, Brinker said Pearce had no candidate statement, raised no money, and had no signs or mailers.

"Is it possible that the voting machines incorrectly registered votes for me ... as votes for Loretta Pierce (sic)?," he wrote.

Pearce said she didn't campaign because of death and illness in her family. Pearce also said many factors may have contributed to her votes. Her husband is a teacher at Colton High School, and she has friends in the area, she said.

Brinker also said some voters may have been "coerced" into voting for more than one candidate in his area.

The Press Enterprise article is here.

Posted by Randy Riddle at November 16, 2005 02:38 PM