May 26, 2006

"DA to examine absentee ballots"

"The Los Angeles District Attorney's office will look into allegations that the campaign for 43rd Assembly District candidate Paul Krekorian submitted absentee ballot requests with fraudulent signatures, a county official said Tuesday.

The campaign of Glendale Councilman Frank Quintero, who is also vying for the Democratic nomination to the 43rd District seat, accused Krekorian's campaign of engaging in voter fraud at a press conference Tuesday.

"This is about signature forgeries on absentee ballot applications," said Stephen Kaufman, an attorney for Quintero's campaign.

Several voters contacted Quintero's campaign offices last week about letters they had received from the registrar's office, in which they were asked to confirm absentee ballot applications they had never requested, Kaufman said. All of the applications in question were submitted by the Committee to Elect Paul Krekorian, he added.

The allegations that his campaign would tolerate any unethical behavior are "despicable and disgusting," said Krekorian in a statement to the media, adding that Tuesday's press conference was an attempt by Quintero to save his failing campaign.

"I call upon the county registrar to investigate these allegations thoroughly, carefully and immediately," Krekorian said. "There is simply no basis whatsoever for Frank Quintero's false implication that my campaign has done anything inappropriate."

The story is here.

Posted by Randy Riddle at May 26, 2006 08:36 AM