The evidence is mounting that county election officials messed up the Council District 5 runoff election between Paul Koretz and David “Ty” Vahedi so badly that the issue will inevitably end up in court and a re-vote might be needed.
At first, officials denied there was any problem. Then, they admitted to a small problem with some absentee voters in CD5 not getting ballots with the Koretz-Vahedi race on them. Now it appears the snafu affected a wider area and was not just limited to absentees.
Koretz won the count on election day by 335 votes and widened his lead to more than 551 as uncounted votes started to be tallied — an almost insurmountable lead with 2,300 ballots still to be counted.
Westside activists have assembled this list of irregularities and want those with information to email “Westwood Hills-Terry Tegnazian” <terrteg@earthlink.net> or Laura Lake at SaveWestwoodVillage@hotmail.com:
1) Some absentee ballots did not have the CD5 race on them.
2) Some voters went to their normal polling place and were told they were not on the voting
roll and were not offered a provisional ballot.
3) 16 precincts were required to vote by mail only and the voters that tried to find a poll to
vote at were turned away.
4) Polling places that voters used in March 3rd Primary did not have voting booths with voter
guides with the 5th District race on it when voting provisionally.
5) Precincts were changed without notification.
Last week, officials acknowledged only 116 absentees didn’t get the right ballot but now admit the problem might be wider.
It’s impossible to know the full impact of the error since it’s not just the people who didn’t get a chance to vote in the election but how many would have voted if polls were where they were supposed to be, if people weren’t discouraged from voting because polling places weren’t open at all or provisional ballots given to everyone who asked.
“The County has been forthcoming and admitted they have never seen this mistake occur before, so we are in uncharted territory,” Vahedi said in an email.
“It’s impossible to know the full impact of the error since it’s not just the people who didn’t get a chance to vote in the election but how many would have voted if polls were where they were supposed to be, if people weren’t discouraged from voting because polling placed weren’t open at all or provisional ballots given to everyone who asked.”
My polling place was changed and the only notice was the ballot I received that showed the address
where I could vote. I went to the original site where I have voted many many times. It was not
in operation. Then I looked at my ballot and found the correct place to vote. There was no line. I do not think we should take anything for granted anymore, Things are more complicated than ever.
Given the closeness of the race, it looks like the errors might be enough to have changed the outcome. Yes, this may end up in litigation. If there is a new election, SLAP has another opportunity to put another nail in the coffin of Antonio Villaraigosa. We work hard to get out the anti-machine vote in CD 5 and reject one more Villaraigosa endorsement.
Ron;
Every election produces some “irregularities” or at least claims of them. You know that. And people, voters and election officials, make mistakes.
But don’t you think it is a tad irresponsible for you to be undermining the validity election on the basis of no independent investigation, statistical analysis or facts? Simply parroting the complaints of the Vahedi camp is not evidence that “a revote may be necessary.” Or that we “may never know who won the election.” That’s an awfully portentous claim.
Yes, polling places were consolidated. It was a low turnout special election — and like 10:30 a.m. comment, most voters “looked at their sample ballot and found the correct place.” And a relatively small handful of voters in one ballot group did not receive the correct ballot guide with their absentee ballot.
All of these claims are being investigated by the Registrar and a report will be issued. Virtually all remaining ballots will be counted today. We will know who won the race. Just wait a few hours. And be willing to accept the verdict of the electorate.
Parke Skelton
Actually, Parke, I think the charge of, at least, irresponsibility needs to be laid at the feet of the county.
Most voters did NOT know where to go, particularly those whose pollings places had been the same for many years. And to expect, people to pick up the change from their sample ballot is ridiculous.
In fact, the church that normally hosts elections in my area did not know until 5:30 am the day of the election that they were not going to be used. Couple that with the fact that the people working the election did not know where the other voting places were and, big surprise, turn out was not great.
My personal favorite was being handed a business solicitation from one of the poll workers as I picked up my ballot. When I asked for the supervisor to complain, I was told she was at lunch.
“But don’t you think it is a tad irresponsible for you to be undermining the validity election (sic) on the basis of no independent investigation, statistical analysis or facts?”
Why do I think Parke felt otherwise when Florida was in play for Al Gore.
Maybe he’s just a tad bias.
Parke it isn’t over till it’s over. If it weren’t for the stakeholders like SLAP this city would be in worse shape than it is. We want fair elections coming from a non-dysfuctional elections bureau.
Well good luck with that yearning for fair elections. We need an easier way to vote. Something that was useful in the 19th Century just doesn’t work and not having to show your drivers license to vote for President of the U.S., but having to show your drivers license for a neighborhood council board just borders on hilarity. Admit it.
Parke, no matter what you read on those other blogs, there are those of us who love you! Just thought you should know.
Parke Skelton is “Overall Consultant” for the Paul Koretz campaign, so yeah, he’s a tad biased.
Here’s an excerpt from the press release on Koretz’ website:
PRESS RELEASE
October 13, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5th Council Candidate Paul Koretz Announces Campaign Team
Former State Assemblymember Paul Koretz, candidate for Los Angeles City Council in the 5th District, announced his campaign team today. It includes Parke Skelton of SG&A as overall consultant, Nancy Dolan of Nancy Dolan & Associates as fundraising director and the firm of Glen-Lambert, Levey and Diener as day-to-day management.
Parke Skelton is one of Los Angeles’ most respected political consultants. He has run dozens of significant and successful campaigns spanning several decades, winning many Los Angeles city council races as well as campaigns for mayor, state controller, congress, board of equalization, state senate and state assembly.
PS: Mr. Skelton is very tight with the Mayor. I believe he worked on or ran his campaigns. Some people expect Mr. Skelton to be the campaign manager for the Mayor’s gubernatorial run.
Parke Skelton is “Overall Consultant” for the Paul Koretz campaign, so yeah, he’s a tad biased.
Here’s an excerpt from the press release on Koretz’ website:
PRESS RELEASE
October 13, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5th Council Candidate Paul Koretz Announces Campaign Team
Former State Assemblymember Paul Koretz, candidate for Los Angeles City Council in the 5th District, announced his campaign team today. It includes Parke Skelton of SG&A as overall consultant, Nancy Dolan of Nancy Dolan & Associates as fundraising director and the firm of Glen-Lambert, Levey and Diener as day-to-day management.
Parke Skelton is one of Los Angeles’ most respected political consultants. He has run dozens of significant and successful campaigns spanning several decades, winning many Los Angeles city council races as well as campaigns for mayor, state controller, congress, board of equalization, state senate and state assembly.
PS: Mr. Skelton is very tight with the Mayor. I believe he worked on or ran his campaigns. Some people expect Mr. Skelton to be the campaign manager for the Mayor’s gubernatorial run.
Geese! Have we turned into Broward County?
Why is somebody named Sandy Sand calling people geese?
This morning, I simply called on all concerned to wait until the votes were counted — particularly before issuing irresponsible pronouncements about the validity of the election. I think it is pretty darned outrageous for a “civic leader” to be denouncing an election as hopelessly compromised based solely upon the unsupported complaints of the losing candidate.
But now, the election can be called. With all but about 100 straggler votes counted Koretz (yes my client) has a 702 vote lead over Vahedi. Koretz has won 51% to 49%; close, but not recount close. Not Florida close.
Ty ran a strong and effective campaign, mobilized a large constiuency, and worked very, very hard. But unless he can produce some sworn evidence that hundreds of voters were disenfranchised — and that they would have voted for him — it is time to stop making wild accusations and accept the result.
Believe me, I have lost some close elections. It is no fun at all. But in virtually every case, I can ascribe my failure to the simple fact that I did not garner enough votes.
If you choose to believe that this election was somehow invalid, I suggest you read the report that the Registrar will issue addressing Ty’s allegations, probably tomorrow.
First of all, I am not in CD 5 so I have absolutely NO stake in this race. I have met former Assemblymember Koretz many times. In fact, I thanked him for being at City Hall to support the Neighborhood Councils when the Neighborhood Councils were out “en force” for the Budget Meeting.
On the other hand, Mr. Vahedi was:
“No on Measure B”.
I began emailing the County Registrar Recorder’s office in Norwalk early election day. I am a permanant absentee ballot voter, and my Voter Information Pamplet did not have the polling location on the outside of it. Then I looked – the purple envelope did not have my polling place on the outside either. I scanned both in, and I sent them off to Norwalk. I said that I thought they may have a problem. I was planning to turn my ballot in at my polling place that day.
Then I went to my family member’s Voter Information Pamphlet. The street address was given, but not the City. For example, I live in West Hills, but the polling place was in Woodland Hills. That made it even difficult to Mapquest.
Again, a scan, and off to Norwalk.
I was told that I would have gotten a robo call if my polling place changed between March 3rd and the May 19th elections. To my knowledge – no robo calls.
I have lived in the same house for 24 years. I have had three – four polling places in 24 years. And this was not one of them.
I do not blame the County – the City election was just as messed up.
I do agree that there could easily be some “disenfranchised voters” by mistake.
The election officials that I have met at both the City Clerk’s office and the County Recorder’s office have been extremely transparant and some of the most honest, hardest working people that I have ever met.
There has to be a better way to run elections. I just don’t know what it is.
Good luck to both candidates. I look forward to working with either of you on the City Council.
Congratulations to Paul and Parke! Job well done and hard work indeed. And also to Vahedi, a formidable opponent for sure.
I think the best thing you can do for the horribly broken CD 5 is to work together now. With two candidates who both claim to love Los Angeles and care so very much, I think that Koretz should hire Vahedi so that Koretz can tap into the neighborhood council system and what a great team they could make with their combined experience and friends. Obviously the district had a hard time making up their minds.
It would also throw those SLAP people for a loop if the perceived “enemies” were to start working together. It would prove whether or not they really wanted change though or if they are just resentful grudge holders trapped in the “no politicians” drum beat.
Hey Ron. It’s nice how you’ve paraphrased the panic email that was sent out by a Vahedi supporter asking for any victims of this election to quickly email their complaints. You copied, word for word, the email I received. Why don’t you try some investigative reporting rather than parroting a loser’s attempt to reverse the election results.
3:22 –
Koretz should not hire Vahedi. Its one thing to hire an opponent from the primary campaign, but another thing entirely to hire on your main opponent (please don’t talk about Obama/Hillary…). Koretz obviously has enough support with constituents in CD5, in fact, he had even more support than Vahedi!
10:44 AM
You ask why Koretz should hire Vahedi? In the words of Lyndon Johnson: “I’d rather have him inside the tent pissing out than have him outside the tent pissing in.”