Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Press release from the Chris Deschene for Secretary of State campaign:
Statement of SOS Candidate Chris Deschene regarding the Green Party “Siphon Scandal” and the Secretary of State’s race
“It appears that the biggest election fraud conspiracy in Arizona’s history was designed, among other things, to benefit Secretary of State Ken Bennett.
“One of the Green Party ‘siphon’ candidates, recruited by Republicans and denounced as a fraud by the Greens, is in the race for Secretary of State. As Arizona’s chief elections officer, Mr. Bennett is duty-bound to ensure fairness, transparency and security. The best way he can do that now is to delay the certification of nomination for every candidate in question until law enforcement agencies have had a chance to investigate.”
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UPDATE: The Green Party is actively opposing 12 write-in candidates from last week's ballot. "We strongly advise all registered Arizona voters to not waste their votes on these individuals," party co-chairman Claudia Ellquist wrote on the Green Party's blog. Green Party is opposing 12 primary write-in hopefuls:
In another development, secretary of state candidate Chris Deschene, a Democrat, called on Ken Bennett, who currently runs that office, to not certify the write-in Green candidates until the matter has been investigated by law-enforcement officials.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Attorneys' Office said it had received the complaint and is looking into its merits. The Arizona Attorney General's Office did not return a call for comment, and the Maricopa County Attorney's Office said it has yet to see the request.
Bennett's office said it doesn't have the authority to hold up certification. Besides, it would be unfair to candidates to keep them off the ballot absent any legal reason to do so, said Matthew Benson, a spokesman for Bennett.
"Mr. Deschene's statement is stunning in its lack of due process," Benson said.
No, Mr. Bennett, there is clear evidence of a voter fraud scheme here and a formal investigation by the U.S. Attorney underway. "Due process" involves allowing the investigation into this matter to be concluded to determine whether or not the law has been violated before your office potentially aids and abets any voter fraud scheme. Your cavalier disinterest towards what appears to be a major voter fraud scheme in Arizona calls into question your ability to serve as Arizona's chief elections official. The Secretary of State should be conducting its own investigation into this voter fraud scheme, as your office does have some jurisdictional authority. Your disinterest in doing so speaks volumes.
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Due process should apply to any Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Green Party candidate. Ken Bennett’s points are valid. I have no problem seconding the points he makes. I am surprised you don’t.
Taking your talking points from the Republicans now, are we Thane?
I wonder where in the statutes the Secretary of State is authorized to delay the certification of candidates who have met the requirements laid out by law? Where is the due process here? Are undesired opponents guilty until proven innocent? I would hope that the legislature would impeach Bennett if he should fail in his duty to certify candidates based on the bare accusations made by the Arizona Democratic Party.
It is the voters’ job to elect officials and kick lousy candidates to the curb – not the Secretary of State. Democrat Chris Deschene has apparently forgotten who is in charge – not that should surprise many Americans.