Election Fraud Charge Coming Against Same-Name Candidate
WATERFORD (WWJ/AP) - The Oakland County prosecutor's office plans to charge a county commissioner candidate with election fraud over alleged petition-gathering irregularities.
Chief assistant prosecutor Paul Walton said a misdemeanor election fraud warrant would be issued Wednesday in Waterford District Court against John Scott, an independent candidate for commissioner.
The 22-year-old Eastern Michigan University student from West Bloomfield Township is running in the race that also includes incumbent Republican Commissioner John Scott of Waterford.
The incumbent John Scott said he became suspicious a couple of months ago when a friend said he had signed a petition to get Scott on the ballot.
John Scott said the same name circumstance is no coincidence, accusing his opponent of trying to confuse the election process and split the vote.
If convicted, Walton said the independent Scott would face up to a 93 days in jail.
Asked about the petitions, the young candidate told the Detroit Free Press it wasn't a good time to discuss the issue. The Associated Press left a message for him on Wednesday.
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