Just in from Bakersfield Californian rag:
Results of election inquiry to be shared
By CHRISTINE BEDELL, Californian staff writer
e-mail:
cbedell@bakersfield.com Wednesday June 11, 2003, 11:02:00 PM
Former candidate Dean Gardner is scheduled to announce today results of an investigation into possible voter fraud during last year's 30th District Assembly race.
The information comes out of an inquiry by Gardner supporters, not the Kern County District Attorney's office, which also has been investigating, said Gardner's wife, Ruth Gardner.
In fact, the D.A.'s office is still reviewing the 1,318 instances of possible voting irregularities presented to it by the California Republican Party last December, according to Deputy District Attorney Michael Yraceburn.
Both sides valued every ballot in that race -- Gardner lost to Democrat Nicole Parra by just 266 votes of more than 50,000 cast.
Until now, Gardner has denied any involvement in the GOP study of 30th District balloting and its passing of information to prosecutors. He's just been monitoring events as a "concerned citizen," Gardner often has said.
Gardner did tell The Californian in May that he's been "a little frustrated" with the pace of the D.A.'s inquiry.
"As a citizen I'm concerned there has not been a response," Gardner said.
Ruth Gardner said her husband will explain why he's now releasing investigation results. According to a press release, Gardner also intends to detail the "avenues of remedy" he will pursue.
Ruth Gardner declined to release any of the information early.
In the past, Dean Gardner has referred questions about the GOP investigation to party volunteers Alberto Llamas and Jim Lopez.
Llamas agreed to share the information with The Californian last month but never showed up for a scheduled interview and has repeatedly declined to reschedule another interview.
The Republican Party began scrutinizing 30th District ballots immediately after Election Day. Subsequent legal wrangling by both sides helped delay the official vote count by weeks.
The documents the Republicans turned over to the D.A.'s office allege such violations as ineligible voters, people requesting and casting absentee ballots illegally, and improper registrations.
The party has not directly accused Parra or her campaign of orchestrating any fraud.
Its spokespeople instead have maintained there are gaps and errors that exist in the election system.
The 30th District includes parts of northwest Kern County, east Bakersfield, Arvin and Lamont plus pieces of Fresno, Tulare and Kings counties.