Democrats are challenging a Republican elections official and party boss who they say “mysteriously found” votes from an impounded machine days after the actual re-count.
Now, even though Legislator Judy Myers won the Independence line against Republican challenger Suzanna Keith in District 7, some Democrats want an investigation to determine exactly what happened.
Republicans say there’s no proof and these accusations are nothing more than an attempt to “muddy the waters.” Even the Democratic Party chair and elections commissioner isn’t supporting the claims.
All the ballots have been accounted for, they say.
“Ballots don’t just appear from impounded machines long after they’ve been examined,” said Doug Forand, a spokesman for the Westchester Democratic Committee, in a statement. “There are only a few plausible ways this can happen, none of which are good.
“And if someone knowingly planted false ballots in a scheme to steal this election, it’s election fraud.”
Democrats say Nancy Meehan, a Republican deputy elections commissioner and chairwoman of the Mount Pleasant Republican Committee “mysteriously found” three votes on Sept. 24, which was three days after the machine was re-canvassed.
But GOP Party Chairman and Republican Elections Commissioner Doug Colety said there’s no mystery: All the ballots have been accounted for and Meehan, in her role as deputy commissioner, is charged with dealing with those ballots.
“There are no missing ballots,” Colety said. “When you get into close races, all these accusations come out.
“It’s over. Judy Myers won and they were looking for an insurance policy.”
Not all votes go through the machine, Colety added, and in this instance, the ones in question were actually emergency ballots that were in a bag where they were discovered.
“We’re allowed to handle ballots,” he said of elections officials. “This is our job.”
The three in question wouldn’t have turned the race; Myers won the line with 75 votes to Keith’s 62. Eleven votes were challenged, though Keith has since conceded.
The Indepedendence line is generally viewed as an important line to attract independents and non-affiliated voters.
In a release on Westchester County Democratic Committee letterhead, Forand also went after Republican County Executive Rob Astorino, whose Chief of Staff George Oros carried petitions for Keith.
Oros said there’s no substance to these “phony allegations” and that they are an attempt to “muddy the waters.”
Party leader and Democratic elections commissioner, Reginald LaFayette, also distanced himself from the accusations even though it was on party letterhead that had his name on it.
He’s not supporting any investigation.
“As far as I’m concerned this matter is over. Three ballots are not a factor,” he said. “I’m troubled this went out without my approval.”
26 Comments
Reggie LaFayette distances himself from it because he does the same thing. They wash each others hands. Lets get party leaders out of the board of elections.
Good for this guy Forand to call cheating cheating. BOTH parties need to clean up their act. These should be civil service appointments.
Election Fraud may have been committed and this guy Reggie is worried about his letterhead?
Why doesn’t Keith just concede the entire race now. She has no chance of winning. Her record in Rye on real issues is horrendous.
That’s what you said about Astorino, legalfees.
Wait just a minute Hippo Critter. I knew Rob Astorino. Rob Astorino was a friend of mine.
Suzanna Keith is no Rob Astorino.
So the BOE chair is attacking the BOE or this guy Forand just went off on his own ? How did he get letterhead ? Sounds like Reggie Lafayette has some serious problems.
Isn’t Doug Forand the guy behind Malcolm Smith and that whole coup thing with Pedro Espada and Hiram Monseratte ? What is Reggie Lafayette thinking ? I always thought Reggie was a smart guy.
Either Reggie Lafayette has to step down, or he has to fire this moron. Who is in charge of the party, Forand or Lafayette ? I go to enough of these dinners and write checks and I’ve never heard of “Doug Forand”.
The funniest thing is the first post where the consultant has someone attacking the party guy. That’s some funny stuff there.
How does something go out on Party letterhead without the Party Chairmans approval ? how is that possible ? Did he give the consultants blank letterhead ? Did they not think it would be strange to attack the Board of Elections as corrupt when the County Chair is a Commissioner at the Board of Elections ? my guess is this guy just wanted his name in the paper so he could drum up business for himself. Screw the truth. Screw the democratic party. Screw Reggie Lafayette. Man, politics is so dirty and slimy. but I guess it could be lucrative when you have guys like the party chairman blind to what you are doing.
This guy did the same thing in Nassau County last year. He lost the County legislature, then planted stories in all the blogs blaming the candidates. Reggie better watch his back.
So they accused the county executive, his chief of staff and the board of elections of committing a felony by engaging in fraud, in a press release, which was apparently forged ? These guys are really stupid or are making these decisions after smoking too much weed.
One of these things must be true. As a party member for over 30years, I demand the Chairman answer the questions:
1) I thought the County Party was broke. Are we paying this consultant ? If so, the contract should be cancelled and the money returned for what they did.
2) If Reggie is saying the truth (and I have no reason to believe he is not), this matter should be given to the District Attorneys office. Identity theft is a serious issue and if these consultants are posing as something they are not, they should be prosecuted.
3) if this “consultant” is not being paid, and if there is no contract (which Reggie should submit for review at the next Executive meeting), then he is obviously making crazy charges in order to get his name in the paper. That’s rather obvious, and is the reason party committees take votes on positions and matters of import.
This is a very, very strange article. The strangest thing is the consultants quote. He says says that there are a few “plausible” explanations for the missing ballots, but “none of them are good.” Webster’s defines “plausible” as “having the appearance of truth or reason.” So if they are plausible, then they are adequate explanations. Mr. Lafayette, please have your spokesperson at least have a functional understanding of the English language. This IS Westchester, and one would expect that the party could at least afford a dictionary for the staff. Thank you.
Astorino will do ANYTHING to control the Board of Legislators. Suzanna Keith is his willing puppet; she has done nothing in less than 2 years on the Rye City council, but she’s spending lots of moola, and grip-and-grinning her way through the district.
She’s Another Republican Rubber-Stamp for Rob
Nice smokescreen GOP boys. Try to make this about Reggie LaFayette and his consultant/non consultant Forand or who ever he is.
There’s no difference between LaFayette and Colety and we all know it. They are two sides to the same coin which they flip to see who gets to cheat. This guy Forand seems like an unwitting whistle blower. He doesn’t know the White Plains way yet.
So Suzanna Keith’s handlers cheated and Nancy Meehan got caught. Her husband is the County Attorney so I’m sure she’ll be just fine. They only gave up when the realized the dirty votes wouldn’t help anyway otherwise they’d be screaming like stuck pigs.
But lets not fool ourselves. The dems do it to.
Keith was dirty gathering her petitions—she started before the date. Shes a dumb dumb but she’s all they got so they’ll help her anyway they can.
I hope Astorino runs far away from this mess.
Good. This County (and country) badly needs Republican rubber stamps! Maybe we can restore some fiscal sanity.
I’m a democrat, not a smoke screen. This guy Forand is a moron. We have enough headaches without some outside agitator stirring up commotion with the BOE. Whats next, Al Sharpton is going to be coming to westchester to protest ? It’s common sense that you don’t throw charges like this around. And what is Reggie doing over there if random people are sending out releases on behalf of the party.
Are you “troubled” Reggie or are you going to DO something about it ?
Reggie Lafayette is an idiot. This guy Forand is just trying to get his name in the paper. Why attack Astorino ? He is just trying to get hired by whoever runs against Astorino. He made a fool of Lafayette. Calling his colleagues crooks, with no evidence, now Reggie has to show up to work everyday and apologize, like a clown. Man, Reggie looks stupid here. And he doesn’t even have the balls or the brains to fire this consultant. Wonder what he has on him.
Oh Please. Give me a break. This is just a smoke and mirrors cooked up by Mr. Jenkins and crew. Ms Judy is losing her grip on her district and they are trying to discredit her opponent. Reggie won’t dare even question this because he knew that it was true, the votes were in the bag. I am sure if Ms. Meehan had done something wrong she would of found enough votes for Suzanna to win. These guys just are holding on by a thread because us taxpayers are tired of their tax and spend attitude. The Dems have done bad things for years and the Republicans are to timid to bring it up. Maybe it is interbreeding to have both Meehan’s working but it is also wrong to have both Party Chairmans in charge of the Board of Elections. Government is corrupt all around. Throw the Bums out.
It’s over and old news. Ms. Myers won!! But look at the close vote. Yes, she is in trouble and therefore
make a scene and create a distraction or try to get the sympathy vote. Then go after Astorino and Oros to try and create some undercurrent in Government. Just look at all the press releases Jenkins put out and try to find the truth in them. It is a game that he learned in Yonkers, throw enough sh*t and some will stick. Not this time. Well, the truth will be in the Election. Vote these tax and spend out of office.
I like your posts but not this time. We put up with cheating like this from Andy Spano for years. Are guys should do better. The close vote here nmeans nothing in that slewazy Independence party. I wouldn’t put it past Cavallo to trump this whole thing up to try to dirty astoribno.
Astorino didn’t cheat – he wouldn’t but somebody sure did and doug and reggie are working together to cover it up.
taylorlady is Nancy Meehan’s usual code name. Ha ha ha ha!
Instead of blaming Jenkins or all of Yonkers for your criminal acts, why don’t you tell us about those ballots that you had up your sleeve.
ps – last year, Mt Pleasant’s citizen of the year was the cop that killed the innocent college kid. Apparently, the Meehan’s want the plaque this year.
County cops were present in the Bd of Elections warehouse along with dozens of dolts on the county payroll. Several people know the truth, but these Illegal pranks will be covered-up and forgotten before Monday.
The only outcome will be the public knowledge of Mrs Meehan’s moral character. But that wasn’t a big secret anyways…
Hey Taylor
I never said that Astorino was dirty and cheated. I said this was a distration and that Suzanna could
still go after those votes. I also agree that the Doc ( Independence Chairman)could of started this. Don’t forget that is the fifth line on the ballot. He (the Doc.) still doesn’t get it he is the last minor party line. He (the Doc) has a big ego
Meehan- Patronage
I can tell you I am not Nancy Meehan. What is your point!! I am my own person and don’t appreciate your wrong guess. Only another distraction by people with misinformation.
Election day can’t come soon enough. Vote the Bums out!!
OK Taylor Lady we agree that thisi s not Robs problem. My guess is they don’ty want the dirty littlre dealings atr the BOE looked at from either side. So spin Doug Spin Reggie. Cavallo and Diealma are laughing.
As for Keith I’m not impressed. Astorino gotsome good prospects but not her.
Thanks for the info on the 5th line., That little scam is ripe for a take over.