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COIN TOSS POLITICS: HOW MUCH IS RIDING ON YOUR VOTE? Press Release:(Received for publication by G.R.I.T. May 19, 2003; please note, we have contacted Rusty Drivstuen for a comment. What happens next? This complaint will go to the canvassing board for a ruling on Thursday, May 29th. Both parties need to appear. The challenger needs to prevent clear and convincing evidence that the ballot should not be counted. If The Drivstuen's do vote today, it will be via a provisional ballot.) How
many lives have been altered because of the now-infamous coin toss |
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My name is Cindy Broughton. I am a citizen of the City of Sultan where two
years ago I ran for the position of city council. My opponent was Rob Criswell.
The race was so close that it was finally settled by a coin toss. I congratulated
Mr. Criswell and walked away. I defend the right of all Americans to free
speech and the freedom to vote for whomever they please. There were a lot
of questionable ethics and tactics used by my opponent and his backers but
in the end it’s up to the voters to discern the truth from the lies. To
some people this kind of behavior is considered ‘good politics’ but voter
fraud is quite another matter. It has recently come to my attention that
Rusty and Jana Drivstuen are illegally registered in the City of Sultan
and have been voting here for quite some time. They have a lovely home on
the hill between Sultan and Monroe. (In the Sultan School District but definitely
not within the city limits.) Rusty and Jana are not stupid people, they
are aware that they do not live at their gas station. It is very clear on
the voter registration form that you must register in the precinct in which
you reside. It is a Class C Felony (RCW 29.07.070) to misstate the facts
on a voter registration application. The Drivstuen’s were known supporters
of Rob Criswell and their political group. If they actually voted the way
they indicated they would I feel I have been cheated out of the position
I feel I was fairly elected to and worst of all the balance of power in
Sultan was shifted by this illegal act. The Drivstuen’s have voted illegally
four times according to the auditor’s voter list. How many times have their
illegal votes changed Sultan? How many times have their illegal votes taken
the decision away from legal voters? I filed a challenge to the Drivstuen’s
right to vote on 5/14/2003 after confirming with the auditor’s office the
facts of this deceit. Please contact Wendy Mauch, Snohomish County Auditors
Office of Elections at 425-388-3651 to confirm.
It is too late to correct the wrongs done to me and the honest voting community of Sultan but it’s not too late to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Sincerely, Cindy Lee
Broughton |