Posted on 09/29/2004 10:20:02 PM PDT by Prince Charles
PUBLIC CORRUPTION: Residents say Stiglich campaign workers bought votes with cash, crack
BY BILL DOLAN Times Staff Writer
This story ran on nwitimes.com on Thursday, September 30, 2004 12:04 AM CDT
EAST CHICAGO -- Allegations that votes were purchased with crack cocaine and money in the city's 1999 mayoral election were made public Wednesday.
More than a dozen East Chicago residents told Lake County police detectives five years ago about violations of state election laws involving absentee ballots cast in their name for Stephen R. "Bob" Stiglich, who was challenging Mayor Robert Pastrick.
Lake County Sheriff Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez ordered the opening of police reports, transcripts of interviews and other evidence sealed from public view that cannot be used against any of a number of Stiglich campaign workers because the statute of limitations expired last spring.
Dominguez, who worked for Pastrick's administration as a city lawyer in 1999, said he made the evidence public at the request of the media.
The Times asked for the disclosure last spring after a special prosecutor in the case chose not to file any charges based on a two-week vote fraud investigation by former Sheriff John Buncich.
The evidence follows the outline of public allegations made during the 1999 race, but the documents provide details previously shown only to state and federal prosecutors.
They also mirror allegations made during the 2003 mayoral election by City Councilman George Pabey, who lost by a narrow margin to Pastrick, but won a state Supreme Court decision to have a special election Oct. 26. Concern about the threat of new vote fraud remains high in the city.
The 1999 evidence includes several statements from residents that said Stiglich campaign workers paid them money, gave them crack cocaine or helped them fill out absentee ballots for their candidate.
Stiglich said Wednesday afternoon: "I didn't know what the workers were doing. I don't know whether the allegations were true."
Stiglich said he was the victim of a massive conspiracy by Pastrick's administration, which provided free new sidewalks, concrete patios and tree trimming services in return for votes.
The investigation began April 12, 1999, with a letter from then Police Chief Frank Alcala asking for county police help in investigating vote fraud allegations.
East Chicago police also seized a number of completed absentee ballots from the trunk of a city-owned car driven by a Stiglich worker. Buncich assigned four detectives to interview those whose absentee ballots were found.
Bill Dolan can be reached at bdolan@nwitimes.com or (219) 662-5328.
Pastrick has been the 'Rat mayor of East Chicago for 40 years, while Stiglich is the 'Rat county party chairman.
It is nice to see that some things never change. Would Chicago be Chicago without Democrat voter fraud? I think not.
(In my very best imitation of Dana Carvey doing the Church Lady)
Well, isn't that special? Aren't we clever getting through that whole tawdry little story without any mention of political party affiliation? Oh, I don't know...what do you think? I'm gonna take a wild guess...what could he be, what could he be...could he be...a DEMOCRAT? crat...crat...echo...echo...
ping
The depth of voter fraud seems bottomless. How will this get fixed by November 2?
Actually, this is not Chicago, but East Chicago, a small steel mill town in NW Indiana. But they do suffer from Chicago political influence.
Actually, I think this is a case of democratic infighting. IIRC, Mayor Pastrick was accused of some similar fraud recently - I think there's probably an element of tit-for-tat happening here.
Bttt.
more crack for votes bump
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