Voters in Oakland Co. will see two John Scott's on their ballot this November; one an incumbant Republican, the other an Independent.
The race for Oakland Co. Commissioner in District 5 is between John Scott (R), Alexandria Riley (D), and John Scott (I).
The Oakland County prosecutor's office says it plans to charge John Scott (I) with election fraud over alleged petition-gathering irregularities.
Chief assistant prosecutor Paul Walton says a misdemeanor election fraud warrant would be issued today in Waterford District Court against the independent candidate for commissioner.
John Scott (I) is a 22-year-old Eastern Michigan University college student from West Bloomfield Township.
The incumbent John Scott (R) says his namesake opponent is trying to confuse the election process.
From the Detroit Free Press:
Commissioner Scott said several of his strong supporters had signed the petitions. When he called them to find out more, he learned John Scott was listed as the circulator on some of the petitions, but the people who signed them said a woman had solicited the signature. Such tactics constitute misdemeanor election fraud, which carries a 93-day maximum jail sentence, said Oakland County chief assistant prosecutor Paul Walton. The warrant will be issued in Waterford District Court today.
Back in July, the incumbent Republican Oakland County Commissioner promised to challenge his namesakes petition gathering tactics.
From the Oakland Press:
Commissioner Scott is seeking a sixth two-year term in a newly drawn district representing parts of Waterford and West Bloomfield townships. The commissioner says the other Scott’s filing “is just to confuse the election process." “Naturally we’ll challenge this,” the commissioner said. “It’s fraudulent because there’s friends of mine signing petitions thinking it’s me.”
Back in July, John Scott (I) said he wasn't aware of the issue, “I didn’t really know who was running at first. I just wanted to get my name on the ballot.”
Scott (I) declined to speak with the Detroit Free Press about the issue.
