State monitors to watch St. Francis County vote

by Michael, Wickline, Arkansas Democrat Gazette: The state Board of Election Commissioners on Wednesday ordered a board staff member and board-certified election monitors to watch the May 20 election in St. Francis County. . . . The action comes nearly two weeks after a state Senate committee . . . agreed to ask the Arkansas State Police and the board to monitor all elections in St. Francis County until convinced election officials follow state law for elections, handling ballots and counting votes. . . .

"I have had so many complaints it’s unbelievable from both sides of St. Francis County about those elections not being fair,” said Willett, former chairman of the state Democratic Party. He said he wants the board to do its part to clean up “this mess” in St. Francis County. Board Chairman Charlie Daniels of Bryant, who is secretary of state, agreed with Willett’s recommendation. Willett said he lacks confidence in St. Francis Election Commissioner Chairman Frederick Freeman, who also is chairman of the county’s Democratic Party. . . .

As for Willett saying he has no confidence in Freeman, Freeman said that’s a good example of why Willett is a former party chairman. Willett makes uninformed comments and decisions, Freeman said. “I would have thought by now he would have learned that he needs to sweep around his own front door before he tries to sweep around mine,” he said. Last year Willett, a former aide to U. S. Rep. Marion Berry and U. S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, resigned as chairman of the state Democratic Party, which he headed more than two years. He resigned after he registered as a lobbyist in a move that surprised Gov. Mike Beebe, a Democrat. . . .

The [Arkansas] Senate panel said “flagrant” fraud and irregularities existed in the Senate District 16 runoff but that there was no evidence that Crumbly personally committed any. They agreed to ask the U. S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas to investigate. . . . [Read More]

---

Tags: Arkansas, Democrats, election fraud, election reform, Fredrick Freeman, Jason Willett, voter fraud To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!