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THE DAILY GAZETTE ⚫ YOUR NO. 1 LOCAL NEWS SOURCE
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's election office mum on illegal mailers in Flint races
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's election office mum on illegal mailers in Flint races
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's election office mum on illegal mailers in Flint races
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
FLINT (CCN) — Races in five wards for Flint City Council seats have had homes bombarded with mailers from an illegal campaign committee. Nobody from the elections division under Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has responded to multiple e-mails and telephone calls from The Morning Gazette
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
FLINT (CCN) — Races in five wards for Flint City Council seats have had homes bombarded with mailers from an illegal campaign committee. Nobody from the elections division under Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has responded to multiple e-mails and telephone calls from The Morning Gazette Radio Show since the story was revealed.
A message via Messenger was sent today (Oct. 18, 2021) directly to Benson for comment, and she has not yet responded. Benson is in the final year of her first four-year term as Secretary of State and oversees the Bureau of Elections for the state.
A web site for the Michigan Secretary of State says that its Bureau of Elections currently has limited hours. The Daily Gazette and The Morning Gazette Radio Show have had dozens of complaints about lousy service at branch offices that have been impacted by COVID for more than 19 months. The web site says anyone with in-person business to conduct with the Bureau of Elections is asked to please call to make an appointment. Numerous attempts have been made without any success at reaching a person or being able to leave a voice message. Two previous e-mails by The Morning Gazette Radio Show have not been answered.
Long-time local political consultant Dave Forsmark of Flushing-based Winning Strategies appeared on Thursday's Morning Gazette Radio Show and said the Michigan Secretary of State's office "should come down hard on people who break the law like this." He represents two of the candidates targeted by the mailers that included a line that said: "Paid for by the Flint Community Coalition, P.O. Box 13528, Flint, MI 48501."
Forsmark's clients are taking on incumbents. He said he is helping with the campaign of Judy Priestely against Flint City Council President Kate Fields of the 4th Ward and with challenger Dennis Pheiffer against 8th Ward incumbent Allan Griggs. "The committee is not registered as a PAC and it isn't registered in Genesee County campaign finance records," Forsmark said. "It could be a $10,000 fine in each race because it's obviously illegal money funneled into these races."
Others helped by mailers from the committee that has never been registered included Quincy Murphy in the 3rd Ward, Jerri Winfey-Carter in the 5th Ward, Claudia Perkins-Milton in the 6th Ward and Allie Herkenroder in the 7th Ward. Winfrey-Carter is an incumbent, Herkenroder is taking on incumbent Monica Galloway while Murphy is opposed by A.C. Dumas and Perkins-Milton is opposed by Tonya Burns.
Leslie Haney and Chris DelMorone are running as write-in candidates in the Galloway-Herkenroder race while the Murphy-Dumas race has Rich Jones running as a write-in candidate.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
Unregistered committee backing 6 Flint City Council candidates uses 'fake' union bug
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's election office mum on illegal mailers in Flint races
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's election office mum on illegal mailers in Flint races
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
FLINT (CCN) — Political consultant Dave Forsmark has uncovered a fake union bug on campaign mailers against two of his clients in Flint City Council races.
The Daily Gazette is investigating who is behind the campaign mailers against Forsmark's candidates, and four others in other wards for Flint Cit
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
FLINT (CCN) — Political consultant Dave Forsmark has uncovered a fake union bug on campaign mailers against two of his clients in Flint City Council races.
The Daily Gazette is investigating who is behind the campaign mailers against Forsmark's candidates, and four others in other wards for Flint City Council seats. The flyers included a line that says they were "Paid for by the Flint Community Coalition, P.O. Box 13528, Flint, MI 48501." The Morning Gazette Radio Show revealed last week that no such committee has ever been registered with the Genesee County Clerk Elections Division or filed as a political action committee in state campaign finance records.
Forsmark appeared on Thursday's Morning Gazette Radio Show and said the Michigan Secretary of State's office "should come down hard on people who break the law like this." Forsmark added: "The committee is not registered as a PAC and it isn't registered in Genesee County campaign finance records. It could be a $10,000 fine in each race because it's obviously illegal money funneled into these races."
The union bug used on six campaign flyers mailed out by the fake committee is clearly a phony one that does not list a union local number. All union bugs list a local number, according to numerous union officials. It is illegal for any printer to use the union bug if they are not union printers and a 1983 civil case established steep financial penalties for anyone illegally using it. In addition, a mail fraud charge is a felony that includes up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.
Forsmark, the long-time owner of Flushing-based Winning Strategies, is helping Judy Priestly against Flint City Council President Kate Fields in the 4th Ward and Forsmark is helping challenger Dennis Pfeiffer against 8th Ward incumbent Allan Griggs. Forsmark has done numerous local, state and congressional elections over the years, and says he has never encountered any individuals "bold enough to use a fake union bug."
Campaign mailers supporting Fields and Griggs were joined by additional flyers mailed out in support of Quincy Murphy in the 3rd Ward, Claudia Perkins-Milton in the 6th Ward and Monica Galloway in the 7th Ward.
Steve Dawes, Director of the UAW Region 1D office in Flint, told The Daily Gazette that none of the candidates have received UAW endorsements. Sam Muma, President of the Greater Flint AFL-CIO, has also confirmed that his union hasn't endorsed any candidates in Flint City Council races.
The only union endorsement so far has gone to one of Forsmark's candidates — Pfeiffer who is supported by the Flint Police Officers Association, according to the union's president, Kevin Smith. He said Pfeiffer is the "only pro-police candidate."
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is long-time political consultant Dave Forsmark.
Judge to hear Flint City Council President's motion disputing 30-day 'silencing' by peers
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's election office mum on illegal mailers in Flint races
Judge to hear Flint City Council President's motion disputing 30-day 'silencing' by peers
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
FLINT (CCN) — President Kate Fields will be un-silenced at tonight's (Oct. 18, 2021) Flint City Council meeting. Her colleagues voted 5-2 to silence her for 30 days as part of a censure, but a Genesee County Circuit Court judge has ordered that she be allowed to speak until a hearing on Friday (O
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
FLINT (CCN) — President Kate Fields will be un-silenced at tonight's (Oct. 18, 2021) Flint City Council meeting. Her colleagues voted 5-2 to silence her for 30 days as part of a censure, but a Genesee County Circuit Court judge has ordered that she be allowed to speak until a hearing on Friday (Oct. 22, 2021).
Judge Joseph Farah set the hearing after an ex parte request by Fields for injunctive relief. The judge gave her temporary relief until Friday's hearing can be held on the matter.
Judge Farah's order asked that the Flint City Council be notified of his decision "no later than 11 am on Tuesday, Oct. 19." He gave the council until 4 pm on Oct. 20 to file a response.
Eric Mays, Flint's 1st Ward councilman, told The Daily Gazette that Council President Fields will be allowed to chair tonight's meeting. "It's my understanding that the judge has ordered it," Councilman Mays said.
The Sept. 28 censure said Fields could continue to vote on matters but said she can't comment for 30 days. She has not been to a city council meeting or committee meeting since the censure.
Council President Fields came under fire when muting the phone of Councilman Mays during a regular meeting a day before the Sept. 28 special meeting called by Councilman Mays and Councilwoman Monica Galloway. Fields had refused to allow her ruling to be appealed when Councilwoman Galloway attempted to do so. Galloway, Councilman Maurice Davis and Councilwoman Jerri Winfrey-Carter then left the meeting to leave the council president without a quorum to end the Sept. 27 meeting.
Two council members (3rd Ward Councilman Santino Guerra and 9th Ward Councilwoman Eva Worthing) did not attend the special meeting and one other (8th Ward Councilman Allan Griggs) was three hours late. Griggs was in time, however, to vote on the censure and supported Fields. She also voted not to censure herself. Mays, Galloway, Davis, Winfrey-Carter and Councilman Herb Winfrey voted to censure Fields.
Galloway made the initial motion to censure Fields for 30 days to stay away from council meetings, but Mays amended it to allow her to vote. "I'm being kind to you when you were not to me," Mays said in reference to the fact Fields led a 2019 vote to censure Mays for 30 days when he wasn't allowed to vote or attend meetings.
Fields promised to take action if her colleagues voted to censure her for activity she said was justified. She ignored a "point of order" from Mays and ordered his phone muted after he continued with "point of order" requests.
"Mr. Mays would simply not cease talking," she said. "I had no choice but to mute him and the chair's decision can't be appealed." She added that City Attorney Angela Wheeler had previously told her this was the case. Wheeler was not at the Sept 28 special meeting and the city's legal department representative (Jack Beltzer) agreed with Councilwoman Galloway's interpretation of council rules.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Flint City Council President Kate Fields.
Recall petition language filed for 3rd time against Davison school board member
Attorney Albert Zerka quits criminal case against county Republican Party chairman
Attorney Albert Zerka quits criminal case against county Republican Party chairman
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
DAVISON (CCN) — Proposed language on a recall petition has been filed for a third time against a Davison school board member. The Genesee County Election Commission will meet on Oct. 4 at 8:30 am to decide if the third attempt will fly against Davison Board of Education Trustee Matthew Smith.
The thr
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
DAVISON (CCN) — Proposed language on a recall petition has been filed for a third time against a Davison school board member. The Genesee County Election Commission will meet on Oct. 4 at 8:30 am to decide if the third attempt will fly against Davison Board of Education Trustee Matthew Smith.
The three-member commission has twice rejected language submitted by Jenessa Phillips who used the assistance of an attorney on the last attempt.
A member of her group targeting Smith for a recall said Alec Gibbs worked for them "pro bono" and wrote the language that was rejected by a 2-1 vote. Two substitute members of the committee out-voted regular member Deb Cherry. Filling in were Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson and Deputy Clerk Leslie Raleigh. Cherry, who is County Treasurer, joined a 3-0 vote to reject the first proposed language to recall Smith with County Clerk / Register of Deeds John Gleason and Chief Probate Judge Jenny Barkey.
Proposed recall language was turned down the first time because committee members said it was "not clear and concise."
The second time committee members rejected language submitted by Gibbs on behalf of Phillips, they said an alleged victim was not identified in criminal charges cited against Smith.
The latest filing was tweaked slightly by Gibbs and Phillips to now read: “The State of Michigan has charged Matthew Michael Smith with malicious use of telecommunications services.”
Smith, who is also the newly-elected Chairman of the Genesee County Republican Party, faces an upcoming criminal trial in Genesee County 67th District Court. The trial was scheduled for Sept. 16 but Judge William Crawford delayed it until Oct. 25 after defense attorney Albert Zerka filed a motion to quit the case, citing irreconcilable differences with Smith. He told Judge Crawford that "Smith forced me to file this motion" after telling him three weeks ago to get a new attorney.
Zerka said he wanted his motion granted to be allowed to withdraw from the case, telling Judge Crawford: "I'm worried he will come back here on Oct. 25 with no attorney and I can somehow get dragged back into this case... I don't see another attorney taking this case."
Judge Crawford granted Zerka's request.
Zerka was upset a day earlier when confirming to The Morning Gazette Radio Show that he was filing a motion to withdraw. When learning that Smith said he asked Zerka to withdraw from the case, Zerka responded: "Show up in court tomorrow and we can straighten it out and you can see who is being truthful."
Smith, who is a Davison Board of Education trustee, told reporters afterward that he wanted an attorney who can devote attention to his case and again stressed that he is "not guilty" of the charges alleged against him from a campaign incident last year in northern Michigan. He was accused of lying to police about an allegation that he had called and threatened a northern Michigan official while helping her challenger with his campaign. Police reports indicate that Smith initially denied calling the woman, then told police a friend "must have spoofed his phone" after presented with evidence that his cell number appeared on her phone. The Houghton County clerk's race candidate he was helping then confessed to police that he was on the phone call made by Smith and said it was Smith's idea.
A forensic analysis of Smith's cell phone was then done and confirmed that Smith's phone had indeed been used to call the woman. Smith and the witness told police, however, that no threats were made against her. Smith was subsequently charged by the State Attorney General's Office and faces up to six months in jail, if convicted on a misdemeanor count for malicious use of telecommunication services to threaten physical harm or damage to Houghton County Clerk Jennifer Kelly. (Click here to see related stories about Matthew Smith)
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Davison Board of Education Trustee Matthew Smith who has been targeted for a recall for a third time.
Attorney Albert Zerka quits criminal case against county Republican Party chairman
Attorney Albert Zerka quits criminal case against county Republican Party chairman
Attorney Albert Zerka quits criminal case against county Republican Party chairman
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
FLINT (CCN) — There was high drama in the court room of Genesee County 67th District Court Judge William Crawford Thursday morning (Sept. 16, 2021) when a scheduled criminal trial for the newly-elected chairman of the Genesee County Republican Party didn't happen.
Defense attorney Albert Zerka filed
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
FLINT (CCN) — There was high drama in the court room of Genesee County 67th District Court Judge William Crawford Thursday morning (Sept. 16, 2021) when a scheduled criminal trial for the newly-elected chairman of the Genesee County Republican Party didn't happen.
Defense attorney Albert Zerka filed a motion to quit the case, citing irreconcilable differences with client Matthew Smith. He told Judge Crawford that "Smith forced me to file this motion" after telling him three weeks ago to get a new attorney.
Judge Crawford granted a motion to delay the trial and set Oct. 25 as a pre-trial date after calling Smith to the podium and hearing Smith tell the judge that he would find a new attorney.
Zerka said he wanted his motion granted to be allowed to withdraw from the case, telling Judge Crawford: "I'm worried he will come back here on Oct. 25 with no attorney and I can somehow get dragged back into this case... I don't see another attorney taking this case."
Judge Crawford granted Zerka's request.
Zerka was upset a day earlier when confirming to The Morning Gazette Radio Show that he was filing a motion to withdraw. When learning that Smith said he asked Zerka to withdraw from the case, Zerka responded: "Show up in court tomorrow and we can straighten it out and you can see who is being truthful."
Smith, who is a Davison Board of Education trustee, told reporters afterward that he wanted an attorney who can devote attention to his case.
Smith was accused of lying to police about an allegation that he had called and threatened a northern Michigan official while helping her challenger with his campaign. Police reports indicate that Smith initially denied calling the woman, then told police a friend "must have spoofed his phone" after presented with evidence that his cell number appeared on her phone. The candidate Smith was helping then confessed to police that he was on the phone call made by Smith and said it was Smith's idea. A forensic analysis of Smith's cell phone was then done and confirmed that Smith's phone had indeed been used to call the woman. Smith and the witness told police, however, that no threats were made against her.
Smith was subsequently charged by the State Attorney General's Office on a misdemeanor count for malicious use of telecommunication services to threaten physical harm or damage to Houghton County Clerk Jennifer Kelly. He faces up to six months in jail, if convicted.
At a press conference on the sidewalk outside the court house on Thursday, Smith again told media members that he "never threatened" the woman. A protest outside the court building also drew his ire and Smith told reporters: "They are here from the Genesee County Democrat Party board.... This whole thing is a political hit job by our county clerk (former State Senator and current County Clerk / Register of Deeds John Gleason)... I'm not guilty. I didn't threaten this woman and they have no evidence that I did. I can't wait to get all this behind me and clear my name because I'm not guilty. I never threatened this woman and I'm looking forward to get this out of my life."
Smith refused to answer one reporter's question about whether or not he ever made a phone call to the Houghton County clerk as alleged.
The protest included five women carrying signs. Two of the signs said Smith terrorizes women and he responded to them by saying, "I have never terrorized a woman" and rattling off special causes he has helped with over the years to raise money for women, including with Flint Area Right to Life where he has served as a board member.
Bobbie Walton of Davison said none of the five protesters were organized or joined by party officials from the county's Democrat Party as alleged by Smith. "We were here today to show support for the victim," Walton said. "She needs to know people support her. If Matthew Smith says he doesn't terrorize women, I disagree. I've talked with the victim. I know what he did. She spent weeks after the incident scared in her own home, stacking furniture in front of her door every night when she went to bed — making sure nobody could break in and hurt her."
Smith blasted the local media for its coverage of his case, saying three members of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners also had recall hearings on Wednesday "but only a school board member's recall gets covered except in one story by MLive that mentioned the others."
The Morning Gazette Radio Show and The Daily Gazette have each reported extensively on the recalls filed against County Commissioners Ellen Ellenberg of Burton, Mark Young of Grand Blanc and Gary Peppin of Davison. In fact, all three recalls were reported a few days ahead of stories about them published by MLive.
An attorney for Crusader Communications Network Inc. is writing a letter to demand a retraction from Smith about his untrue comments.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is defense attorney Albert Zerka of Flint Township.
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Attorney Albert Zerka quits criminal case against county Republican Party chairman
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