Commissioner accuses own department of issuing 'illegal' election certificates
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
A top official at the Philadelphia City Commissioners, which oversees city elections, has accused a subordinate of passing off "illegal" documents.
A top official at the Philadelphia City Commissioners, a public office charged with overseeing the city's electoral process, has accused a subordinate of passing off "illegal" documents.
Commissioner Stephanie Singer wrote, in an email, that Deputy Commissioner Don Garecht, a Republican, issued "Certifications of Election" to candidates before the end of five-day grace period mandated by the state Election Code. The waiting period is designed to give opponents a chance to challenge election results.
Singer, a Democrat, also alleges that her signature was placed on the "illegal" election certificates "without her authorization."
"The candidates have a right to know the results in time to challenge the certification," wrote Singer in a press release. "I don't understand how the Board of Elections can operate this way without consequences from the District Attorney. This is election corruption at the highest levels and it must end."
Coincidentally, Singer, who had run as a reformer pledging to clean up the elections board, also released an e-mail today soliciting campaign donations to support her re-election next year.
Stay tuned as this story unfolds.
