'Dirty Political Tricks': Good Government Lincoln Responds to Ongoing Petitioner Probe

by John Gage

(Picture credit Lancaster County Court)

Good Government Lincoln responded to attacks from political opponents as the group is restarting its charter amendment campaign following alleged fraud from petitioners that caused three proposed amendments to be thrown out by the Lancaster County Election Commissioner.

“It is not a mystery why career politicians don’t want to see an initiative for term limits get on the ballot- it will pass overwhelmingly,” Jessica Flanagain, an outside consultant for the group, said on Thursday. “Typically, the justice system takes time to play out, and we will fully cooperate with law enforcement during that time.”

Earlier in the day, Councilman Brodey Weber held a press conference attacking the group’s new petition drive. “Before anyone signs anything, Lincoln residents need honest answers and straightforward questions,” Weber said, according to NTV.

Also on Thursday, the Democratic challenger in the Lancaster County Attorney’s race, Randall Ritnour, called for Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon to step aside in the investigation.

“This is not a demand that anyone be prosecuted, and it is not an accusation that anyone has acted improperly,” Ritnour said according to KLKN. “It is a request for independence. Let the investigators investigate. Let the evidence speak.

The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office has previously stated that they have found no political motivation among the five individuals arrested.

“Nothing in our investigation makes us believe any political entity is working or affiliated with this,” Lancaster County Chief Deputy Sheriff Ben Houchin said during a Friday press conference. “These are people out doing crimes. Period.”

News of the investigation came after the group Good Government Lincoln announced last week that it would be redoing a petition drive following what the group believed was tampering in the process.

The group, headed by former State Senator Tony Fulton, is seeking to amend the City of Lincoln charter. Their three proposed changes would institute term limits for the city council, allow residents of Lincoln’s extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction to vote in city elections, and realign city elections to coincide with state and federal elections in hopes of increasing voter turnout.

The city clerk revealed last Wednesday that the measures had failed, with over 65% of the 30,000 submitted signatures being rejected. Historically, ballot initiatives have less than a 30% failure rate in signatures being rejected.

Jordan Brownstein, president of the subcontractor On The Ballot which collected the signatures, said that it was “heartbreaking” to realize they had been defrauded.

“The individuals identified and arrested have been part of successful ballot access drives for candidates ranging from mayors to presidents, nationwide. We trusted these individuals, we cared for them, and despite this, they chose to defraud us and our clients,” he said.

“The fraud that was discovered is outrageous and the worst kind of dirty political tricks. It victimizes voters, the democratic process, and the petition sponsors. As the vendor in charge of gathering signatures, we are eagerly cooperating with law enforcement to make sure every bad actor involved is brought to justice, and whoever directed this sabotage is identified and exposed.”

Fraudsters Face Felony Charges

On Friday, Lancaster County Court unsealed documents in cases against 5 petition gatherers. Documents reveal that each of the individuals arrested by law enforcement is facing felony charges related to fraudulent signature gathering.

The documents were initially sealed last Wednesday over concerns that public notice would tip off some of the fraudsters. The documents were then unsealed on Friday, following the arrests.

Each of the petitioners is facing two felony charges apiece for “false swearing to circulator’s affidavit.” Each count carries up to a 2-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine.

Court records identify David A. Johnson, 25 of New Jersey; Jessica Davis, 23 of Florida; Nathan Kirschbaum, 32 of Nevada; Jason Luciano, 32 of Nevada; and Ryan McKinney, 41 of Missouri as the 5 individuals arrested and facing charges.

In each of the cases, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office contacted individuals with signatures on suspected fraudulent forms and confirmed that they had not signed the petitions. Law enforcement used cell phone data to pinpoint where each of the defendants was when they committed the fraud in Lancaster County.

Democrats have pointed the finger at Republicans for the fraud, while the consulting group that helped with the petition campaign says they are considering “civil options” against the individual petitioners.

County election officials verify petitions by going line by line on each petition when verifying signatures, looking at name, date of birth, and address to see if at least 2 of the 3 match. If fewer than 2 match, the signature is rejected, but if 2 or more match, then officials match signatures in their file database to see if they are authentic.

Other checks include verifying the notary signature, making sure the petitioner’s name is on the sheet and legible, and that the signatures on the document were collected on a date before the notary’s signature.

— John Gage is the executive editor of The Plains Sentinel.