BeaconMediaNews.com
8 | APRIL 07, 2014 - april 13, 2014
Arcadia POA pulls endorsement of candidate Sho Tay Candidate offers free stamps - again
Sho Tay
The Arcadia Police Officer’s Association has removed their endorsement for Sho Tay for Arcadia City Council in the April 8 election, Acadia Detective Mike Hale confirmed with Arcadia Weekly on Thursday. Sho Tay, who has made several previous attempts at a council seat, has been under fire since several allegations of possible election code violations which occurred two weeks ago. An attempt to collect mail-in ballots for the upcoming April 8 election in Arcadia by a young man identified only as an ‘Asian teenager approximately 16 years of age’ who was knocking on doors in the 1700 block of Alta
Oaks allegedly asked residents if he could collect their election ballots and mail them for them was the catalyst. Arcadia Weekly was the first to break the story on March 20. Beacon Media spoke with candidate, Sho Tay last week regarding this matter to see what his thoughts were. ShoTay told this newspaper that 2 years ago voter turnout was so low that he wanted to encourage people to vote in this election for a better balance. “After some suggestion from my campaign staff , I enlisted the help of students from the Democratic Club at Arcadia High School to offer residents of Arcadia stamps for the mail in postcard. It was all quite innocent and done with the best of intentions.” “We (the campaign staff) did a survey and found out that many people didn’t even know how many (stamps) to put on a ballot postcard, so we offered to help.” He asserted, “…it was certainly not an attempt to sway the voter in either direction.” The candidate’s inten-
By Terry Miller tions, while honorable in ob- ers. That is only 12%. I believe jective, caught the attention the more voters, the more of local residents and law voices are heard. Since the enforcement when one of the beginning of my campaign students offered to mail the I have been making every ballots for the resident. effort to get more registered “It’s about people (the voters to participate in this election) not the party…I’m election. No matter who you a registered Republican,” Sho vote for, it’s important to cast Tay said in a telephone inter- your vote. Some people say view. “We were simply try- the new mail-in ballot process ing to encourage those who couldn’t be easier — all you might not send in their ballots, have to do is put your ballot to do just that!” in an envelope, put a stamp We asked Sho Tay if on it, and put it in your mailanyone took the students up box by this Friday, April 4, or on the offer of stamps or the hand deliver it to City Hall by offer to mail the ballots for next Tuesday, April 8. them. His answer was in the I’m going to make it affirmative “Yes, some Arca- even easier – today I dedians did take stamps and we livered first class stamps to took (3) ballots to the post of- two local businesses to give fice.” away to anyone who comes Sho Tay has since in and requests one for their stopped the practice and will ballot envelope. No one will not offer to mail in ballots for ask which candidate you are residents, nor offer stamps. voting for; no one will even However in an email check to make sure you use sent Tuesday night, Sho Tay the stamp for your ballot enis once again offering stamps, velope. It’s the honor system. for free: Despite all the con- I may, in fact, wind up paytroversy two weeks ago, Shoy ing for some people to vote Tay said this is his email: against me, but it’s worth it to “So far about 3,600 bal- me to do all I can to get more lots have been cast, out of of you to cast your vote. about 30,000 registered votSo, if you don’t have a stamp, please stop by Taza: A social coffee house at 11 W. Huntington Drive (just west of Santa Anita Avenue, across from the park) or O’Green Cafe, 714 W. Duarte Road (just west of Baldwin Avenue). I’m also pleased to help promote these two terrific Arcadia businesses run by local entrepreneurs. Vote for whomever you like, please just VOTE! Democracy only works if we all care enough to participate!” – Sho Tay
Arcadia Weekly contacted Chief deputy city clerk/ records manager Lisa Mussenden in Arcadia who told us that “ They are looking into the matter and as it is an ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further.” Arcadia Police Lieutenant Colleen Flores said the dept. issued an automatic alert two weeks ago to area residents advising residents that in no case will City representatives come to your home and collect election ballots. Regina Ip from the Los Angeles County Registrar’s office sent us the pertinent laws regarding this issue: Here is the law, as stated in Los Angeles: 18576. Any person who willfully (a) interferes with the prompt delivery of a completed vote by mail ballot application, (b) retains a completed vote by mail ballot application, without the voter’s authorization, for more than three days excluding weekends and state holidays, or by the deadline for return of vote by mail ballot applications, whichever is earlier, or (c) denies an applicant the right to return his or her own completed vote by mail ballot application to the local elections official having jurisdiction over the election, is guilty of a misdemeanor. 18568. Every person is punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years, or by both that fine and imprisonment, who:
(a) Aids in changing or destroying any poll list or official ballot. (b) Aids in wrongfully placing any ballots in the ballot container or in taking any therefrom. (c) Adds or attempts to add any ballots to those legally polled at any election by fraudulently putting them into the ballot container, either before or after the ballots therein have been counted. (d) Adds to or mixes with, or attempts to add to or mix with, the ballots polled, any other ballots, while they are being counted or canvassed or at any other time, with intent to change the result of the election, or allows another to do so, when in his or her power to prevent it. (e) Carries away or destroys, attempts to carry away or destroy, or knowingly allows another to carry away or destroy, any poll list, ballot container, or ballots lawfully polled or who willfully detains, mutilates, or destroys any election returns. (f) Removes any unvoted ballots from the polling place before the completion of the ballot count. Lt. Flores advises If someone does come to your home offering to collect your mail-in election ballot “do not give it to them” and contact the PD. While it is unlikely any criminal or civil charges will be files, the Election Code clearly states that Anyone with any additional information is asked to call Arcadia police at 626-5745123. Arcadia’s election is Tues April 8.
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