Whodunnit in Daggett
It might be time to invade the People's Republic of Daggett County (pop. 921) — it obviously needs some nation building.
A state investigation into voter fraud in Daggett County resulted in criminal charges against 51 people. Republican Rick Ellsworth won his 2006 election by a mere 20 votes out of 594 ballots, but was later accused of registering people who did not live in the county — three of whom share his last name.
His Democratic rival Allen Campbell looked at the voter list and found 14 voters registered as living at the Manila address of Ellsworth's parents.
Somebody call the law! Wait a minute, Ellsworth is the law. The questionable election made him Daggett County sheriff.
Ellsworth is not charged with any crimes and the Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff can't figure out who was behind the alleged fraud.
"The allegations [against Ellsworth] were there, but that was essentially impossible to prove," says the AG's mout
hpiece Paul Murphy.
Why not just hold the election again? I figure that with less voters than it takes to fill a high school gym, the county clerk could just call for a show of hands.
Left: Eschewing electronic voting machines, Daggett County voters traditionally cast their votes on lake trout.
A state investigation into voter fraud in Daggett County resulted in criminal charges against 51 people. Republican Rick Ellsworth won his 2006 election by a mere 20 votes out of 594 ballots, but was later accused of registering people who did not live in the county — three of whom share his last name.
His Democratic rival Allen Campbell looked at the voter list and found 14 voters registered as living at the Manila address of Ellsworth's parents.
Somebody call the law! Wait a minute, Ellsworth is the law. The questionable election made him Daggett County sheriff.
Ellsworth is not charged with any crimes and the Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff can't figure out who was behind the alleged fraud.
"The allegations [against Ellsworth] were there, but that was essentially impossible to prove," says the AG's mout
hpiece Paul Murphy.Why not just hold the election again? I figure that with less voters than it takes to fill a high school gym, the county clerk could just call for a show of hands.
Left: Eschewing electronic voting machines, Daggett County voters traditionally cast their votes on lake trout.
2 Comments:
actually, most of the summer people who live there half a year, think that we should start at the top, and go down the list. first, you get a californis mayor, who wants to inforce laws, that do not need enforcing, as this is a tourist town, and not l.a. and then you can't vote him out, or change anything to bring back the reason that all of us bought there. taxes has been doubled for single trailers, and we still have dirt roads that our children cannot have fun on, as his california way of thinking, is just ridiculous, for such a small community. we write and complain but, get no reprieve, as it is his way, or no way. most of the long timers, just ignore it all because, they are to busy with their daily lives, and work from dawn until dusk so have no idea what he is really doing to this beautiful place.
A lot of the problem with the seasonal users of this area is they tend to loose all common sense and feel that they are in the country and there are no laws. They ride their 4wheelers all over the place, narrowly avoiding causing wrecks, etc. The seasonal users to this area are appreciated and welcome but they really do need to show some respect to those of us who live here year round. Though Daggett County has been in the news recently I don't believe people are focusing on what is happening to this county as a result of the 2006 elections and inmate escapes. The County is in serious financial condition, has had to raise taxes, is loosing valued sheriff's deputies and jailers who have been trained with Daggett County monies are not receiving raises that should justly go to them and not the sheriff's secretary. Now the county has to pay for 51 trials to prosecute the voter fraud - when does it end? Why doesn't the Attorney General make plea agreements with some of those 51 people to find out who masterminded the whole voter fraud and go after who is really behind all of these problems.
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