Update: The third challenge to the ERNC elections, filed by Shauna Smith, appears to have been redacted by election authorities without an explanation on the Empower LA website.
Five days after one of the most dramatic and contentious electoral contests in the history of L.A.’s neighborhood councils, city authorities finalized the results of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council elections but were yet to make a decision about several challenges regarding the validity of the Oct. 13 vote .
On Thursday night, the elections division of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment posted the names and designations of the individuals who comprise the new ERNC Board on the Empower LA website.
The website also featured a new challenge to the legitimacy of the elections, raising to three the number of such challenges.
The latest challenge, filed Thursday night, was from a stakeholder identified as an Eagle Rock resident named Shauna Smith. According to the stakeholder’s complaint, which was posted on the Empower LA website Friday but appears to have been struck out without an explanation over the weekend, the results of the ERNC elections were “compromised through unethical and illegal acts before and during the election.”
The complaint alleges that a medical marijuana dispensary located in the Rampart area of Los Angeles distributed flyers that offered individuals $40 worth of marijuana if they voted for certain candidates whose names were printed on the flyers. The names on the flyers pertained to a slate of candidates running under the Progress & Collaboration banner led by presidential candidate Nelson Grande II.
The distribution of such flyers—and the inducements contained in them—are a violation of the California Election Code (section 18522), according to the complaint. The complaint demanded that candidates listed on the flyer who won in the election should be deemed as either having committed “voting irregularities” or their victories termed “unverifiable.”
The latter option would allow the incoming ERNC board to resolve the issue “either through affirmation of the election results” or to appoint other board member to fill the contested positions, the complaint proposed.
On Monday, Mark Haskell Smith, an Eagle Rock resident who ran unsuccessfully for the post of Sub-District 5 director under the Progress & Collaboration banner, also challenged the validity of the ERNC elections.
Smith has alleged that he and other candidates from his P&C slate were slandered by Peter Hilton, a former member of the ERNC, and that outgoing President Michael Larsen violated election rules by endorsing a slate of candidates he privately backed.
• Click here to read more about Smith’s challenges in our previous story.
• See all the three challenges in the attached PDFs and on the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment website.
Tosca Garner, an election administrator at the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, told Eagle Rock Patch that Stephen Box, DONE’s project coordinator for Neighborhood Council elections, was still working on the complaints along with his staff.
Box told Eagle Rock Patch this past Monday that it could take 14 days to resolve a complaint from the time it is received.
Meanwhile, outgoing ERNC President Larsen said the new board will be seated Nov. 13 at Eagle Rock City Hall.
“It was a memorable election on many levels, but the thing that stands out for me is the sight of so many Eagle Rockers pouring into City Hall to make their voices heard and participate in the future of our great neighborhood,” Larsen said.
“It was difficult at times, but we are a stronger community for having gone through the process,” Larsen added. “I want to thank all the candidates for putting themselves on the line, and congratulate the new board members for stepping forward in service."
Correction: The initial version of this story reported that the third challenge to the ERNC elections, filed by Shauna Smith, was filed Friday, as per the date at the top of the PDF file posted by Empower LA. A caller on Smith's behalf has informed Eagle Rock Patch that the challenge was, in fact, filed Thursday night. (As noted in the article above, the challenge appears to have been redacted by Empower LA for unspecified reasons.)
Go ahead, respond with more BS, come in with your "facts" and your assumptions, and the pitch forks while you're at it. THANK GOODNESS for those GOOD PEOPLE in Eagle Rock that give me hope that not everyone in here is as bitter and "almighty" as you. I have better things to do and better people to spend my time with. I've said what I've said. Do what you will. Peace out.
For all we know, an opposing party member could've fired up Microsoft Word, typed and printed that out himself; under the guise if they lost, they could blame the high voter turnout on being fraudulent due to allegations of giving away pot for votes.
Wishful thinking? You make laugh [at you]! The email that Nelson Brande sent to the pro-pot union is concrete proof that the Green Party solicited votes from outsiders. Nelson's admission of guilt in crafting and sending that email already taint the election and are telling of he and his party's character and agenda. The flyer is an outright bribe. I am so glad Shauna Smith is taking on this task of lodging a complaint in regards to this fraud and I hope that the few elected Green Party members get the boot ASAP.
It isn't a mystery to me. All you have to do is consider the cast of Green Party members and that should speak volumes about their character.
Excellent retort.
"The email that Nelson Brande sent to the pro-pot union is concrete proof that"... He sent an email. It wasn't illegal and not liking it doesn't make it unethical. Let me repeat that for clarity: NOT LIKING IT DOESN'T MAKE IT ILLEGAL OR UNETHICAL. ERMa, your posts are always dumb and vituperous and you should feel bad about exposing your ignorance this way. Everyone in the room is dumber for having read them. Cowardly Anonymous Harpy, indeed.
I don't always catch typos when posting. Wow! You were actually helpful for once. I noticed that you invited the Grandes to your 62nd birthday party. I hope they actually show because a party of one is all too familiar in your depressing and insignificant little life. Oh wait! I just realize that you can count your blow up dolls as a guest! You see, I can be helpful, too! Party on, ya big nut.
This is where Larsen, as President, led the Council in support of the 'gentle' ban: http://eaglerock.patch.com/articles/neighborhood-council-supports-huizar-s-ban-on-marijuana-dispensaries and This is where he led the council in a vote to ask for Federal Raids here in ER: http://eaglerock.patch.com/articles/eagle-rock-neighborhood-council-to-seek-federal-assistance-in-combating-medical-marijuana-facilities The plan may not be 'evil', but it sure is scary when someone invites Armed Federal Agents into our neighborhood. I don't make things up to further an agenda. Personally, I'd be mindful of the fear-mongers and their forceful hand.
We would have invited you but we already have a pinata and it's not loaded with excrement.
"We" as in you actually got someone to accept your invitation? How much did you pay them? This is where your blow up doll doesn't count.
Seriously, I would like to hear more about your 62nd birthday party. I wonder who will be there? Oh yeah! No one will go because you have no friends outside of your computer. Shucks! That's too bad because it would probably be interesting to attend your party under a rock.
Had I known I would have invited you too. It was a nice gathering of some very talented people who couldn't care less about Eagle Rock politics. We had a sampler case of wine from a Santa Cruz vintner I've known for years, the only guy who has ever made a chardonnay I like. There were two people there that I kinda shoved together last year because of their related talents, and they're getting along famously. Here's a pair of samples: http://imgur.com/a/wfv9U and- http://www.lipeguitars.com/home.shtml They almost have their first project completed and are plotting more. We listened to a few hours of homegrown music that was produced here and had some great conversation. ERMa even came up as a topic for about 3 minutes. We discussed the idea of getting her a year's membership at www.harpieswhodesperatelyneedadate.com, but decided instead to pass the hat and get her a deep cycle marine battery for her PENIFIER5000(TM). All in all a great evening and I'm sorry you missed it! We usually have an eclectic jam session/New Year's Eve party every year and I'll remember you for that!
But it is acceptable for Joe Moguin to insult as he pleases and that is not cyberspace bullying? Interesting how when someone chooses no longer to be victimized by some old perv that an issue is made of it. @Joe Moguon There is no need to lend out your personal toy. Besides, you need it to go screw yourself.
Nelson: Thanks for the links. We'll have to agree to disagree that a 10-3 vote on the neighborhood council is the same as a one-man crusade, and the potbellied lawyers at the DA and AG's office count as Armed Federal Agents. But all's fair in politics, so I get it. Damian and Joe: If you doubt the validity of the "pot-for-votes" flyer, just ask Nelson. He'll be the first one to tell you it was real.
Now the context of the thread is shattered, but oh well. I don't know if you saw it Jayres, but I'll catch you up before the next party. It'll probably be a jam/NYE party the week between Christmas and New Year's. Guess I'll just get refund on that deep cycle marine battery.
Why get a refund on it? You can [and will] put it to use. Enjoy yourself as you always have...
I know you think you're pulling a slick one by using my real name here, but you should understand that I really don't care either way. I've used bbkong online ever since the internet was invented and the connection between the two is more than obvious. Unlike you however, I will own every word I've ever posted because 1) I'm not a coward and 2) I don't say stupid things on the internet. I know this is a difficult thing for you to wrap your head around, but if you're so concerned about your family's safety because of things you say in public, perhaps you should consider tempering your remarks so you aren't too ashamed of what you post that you wouldn't want your family to see it. That's a very real possibility. Until that moment, you will remain Eagle Rock's Cowardly Anonymous Harpy, a troll of the first order. I sincerely hope you don't attract the attention of 4chan.
Great. More inane drivel. Using your real name was your idea, remember?
And your name....? If the shoe fits...
A DEA raid is no joke. They come with a dozen guys armed with semi automatic weapons. Somebody could get hurt. Asset forfeiture with no limit, possibly with lifetime penalties isn't justice. It is theft. I didn't think the orange flyer for one side was any differant from buying the choir with tacos. This was a PTA election, not a trial. The queen could be whoever sells the most tacos. Waiting for the Texas cheerleader mom to show up.
I get it. You are crying "Uncle." It is interesting that you spew hate but can't take a little teasing. Wow! The almighty Joe Schmo has an Achilles Heel.
And I've never seen Peter Hilton's flyer, but since he only got a few votes, I don't think it had the same impact Nelson/Tim's free pot flyer had. (If they gave away free tacos, I would've voted for them, too.) But it's a media story and a law enforcement issue now, and we should ignore it and move on to bigger issues, like what Joe is getting ERM for Patch Secret Santa this year.
Well, have fun. I'll be out of town for the rest of the week.
Sure you'll be out of town for a week. ;-) That one was old when you were a kid some 60-odd years ago.