Gila County’s recorder is facing tough criticism from both a failed challenger and county supervisors. Although he lost the primary, former recorder candidate James “Mac” Feezor is still fighting. Feezor says he plans to file a formal complaint on what he calls “numerous incidents of misconduct on the part of the elections personnel, specifically in the recorder’s office.” Supervisor Shirley Dawson said she is also unhappy with the recorder, specifically her handling of voter registration on the San Carlos and White River Apache Reservations and her decision to shorten polling place hours. Dawson said she believes Sadie Jo Tomerlin, a Republican, did not want to collect those votes because they come primarily from Democratic voters.
There is a question, a very strong question, of whether there is an effort to suppress the Native American vote,” Dawson said. “I see that San Carlos is an area where a Republican in office does not want Democrats voting and I will keep working hard to make sure the people of the San Carlos and White Mountain Apache Tribes know what has taken place and that they are members of the United States and have a right to vote.”
Dawson said she expected to see an investigation of voter suppression by the justice department. “The fact is, in my belief, integrity and security is lacking in the county recorder’s office,” she said
Full Article: Voting violations claimed | Payson Roundup – Payson, AZ.