LANSING, MI (WKZO-AM/FM, May 24) – One candidate has stepped down and two front runners for the GOP gubernatorial nomination could be in line for disqualification from the August 2nd Republican Primary Election due to alleged fraudulant petition signatures.
A state Bureau of Elections staff report disclosed on Monday claims that five of the 10 hopefuls to challenge incumbent Gretchen Whitmer in November did not get enough valid petition signatures by last month’s deadline, including former Detroit Police Chief James Craig, Detroit area businessman Perry Johnson, and state police captain Michael Brown of Stevensville. Former state Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer was among those claiming that Craig and Johnson, along with Norton Shores businesswoman Tudor Dixon, had operatives forge signatures on nominating petitions. In all, the Bureau claims that 60 thousand signatures were found to be fraudulent involving 10 circulators.
Dixon, who had received the endorsement yesterday of former gubernatorial nominee Dick DeVos and his wife Betsy, the one-time US Secretary of Education, does have enough valid signatures, according to the Bureau.
On Tuesday morning, Brown announced his withdrawl from the race, saying in a statement, “It appears that after my campaign’s signature gathering was complete, individuals independently contracted for a portion of our signature gathering and validation jumped onto other campaigns and went on a money grab. They were involved in allegedly fraudulent signature gathering activities with these campaigns causing the Michigan Bureau of Elections to declare all of the signatures connected to those individuals as invalid. I cannot and will not be associated with this activity.”
The Board of Canvassers will meet on Thursday morning to consider the Bureau’s recommendation for disqualification.
-MIRS News contributed to this report
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