Traynor calls foul over write-in omissions
By Curtis Riggs | April 22, 2009
Takes issue with recent C.O.I.N.S. e-mail
CAREFREE – Town council write-in candidate John Traynor is taking umbrage with Town Clerk Betsy Wise’s decision to not include write-in candidates in a recent C.O.I.N.S. e-mail alert about the May 19 general election.
Wise’s wording, “There are four Carefree Common Council seats to be decided on May 19. The four candidates who receive the most votes will be elected to fill the four seats,” upset Traynor.
Traynor is miffed Wise opted to not include himself and fellow official write-in candidate Jim Peirce in the number of candidates seeking office.
“Although I didn’t explicitly see the four candidate names listed, by implication and from reference to the Pamphlet, or by intentional omission, the Town has misled voters into thinking there are no other choices,” Traynor wrote. “A more appropriate public service would have been to indicate that there will be four candidates listed on the ballot and there will be two additional authorized write-in candidates for voters to choose.”
Traynor stressed Maricopa County Election officials have given permission to include write-in candidates on the town website and in town communications.
“In light of voter sentiment in 2009, and election statutes, I think fairness dictates that you address the inappropriate C.O.I.N.S. communication,” he wrote. “We’ve already seen enough abuse and misuse of it so far this year.”
Maricopa County election rules require write-in candidates to be registered to win election to office.
Wise staunchly believes she was right in the way she worded the April 14 C.O.I.N.S. alert about the general election.
“It was posted as I was required to. We have never listed any candidate names in any C.O.I.N.S.,” she said.
She testily maintains, “There are only four candidates for four seats.”