Macomb Man Alleges Election Fraud, Sues Township, County Clerks
Mark Maiuri has filed lawsuits against Macomb Township Clerk Michael Koehs and Macomb County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh, citing election fraud and violation of the Freedom of Information Act.
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A Macomb Township resident has filed a lawsuit against the county and Macomb Township clerks that challenges the validity of more than 50 signatures on supervisor candidate Janet Dunn's nominating petitions and alleges wrongful denial of a Freedom of Information Act request.
In his lawsuit, resident Mark Maiuri asks Macomb County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh to "conduct an immediate investigation" into the signatures on Dunn's nominating petitions.
Maiuri claims that from May 15, when he began his own investigation of Dunn's nominating petitions, and the present he has uncovered "extensive fraud."
Although Michigan law only gives individuals seven days after the deadline for filing nominating petitions to challenge the validity of the petition or signatures to the county clerk, Maiuri argues that he was unable to file his complaint earlier because "the level of the fraud was so extensive that the investigation justifiably took longer to conduct."
Part of that investigation included an analysis of the signatures on Dunn's 18 nominating petitions by a Bloomfield Hills' company. In that analysis, which was requested by John Johnson, who works with Cathy Imbronone's campaign, 55 signatures are identified as duplicates or having been completed "by the same person." It is against Michigan election law for the same person to sign the name or address of another.
Dunn, 70, currently serves as a township trustee, but withdrew her bid for re-election as a trustee to run against incumbent Supervisor Mark Grabow in the August primary. Macomb Township resident Charles Missig is also running for the seat.
Maiuri filed a second lawsuit against Macomb Township Clerk Michael Koehs regarding his denial of a Freedom of Information Act request for the resignation letter of former township employee Jordon Gross.
The lawsuit claims Gross was forced to write the letter by township officers for "refusing to engage in certain conduct and observing township employees sign nominating petitions for certain candidates on township time for election to Macomb Township public office.”
The lawsuit states Koehs "promised to convey a copty of the letter" to Maiuri at a June 28 board of trustees meeting, but Maiuri says no copy was ever received.
Maiuri has requested that Macomb County Circuit Court issue a "writ of mandamus" ordering the release of the letter.
susan miller
8:22 am on Monday, July 23, 2012
Corruption in macomb. How long has,this been going on? As residents we can not dismiss this horrendous display of illegal actions,by elected officials .
KEN
12:24 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012
Koehs needs to be taken down he is just a ex cop that still thinks he can do what he wants without punishment!
Kelly
9:45 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012
This lawsuit is just a tatic used by the Tina's crew and their headman John Johnson to get a headline in a newspaper or here on Patch. It won't even go to court! The allegations are baseless and false. But this is how John Johnson tries to disctract the voters from the real issues and to hide the fact that his candidates are not qualified for office. Anybody can start a lawsuit against anyone at anytime with no evidence or proof of their claim. You will never hear another word about this after August 7. If newspapers and the like would stop reporting on lawsuits before they even go to a show cause hearing he would have nothing to say!
Christine S.
10:31 am on Sunday, July 29, 2012
I agree with you Kelly...Michael Koehs and Janet Dunn are the two most honest people I know. Also where does Cathy I. and her crew even think that she qualifies for this type of job. We are in the black and we want to remain there. I don't think that the clerk nor the trustees are running Macomb Township like we are in the land of dinosaurs. They are running it responsibly.
...
Danielle Closs
8:25 am on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
I think Kelly is right, it's baseless.
Ken have you ever worked, let alone even met Michael? If you haven't you have no room to talk here. I have worked for him for the last 12 years as an election supervisor (giving you the ballot on election day/ supervising a polling location) In all my years working with him he has been the most straight forward person and always given us the ins and outs of what's going on.
KEN
8:27 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Dan Have met him, my opinion of him well lets just say he would never get my vote!!! Why would you think that I would have a opinion about someone without ever having met them????? And NO! YOU cant tell me I have NO ROOM TO TALK HERE! see this is the place people can talk and express there feeling about these candidates. Sounds to me you have worked around him too long and are starting to act just like him and that my friend is a SHAME!
Michelle
8:25 am on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
It doesnt sound baseless and false., that is for a judge to decide once they look at the "evidence". Good for him. Most people dont have the guts to fight a township board, so they get away with a lot of crap. Can't wait to hear how this turns out.
Alice
10:05 am on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
I have lost all confidence and trust in Mr. Koehs, after receiving the mailing from "Citizens for Macomb Unity," which is filled with malicious attacks against 3 candidates, while only praising Mr. Koehs. The return address on this mailer is false and non-existent.
Tom Tocco
7:32 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
The facts will prevail, change is necessary regardless of the out come.
Kim
9:57 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
I don't know how anyone can vote for people who have tried to sue the township and cost them money in doing so? If they were really looking out for the good of the township and not their own personal gain they would have followed to laws like everyone else! This is what happens when you are not qualified for the job! You just make up stuff about the other person! In all of the flyers from the Tina's crew I saw nothing about their qualifications only stuff about their opponents! Let's here what makes you qualified!
mary jo imbronone
8:58 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Kim. Educated honest kind and fair candidates. People think its about revenge, its not. It's about change. Experience comes. The new candidates are successful business people. They are willing to sacrifice their own businesses for change in Macomb The twp board and their attorneys were the ones that cost the taxpayers dollars. Please review the several lawsuits the board have been involved in. Check and see how many extra dollars the city attorney has been paid. Without the forced lawsuits, the rainy day fund would be quite larger. If you would like to be more informed, please feel free to contact me. This "stuff is the truth". It just took some very dedicated, aggressive, intelligent people to expose it. Thank you Mary Jo imbronone 586 949 2280.
Lisa Nash
10:38 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Mary Jo, I believe all of the misinformation around the "alleged fraud" was cleared up at tonight's Board Meeting. Macomb Township Residents can view the meeting online and see for themselves the motive and agenda behind these false accusations.....64 days past the deadline to challenge a petition and only 28 days before the election. Hear for yourself what the facts are, and go to www.koehsforclerk.com to read the official statement Mr. Koehs shared at the meeting tonight regarding this matter. Your version of the "truth" is very distorted, and a whole Department of election staff at our Township have unfairly come under fire without facts. Residents, please watch the Board Meetings, ask questions, and make informed decisions with your vote on August 7th. For our Township's sake!!
Jenny Whalen
12:11 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
If you don't feel like watching the whole meeting (although I recommend it, because it's one of the more exciting ones), be sure to check Patch Thursday morning (July 26) for a breakdown of just what's going on here. I'll post a link here tomorrow. Thanks!
Tom Tocco
6:25 pm on Saturday, July 28, 2012
Wahhhhh! Michael Koehs is so great. Go ahead and rip on Tina's crew. You don't know Cathy, do your homework people. You sound like someone unwilling to look at change. I still have nothing to say bad about Michael Koehs. Don't know him.
whatthefrack
7:27 pm on Saturday, July 28, 2012
Does anyone remember the Imbronone sisters nicknames?
Skinny Tina and Fat Tina!
Hahahahahahahha!
Tom Tocco
12:16 pm on Sunday, July 29, 2012
whatthefrack very interesting approach to politics.
Tracesder
2:44 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Township fraud is a widespread and it needs to stop, THE PEOPLE IN THE TOWN PAY FOR IT. IN MY TOWN NO ELECTIONS ARE REALLY HELD, EVERYONE IS RELATED! WHAT KIND BULL IS THAT.