October 31, 2010
from Stephen Gale, Chair Sonoma County Democratic Party
Only 3 days before election day, a truck with very large signs supporting Republican Jim Judd and Supervisorial Candidate David Rabbitt pulled up into the parking lot at the Registrar of Voter’s designated absentee ballot drop-off point in Petaluma. Mr. Rabbitt was present and participated in the rally at this location. Mr. Rabbitt also witnessed the attack on a voter who photographed the assembled rally and he did nothing to stop this illegal act of voter intimidation.
The use of this type of “Tea Party Tactics” by a registered Democrat running for public office is not only shocking, it is a factor that every person in the 2nd Supervisorial District should consider when voting.
I thank Ms. Thomas for her courage and share her letter so you can see what happened to a voter in Petaluma.
October 30, 2010
Janice Atkinson, Registrar of Voters, Sonoma County
Santa Rosa, CA 95406-1485
Dear Ms. Atkinson,
Per your request during our phone conversation this afternoon, I’m forwarding to you a summary of the incident that occurred at the Petaluma Community Center earlier today.
At approximately 11:30am today, Oct. 30, 2010, I was driving north on N McDowell Blvd in my truck with my husband, John Thomas, as my passenger. As we approached the Petaluma Community Center, there were approximately 50-60 supporters of Supervisorial candidate David Rabbitt on either side of the street walking towards the Community Center, many holding Rabbitt campaign signs. As I turned right into the parking lot of the Community Center, there was a Rabbitt campaign rally taking place in the parking lot with about 30 more supporters and observers. Mr. Rabbit was there and he was approaching people arriving and exiting their cars, shaking hands and conversing. There was also a truck with a trailer covered with large campaign signs for both Mr. Rabbitt and Congressional candidate Jim Judd parked in the middle of the lot. I parked my truck and went inside the Community Center to drop off my voted ballot at this authorized location. As I exited the building, I became very concerned over the inappropriateness of this rally and campaigning by Mr. Rabbitt taking place outside an authorized voting site, so much so that I captured a photo with my cell phone which I’m forwarding to you with this summary. The photo shows Mr. Rabbitt standing in the parking lot with supporters holding his campaign signs. By the way, one of those supporters in the photo is Petaluma City Council candidate Karen Nau.
As soon as I snapped the 1 photo, I headed to my truck where my husband was waiting inside. Just as I reached my truck, a woman wearing Rabbitt campaign garb and a Rabbitt staff badge came up behind me and said, “Excuse me, may I ask why you took that photo?” I said, “I’m documenting the fact there are candidates dangerously close to an authorized voting site.” She tried to engage me in conversation by saying, “We have permission to be here” but I ignored her and entered my truck. 2 more women, also wearing Rabbitt campaign garb approached the driver side window of my truck and began tapping on my truck. I waved them away and took out my phone to call an associate. While I was on the phone, they continued tapping (I never lowered the windows during all this) and were trying to engage me in conversation while yet 3 more Rabbitt supporters approached the passenger side of my truck. All were shouting at me, including citations of having permission from the Registrar’s office to be there. 2 of them made accusations of my being “just like Pam Torliatt, you won’t even come out here and talk to us.” I don’t know where that came from as I have no campaign material of any kind on my truck nor was I wearing anything to indicate who I support.
After much thought about this outrageous attack, which Mr. Rabbitt (and Ms. Nau) observed from approximately 20 feet away and did absolutely nothing to diffuse, I went to the Petaluma Police Department to request an incident report. At approximately 2:40pm on the same day of this event, I spoke briefly to Sgt. Mark Hunter who refused to take a report, saying there was no crime committed, although I’d been harassed and received attempts of intimidation. I left the police station feeling as if my issue was being ignored. I can’t say I was surprised of the outcome since this is the agency where just this week the secretary of state’s office was contacted by our city manager to request an investigation of potential voter fraud after it was discovered that four police officers used the Police Department address when they registered to vote.
After my visit with Sgt. Hunter, I went home and took a quick look on the internet of the California Election Codes (specifically 18540-18541 and 18370-18371) and there’s a lot to be said about intimidation, speaking to voters and displaying signs while votes are being cast. And you might argue, as you did on the phone with me, that this wasn’t an official polling site, and that maybe (or maybe not) the demonstrating and campaigning being done by Mr. Rabbitt and his supporters was a foot or so further from the building than the required distance of 100 feet specified in the elections code… but it’s plain to see that the spirit of the language was violated today. And this is just one event of many that occur year after year during election season, most all being swept under the rug by the governing agencies.
After nearly 20 years of exposure (and participation as a candidate, twice) in Petaluma politics and the constant “fudging of the rules” that continues over and over again by certain candidates and now finally a personal attack on me and my husband, I’m insisting that your office address this incident and act on it.
Thank you and I await your response.
Lucinda “Cindy” Thomas
Petaluma 94954
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Link to Original
