By Tony Brockmeyer
On Tuesday, January 23, the St. Charles Police Department took its first suspect into custody in conjunction with the ongoing investigation of alleged recall voter fraud in the collection of signatures on recall petitions. Taken into custody at home in St. Louis, the subject was brought to the St. Charles Justice Center for questioning. The investigation involves the collection of signatures in the recall efforts against Councilman Mark Brown, Ward 3 and Councilwoman Dottie Greer, Ward 7. After being held for several hours the individual was released pending further inquiry. This newspaper is withholding the name of the individual until charges are filed.
The Citizens Empowerment Committee, funded by donations from Glennon Jamboritz, Kenneth Keilty, Tom Hughes and Kevin Kast, paid people to collect signatures for the recalls. According to the Missouri Ethics Commission report filed in January, Linda Meyer, who acts as treasurer of the group, has also been paid to collect signatures as well as being paid for keeping the books. The police investigation is looking at the possibility of forged signatures and coerced signatures on affidavits that are required by state law and the City Charter to bring the recall efforts forward.
County Election Commissioner, Rich Chismer, at the St. Charles County Election Authority certified the signatures on recall petitions turned in without any review or investigation other then to see if there were registered voters with those names. Marilyn McCoy, the St. Charles City Clerk certified the petitions also without any determination other than there were voters registered under those names. According to previous legal opinions by the St. Charles City Attorney, McCoy’s certification is considered ministerial and not quasi-judicial. “The current system does not have the built in protections they have in many other cities,” Council President Rory Riddler.
According to our sources the investigation into the Greer recall is almost completed and will be presented to the County Prosecutor, Jack Banas with a request for charges to be filed and warrants issued. Banas, an elected official, then has the discretion whether or not to prosecute. After the investigation on the Dottie Greer recall an investigation will be conducted into the Mark Brown Recall.
A source close to the investigation told the First Capitol News that more arrests are expected.
