Warrant Issued for Petition Circulator

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sixonline@wowt.com
Posted: 10:56 AM Oct 31, 2008
Last Updated: 11:24 AM Oct 31, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: WOWT

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An arrest warrant has been issued for a 53-year-old petition circulator.

Mark Brown of Tulsa, Oklahoma is accused of three felony counts of false swearing to a circulator's affidavit. He was paid to collect signatures to get a measure to ban affirmative action on the November ballot.

According to an arrest affidavit, the Lancaster County Election Commissioner became suspicious after spotting a pattern on petitions Brown turned in. Two names in a row would have the same last name and address, as if both a wife and husband had signed. But in fact, there was no one by the second name listed as a registered voter.

Police say a writing comparison turned up 29 names and addresses Brown was believed to have written himself.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Kent on Nov 2, 2008 at 09:56 PM
D, the closest thing to the Klan is ACORN.

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 1, 2008 at 05:38 AM
D, the Klan is alive and well? You sound like Hitler!

Posted by: LLR on Oct 31, 2008 at 11:28 PM
I highly doubt 29 bogus signatures taints the entire effort. from what I understand they had more than enough authentic signatures to place the initiative on the ballot. Which I voted for. I have firmly believed for more than 20 years that Affirmative Action is nothing but reverse racism...preferential treatment based SOLELY on race, ethnicity, sex, etc. Once years ago I swore the next time I applied for a position with the State of Nebraska I was going to put on the application that I was a blind, African-American WOMAN with one leg amputated, just to see if I was awarded an interview. Wish I had had the opportunity to do so, because I can BET their jaws would have dropped off when I walked into the room.

Posted by: Anti-Affirmative Action on Oct 31, 2008 at 05:49 PM
U.S. is becoming a leftist police state. Why don't the Lincoln election bureaucrats go after Obama supported ACORN, with millions of potential fraudulent registrations, instead of Joe the Petitition Circulator? Political correctness will lead to a socialist dictatorship during the next two years. Goodbye to American freedom.

Posted by: D on Oct 31, 2008 at 05:14 PM
It seems the Klan is alive and well. New sleazy tactics is all.

Posted by: Biff on Oct 31, 2008 at 04:35 PM
ED, why is it backward to want equal treatment for all vs. preferential treatment for some? That is, after all, what affirmative action is about, and these days, it's just not warranted. I am disappointed that this petitioner didn't follow the rules, but it doesn't mean his cause is bad - only his method.

Posted by: ??? on Oct 31, 2008 at 04:31 PM
I think this happens a lot more often then people realize, especially if the circulators are "paid per signature".

Posted by: Chris in LV on Oct 31, 2008 at 03:00 PM
ED, that's one bad petitioner out of how many, and you condemn the whole effort? With your reasoning, we should shut down the entire Lexington Public School District for what Kelsey Peterson did.

Posted by: Justin on Oct 31, 2008 at 02:47 PM
There are bad seeds in many of these ballot initiative efforts. While that is unfortunate, let’s keep it in perspective. I’m sure ED will agree with me that at least this Mark Brown guy wasn’t illegally registering voters like ACORN has done nationwide. I anxiously await this forward step for Nebraska to pass. Discrimination has no place in public education, employment or policy. In light of that, I have not been more proud to be a Nebraskan than I am right now.

Posted by: Ex-Brit on Oct 31, 2008 at 02:31 PM
You see this type of petitioning in most states. My issue is that the people hired are not volunteers campaigning for the cause, but more often those down on their luck and needing a job. It is no wonder they are willing to forge signatures in order to make money. Either way a step backward for both the initiative and the political process.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 31, 2008 at 02:18 PM
When ever people are paid based upon their performance it can lead to misconduct. The trouble is that it is not a local issue, just take ACORN in Indiana, signing up Jimmy Johns (restaurant) as a voter, or that One part of Florida they have found over 1600 dead people voting in the past. If petition collectors were paid an hourly wage perhaps this kind of abuse would come to an end

Posted by: barney on Oct 31, 2008 at 02:10 PM
Ban Affirmative Action? You can't eliminate 40 years of attitude. It's not what you know, it's who you know.

Posted by: ED on Oct 31, 2008 at 11:08 AM
And this surprises anybody? This sleazy, backdoor movement has probably been this way from the start. I'm sure this backward step for Nebraska will pass, and I wonder how many more incidents like this will be the reason. I'm embarrased to be a Nebraskan right now.....