Republican Supervisor Jeff Sili has uncovered a truly stunning example of just how brazen corruption can be, especially at the local level when the bad guys don’t think anyone is watching. [read_more]
It’s an old story that gets repeated all too often: people gathering petition signatures in support of one public policy or another, and even in support of getting ballot access for their preferred candidates, will often go to extreme lengths to get signatures and will even go as far as forging signatures.Jeff Sili appears to have discovered one of the more baldfaced examples we have ever seen. In a letter to the Free Lance Star, Sili details how proponents of a new sand and gravel mine being developed on the Rappahannock River in Caroline have pulled names of dead people from phone books, bribed people for signatures with coolers full of free pork, and even forged the signatures of Caroline residents who have never even heard of the petition.
The forged names now look to be taken from an old phone book which accounts for why husbands and wives are not forged together. The names are forged according to how they are listed in the phone book, A-Z which accounts for some of the deceased.
Sili, one of two conservatives (and the only Republican) on the Caroline County Board of Supervisors, has so far been unsuccessful in his opposition of the new development. But, at least his act of citizen journalism has paid a few dividends: now, the Caroline County sheriff is investigating the corruption (which is likely unlawful), and is soliciting feedback from residents whose signatures were forged. See the petition posted to the county website by the sheriff here.
Regardless of where one stands on different types of new development, we should all agree that submitting faked petitions to a government body, and petition signatures gained by fraud, is wrong. Keep up the good work, Jeff!
[Post has been updated to reflect that Sili is the lone Republican on the Board of Supervisors in Caroline.]
4 comments
It is sad that Mr. Sili, who is supposed to be a Republican, votes so many times against free enterprise and owner property rights. As for the petition, I really have to wonder if it was forged by the OPPOSITION. Mr. Sili’s comment, “The forged names now look to be taken from an old phone book which accounts for why husbands and wives are not forged together. The names are forged according to how they are listed in the phone book, A-Z which accounts for some of the deceased,” seems like a strange assumption and little too pat to me. The last time I checked the phone books in Caroline, and elsewhere, listed land lines usually by the husband’s name or a combination of the husband’s and wife’s together, sometimes just the wife’s, but the phone number is listed only ONCE. And two of the most notable forgeries, one a Board of Supervisor member, does not have his name in the phone book and his address was incorrect on the petition, and the other, the deceased former mayor of Port Royal, has a totally different address on the petition than is in the phone book and his first name is spelled wrong.
No shock to me as State employee 23 years . I see it every day state inspector calls ahead make appointment for elevator or electrical or vehicle yearly inspection . Health department . Fire Marshal list trickles down . Also rise higher to So State Corruption no shock it just each in political battle to throw mud to get ahead burn the real working folk or tax payer for biggest benefit to there career
To help stop corruption we need Representatives and Party chairs to be in touch with their Communities.
A poor ” leadership ” example was last years Mechanic’s Lien 297{ introduced by R } . This bill had it become would have allowed unlicensed contractors / illegal aliens to file an erroneous lien against a law abiding licensed contractor. By proxy this would have Deregulated Statutes 54.1-1100 without debate. It is a Prohibited Act { under 54.1-1100 } for a licensed contractor to conspire with an unlicensed contractor in the delivery of contracting services. You have to want to do good to be good.
Many Reps. have their heads buried in the sands of their respective political parties , to bad their heads are not buried in the Communities that they were Elected to represent.
Yup attention R and D you were not elected by the public to represent your party , represent the people and issues effecting your Communities. Greed is not a Family Value.
Very interesting Mr. Albertson ,
Perhaps one day all of the data of the illegal activity in Construction will be exposed at least in Goodlatte and Hurt’s Districts. It will only come to see the light of day through Democrats being that the CCRP has self destructed leaving LTP . LTP will speak out about a minimal numbers of illegals by a day of protest on Va. bridges . Isn’t a ” Day of Protest ” a joke ? Every day is a day of protest when competing with Government Sanctioned Illegal Commerce performed by Illegal Aliens.