Councilman-elect reports vote-buying

[Freddie Stubbs]

BY BOBBIE J. CLARK THE DAILY IBERIAN

The Louisiana Secretary of State's office is investigating a newly-elected New Iberia city councilman's allegations that his opponent bought votes with money and alcohol.

Raymond "Shoe Do" Lewis claims people working for Georgianna Brown's campaign paid people $2 to $5 or gave them extra dry gin in exchange for their vote during the most recent absentee voting period in October.
"I have recorded statements of people who were given money," he said. "The money was given to people with some sample ballots."

Lewis denied The Daily Iberian access to the tape, saying he wanted to save it for the investigation.

According to Louisiana Revised Statute 18:1461, it is illegal to "offer, promise, solicit, or accept money or anything of present or prospective value to secure or influence a vote or registration of a person."

more: http://www.iberianet.com/articles/2004/11/13/news/news/news9.txt

[finecraft]

1. I wonder why it was "extra dry "gin?

The candidate offering the gin was the widow of a New Iberia city councilman that stipulated in his will that he wanted his wife to serve out the remainder of his term. She approached this election with the mindset that she had basically been "willed" this council seat by her husband, and it was an insult that she even needed to run. This woman has no clue about anything, much less how to run an effective (and legal) political campaign.