Election commissioner says Borrello’s double voting was not ‘clerical error’
By NICHOLAS L. DEAN
OBSERVER Mayville Bureau
MAYVILLE - County Legislature candidate George Borrello incorrectly characterized his "criminal election behavior" as a "clerical error" in Friday's edition of the OBSERVER, according to Democratic Election Commissioner Norman P. Green.
While registered in both Erie County and Chautauqua County, Borrello, according to Green, voted alternately between his Williamsville and Irving addresses - violating New York state election law. The simultaneous registration was recently uncovered by the mandated statewide voter registration data base.
"The election crime was committed in the period of 1996 through 2001 and I personally decided not to pursue the matter due to the time that had lapsed since the violation," Green said Friday.
"If Mr. Borrello were a regular citizen, this would not be a matter of concern to the general public," Green continued. "He made the determination to seek election to the Chautauqua County Legislature and thus now needs to be accountable to a higher standard. But, it must be noted that the Board of Elections just this year referred for successful prosecution the case of a Fredonia college student who voted twice in two different counties for the same election. We are taking current election law violations seriously."
Borrello on Tuesday called the situation a ''clerical error'' on the part of the Erie County Board of Elections and maintained that though he was simultaneously registered ''for a few years,'' his voting record has been in Chautauqua County.
Green responded to the statement Friday with the following information, characterizing Borrello's voting history as "at will and apparent whim" from his two residences:
In 1996, Borrello registered and voted in Erie County. He continued to maintain his Chautauqua County registration and continued to receive mail at his home in Irving. At that time, his Erie County registration superseded the Chautauqua County registration based on the date that he registered from his Williamsville home.
In 1997, Borrello voted in Irving via a duplicate and undiscovered illegal voter registration. He continued to receive mail at both residences from both county election boards. Borrello continued to vote in Chautauqua County until 2000.
In 2001, Borrello returned to his Erie County poll site at Harris Hill Baptist Church in Williamsville and voted on his still active and uninterrupted registration in Erie County.
From 2004 through 2008, Borrello has voted in Irving at the Irving Fire Department.
On June 12, 2009, the election crime was uncovered and the New York State Board of Elections directed the Chautauqua County Board of Elections to purge Borrello's registration and to direct Borrello to re-register in Chautauqua County. Borrello has since re-registered to vote in Chautauqua County and the Board of Elections has accepted his new registration application, which ends his voter registration from Erie County.
"Today it has come to my attention that County Executive Greg Edwards' finance reports show a June 9 contribution from Borrello from his Williamsville address," Green said. "Then on Aug 5 and Sept 11, 2009 with his Irving address. This tends to further confirms his previous illegal voting activity and Erie County residency. In conclusion, Mr. Borrello committed an election crime and it is just plain wrong to let him dismiss it as a clerical error."
George Borrello is a candidate for County Legislature District 4, which includes the town of Hanover. He is endorsed by the Republican, Independence and Conservative parties.
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Bandit
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11-03-09 5:45 PM
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You do this, Norman, and you wonder why so few people run for office. Would you have so aggressively pursued this matter if Borrello spelled his name with a (D) at the end? HMMMM.
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