By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
July 19, 2018
Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office confirmed that a felony charge for election fraud was filed against former Milwaukee County Supervisor Peggy West stemming from forged nomination signatures. West was defeated by Sylvia Ortiz-Velez on April 3rd who became the new 12th District Milwaukee County Supervisor. Ortiz-Velez in April received 815 votes 58% and the incumbent Supervisor West received 602 votes 42%, according to the Milwaukee County Election Commission.
Ortiz-Velez had filed an ethics complaint alleging that Supervisor West had apparently forged some nomination signatures and she was able to get affidavits from those who confirmed that they never signed the nomination papers for West. West when she submitted her nomination papers confirmed that she personally circulated the nominations papers where the discrepancies were alleged.
The discrepancies happened at several locations in the 12th Milwaukee County Supervisor District including at the 1800 block of W. Becher Street and at the 500 block of S. Layton Blvd., according to the Ortiz-Velez complaint.
One of the signers in an affidavit confirmed that the person that circulated West's nomination paper was an "African woman who was thin and young accompanied by a male." Other signers (OS) confirmed the person circulating West's nomination papers "was thin and Caucasian" and OS described the person circulating papers having black hair and also spoked fleunt Spanish, but Supervisor West signed and certified that she collected each signature in the nomination papers in question.
Supervisor West in February posted the following statement on her Friends of Milw. County Supervisor Peggy West, District 12, "For the record specifically at the address 1800 W. Becher, I did pass nomination papers at that location in addition, at that location, I had NO one African American passing papers, I also had no one Caucasian passing papers. I can and did speak to several residents there in Spanish...1800 W. Becher St is a Senior and disabled apartment complex as were at least 3 other addresses I used to collect signatures. It is very possible that residents don't clearly remember who came to their door to get their signature..."
One of the signers in an affidavit confirmed that the person that circulated West's nomination paper was an "African woman who was thin and young accompanied by a male." Other signers (OS) confirmed the person circulating West's nomination papers "was thin and Caucasian" and OS described the person circulating papers having black hair and also spoked fleunt Spanish, but Supervisor West signed and certified that she collected each signature in the nomination papers in question.
Supervisor West in February posted the following statement on her Friends of Milw. County Supervisor Peggy West, District 12, "For the record specifically at the address 1800 W. Becher, I did pass nomination papers at that location in addition, at that location, I had NO one African American passing papers, I also had no one Caucasian passing papers. I can and did speak to several residents there in Spanish...1800 W. Becher St is a Senior and disabled apartment complex as were at least 3 other addresses I used to collect signatures. It is very possible that residents don't clearly remember who came to their door to get their signature..."
Former deputy District Attorney Patrick Kenney (retired) was assigned to the West election fraud case as a special Milwaukee County prosecutor and the Milwaukee Police Department Internal Affairs unit investigated the Milwaukee County Ethics Board complaint filed by Ortiz-Velez.
West will make her initial court appearance on Monday, July 23rd at 1:30 p.m., Safety Building room 221. If convicted, West is facing up to 3 years and six months in prison with fines up to $10,000.
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