Fake Signatures in Windcrest

   A recall petition in the city of Windcrest seeking to remove the mayor and two council members have been called into question and prompted a criminal investigation. Among the suspect signatures are those of a deceased couple and those of the mayor being targeted in the recall drive!  Yep, Dead People Signed the Petition!  John Gretz, Ron Armes, Michael Eyhorn form the petition committee that is responsible for the petition signatures.  To assist in gather signatures, Councilman James McFall and Gerd Jacobi has volunteered their respective Wives to travel about Windcrest in a Golf Cart gathering signatures for the Recall Petition.  Yes, you heard it correct. Edith Jacobi and Evelinda "Bell" McFall, wives of current Windcrest City Councilman are working hard for the recall petition.  

Fake signatures on election-related petitions are costly to the taxpayers and mar the election process.
Express-News Editorial Board

 Published 5:07 pm CDT, Friday, July 27, 2018

It’s unlikely to get you on the FBI’s most wanted list, but fake signatures on election-related petitions are a growing nuisance. They’ve even prompted one local criminal investigation.

  These unverifiable names and addresses are showing up on petitions to get a candidate’s name or an issue on an election ballot. Signing a petition is voluntary. Fake information on petitions impedes the process and incurs costs for taxpayers.

  All signatures submitted on petitions require verification by the government agency accepting them. When discrepancies become obvious, the courts and law enforcement sometimes become involved.

  Such petitions generally end up with a sizable number of ineligible signatures simply due to residency requirements or because an individual is not registered to vote. In recent months, however, there have been at least a couple of cases where it appears there was nefarious intent.

  Last week in Dallas County, the name of an incumbent justice of the peace was taken off the general election ballot by a judge who found he did not have enough signatures on his petition to get on the ballot. The ruling came after a two-day trial on a lawsuit filed by the incumbent’s political opponent.

The candidate needed 250 signatures, but only 245 were determined to be valid.

  Among the problems discovered during the investigation were individuals who listed nonexistent addresses, signatures from people who said they had not signed the petition and valid addresses attached to signatures from people who didn’t reside at those locations.

  Most recently, signatures on a recall petition in the city of Windcrest seeking to remove the mayor and two council members have been called into question and prompted a criminal investigation. Among the suspect signatures are those of a deceased couple and those of the mayor being targeted in the recall drive.

  There is no upside to false signatures and information on such petitions. They just increase the tab for taxpayers.