Concerns About Election Integrity Raised

By Gordon HopkinsKesha Eldridge, chairperson of the Jansen Village Board, indicated members of the public have raised concerns about the recent election at a meeting of the board on Thursday, November 10, 2022. Matthew Leatherwood, one of two candidates running for the village board, also manned a polling place during the election. At the meeting, Eldridge said, “I want to say that I received some concerns about the elections. And Matt, working the election station with his name on the ballot.”Eldridge claimed multiple people have approached her.Leatherwood asked, “So what’s the concern? I mean, are they challenging the election result?”Eldridge said, “No.”“Because here’s the thing. Whether I work it or not, there was two people on the ballot for three spots. I needed to vote for myself to get elected.”Eldridge responded, “I’m not disputing that, Matt. I’m reporting what the folks, you know, said.”Eldridge added, “It also was a violation of a state statute.”“Really? For me to work the polls when I’m on the ballot?” questioned Leatherwood.Eldridge said, “Yeah, and they told me today that they made a mistake.”Eldridge has raised issue with the Jefferson County Election Commissioner and the Nebraska Secretary of State’s office. “I don’t know what they’re going to do. I don’t have any idea,” said Eldridge, although she doubted Leatherwood’s election was in peril and echoed the point he raised earlier. “I doubt it because there was only two people running for three seats.” Village board member Tiffany Schoenrock, who opted not to run for re-election, said, “I would like in the minutes that that is why it’s my last meeting.”FJN spoke to Leatherwood on Monday, November 14. He reiterated his stance that he was unaware manning a polling station was not permitted while also a candidate. “So, we did not know,” said Leatherwood. “Was not malicious on anybody’s part. I certainly didn’t know. I know the county clerk’s office didn’t do it maliciously. Well, it’s just like, they’re smarter than that.”There were three open seats on the village board and only two candidates ran.“There’s no incentive for that to be an issue because I only needed to vote for myself to get elected,” Leatherwood pointed out, “So there was no incentive for me to wave people down in the street and say, ‘Hey, be sure you vote for me.’ Or, you know, sneak out some ballots. And you know, and people that know, would know that that’s, there’s, like, virtually impossible to doctor things.” Nevertheless, Leatherwood is worried about the cloud this could cast over his tenure on the board and is considering not taking the position, even if the Secretary of State declares his election to the board acceptable, “I’m not sure I want to serve on that board, with a high percentage of the people of Jansen, divided as that little village is, saying this little outsider who’s not from around here got elected to our board illegally. So, it makes it hard for me to have any credibility on the board.”“I don’t want to serve under those circumstances,” continued Leatherwood. “Because even though this is not a governor’s race, this is not the President’s race, I’m not going to lose sleep if I somehow don’t get to sit on Village of Jansen Board.” That is assuming Leatherwood has the option to decline the seat, which he is unsure about, “All candidates sign an affidavit that says if you’re elected, you’ll serve.”Leatherwood spoke to Election Commissioner Kris Riggle Monday to discuss options, “She has not heard back yet from the Secretary (of State) office, I guess about what they’re going to do about the election itself. We had some quick questions about holding the special election, if that was an option. And if so, are there other people that would be able to get on the ballot for a special election?”Election integrity remains a hot button topic throughout the country. However, according to Senator Tom Brandt (District 32), Nebraska runs some of the safest and most reliable elections in the country.“Nebraska runs very good elections,” Brandt told FJN last year. “There is not one incident of fraud in the state of Nebraska.” FJN has reached out to both the Jefferson County Election Commissioner, Kris Riggle and Jefferson County Attorney Joseph Casson about how this will impact the election. An official response is pending. Until then, the way forward remains unknown.

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