Petition problems

We are into the silly season for political races.

As with the last city council cycle, an atypical candidate emerged from the Black community to challenge the status quo.

Michia Lee first appeared two weeks ago at a Niagara Falls Council meeting and called out the legislative body for spending money on a dog shelter rather than something that would benefit the community.

Then she started circulating petitions gathering 835 signatures or so, including many witnessed by a notary and filed with an affidavit.

She learned lessons from Demetreus Nix. Nix ran a primary for Mayor in 2023 and found the establishment Democrats attacking him at every turn.

Nix ultimately appealed the rejection of his petitions, won in court, and made his way onto the ballot. Ultimately, he lost the primary and Mayor Robert Restaino, with party support, won reelection.

Party insiders gave a lukewarm endorsement of Restaino, claiming he was only endorsed “because he’s going to win anyway.”

Restaino won by about 200 votes over Carl Cain, a retired police officer with baggage and no support from his former union. The Republicans were left holding nothing but regrets.

Meanwhile, Restaino hung tough. Now he has his chosen chairperson, Jim Perry and the rubberstamps of Republicans Traci Bax and David Zajac to give him everything he ever wants at every turn. Donta Myles questions everything and grandstands. Brian Archie seems pragmatic but backs down when it matters. Lately, Zajac seems to be speaking up a bit but that might just be because he wants to get reelected.

Donta did not get the council endorsement from the Democrats.

The only thing Myles has hurt is the Mayor’s feelings. He hasn’t passed any legislation. He has made a lot of noise. Enter Lee.

It wasn’t just getting legit signatures and having them witnessed but looking at other petitions. So far, if the images published by the Niagara Reporter are to be believed, it appears as if the endorsed Democrat petitions are flawed.

Some of the errors are small. Others, however, speak straight to fraud. No one seems to have mentioned a problem with Noah Munoz or John Kinney. Bridgette Myles, however, appears to be a mess.

Images of Bridgette Myles’ petitions were shared by Lee and the Reporter. While the petitions are public record, posting scans to Facebook with signers’ home addresses is ethically compromised.

That aside, after they were shared, several people commented, including a few who said they never signed for Bridgette and another who said Tajaih Moore is incarcerated and could not have signed.

Petitions are supposed to be circulated by registered party members and signed by the same. There will be allegations in the challenges from Lee, and perhaps Donta Myles and even the Republicans that signatures were gathered on blank petitions by other people on Bridgette’s behalf and that she then signed the affidavit claiming to have witnessed those signatures.

If that happened, it is criminal election fraud. It likely moves quickly from the Board of Elections to a prosecution.

In the end, Myles would likely have to step away from the race to avoid prosecution on a felony charge.

I met Bridgette once, at Main and Pine when she was standing on the street trying to gather signatures from registered Democrats. I have heard nothing but nice things about her.

The curious conclusion is not whether her petitions will survive the challenges, I believe they won’t, but whether the Democrats gathered enough signatures to overcome most of what she circulated being disallowed, and whether the other candidates followed procedure closely enough to preserve a place in the primary for the endorsed Democrats.

Otherwise, we will end up with something parallel to Buffalo a few years ago when India Walton took down Byron Brown who, in an embarrassing scramble, survived.

Challenges are due within 5 days of petitions being filed. The deadline for petition submission was Friday. It is too soon to say who challenged whom or what the outcome is. We also have yet to address the Republican side where incumbent Zajac was on one petition, Vincent Cauley and Tanya Barone were on another and Restaino-supported John Accardo circulated with no party support. It is, indeed, the silly season.

Short Take Politics: Volatility reigns; Europe tariffs back; Fox V. Fox

Short Take Sports: Rodgers tweaks the Steelers; James Reimer gets hot; Costas to host Uecker celebration.

The Niagara Express is a free community news site working for the betterment of Niagara Falls. Submissions, and events, are always welcome. There is never a paywall. There is no charge for subscribing to receive one daily emailed news summary with a link to the site. You can also promote events and advertise. Donations are encouraged. Please visit https://niagaraexpress.town.news