Sun-Times: Bernie Stone aide tied to ballot fraud / Daley backs Silverstein over Stone

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

In connection with last year's aldermanic election:

A ward superintendent handpicked by the City Council’s 80-year-old elder statesman, Ald. Bernard Stone (50th), was arrested Monday and charged--along with another man--with improperly steering primarily Indian and Pakistani voters toward absentee ballots for Stone.

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Anish Eapen, a 37-year-old employee of the city’s Department of Streets and Sanitation, faces two counts of official misconduct, three counts of absentee ballot fraud and one count of mutilation of election materials. He allegedly worked in tandem with 34-year-old Armando Ramos, an unemployed student. Ramos faces two counts of absentee ballot fraud and two counts of mutilation of election materials.

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“We know where this all started. We know it’s politically-based. When does it break? Eight days before an election where Congressman Schakowsky is backing my opponent. It stems from an election where Congressman Schakowsky was backing my opponent….Her aide was soliciting the state’s attorney to investigate. It’s absolutely a devious political trick. That my good friend Dick Devine can be part of it is shocking,” Stone said.

He added, “For the last six months, there has been a virtual campaign directed at anybody who voted for Bernie Stone. I always thought the ballot box was sealed. Apparently, nobody who voted for anybody else has ever gone before the grand jury. How do investigators know how these people voted? Has the secrecy of the ballot box been breached?…. They’re being asked, `Why did you vote for Bernie Stone?’ “

more at www.suntimes.com/news/metro/763753,eapencharge012808.article

I saw him on WGN today flipping out about this. He's gonna stroke out before it's all through. Here's another beleaguered Bernie story from today's Sun-Times:

Mayor Daley says he’s backing state Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) over incumbent Bernard Stone in the race for 50th Ward Democratic committeeman as part of a political deal designed to help the City Council’s 80-year-old elder statesman.

Daley hinted strongly that Silverstein was planning to withold his support from Stone in the red-hot race for alderman against challenger Naisy Dolar last year.

To firm up Silverstein’s support for Stone, Daley said he agreed to back Silverstein against Stone in the race for ward committeeman.In other words, the move that Stone calls a “betrayal” was actually designed to help the outspoken alderman.

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Stone called the mayor’s version “absolute bulls---.” The alderman said there was never any question he would have Silverstein’s support in the aldermanic race and the state senator needed no push from Daley. “I don’t believe a word says. I voted against his budget for the first time since he’s mayor and he’s teaching me a lesson. You give him 18 years of loyalty and he kicks you in the ass,” Stone said.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/765140,silverstein012908.article