State Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Merced, has called on authorities to investigate what he alleged was "blatant fraud" by signature gatherers involved with efforts to recall him from office.
Denham's campaign spokesman Jeff Spillane today said nearly half of the paid signature gatherers who worked for the recall side to get it on the ballot live outside the 12th district and are, thus, in violation of California election laws.
A spokesman with the camp of Sen. Don Perata, the Senate president from Oakland who's leading efforts to recall Denham, has denied any wrongdoing and said the accusations have "no merit."
Paul Hefner, Perata's spokesman, said all of the signature gatherers involved with the recall live in the 12th district and that since the names were certified by county registrars, their validity is assured.
"This is just the old bait and switch," Hefner said. "Denham just doesn't want to face the truth that voters in his district are determined to recall him."
Perata launched an effort to oust Denham after he, along with 12 other state senators, voted against last year's state budget, causing a stalemate among lawmakers while the budget stalled in the Capitol.
"This is symptomatic of a pattern of abuse by Senator Perata in his efforts to recall Senator Denham," said Spillane, Denham's spokesman "Some of these people were registered at addresses that don't even exist. Others were registered at local hotels or just outside the district."
Curtis Cartier Curtis Cartier covers the City of Hollister and public safety for the Free Lance. Reach him at (831) 637-5566 or email him.
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