Politics & Government

Ballots on a Bed and the CD 13 Race

The above photo was sent to us Monday afternoon by Shaun Daniels, who works for John Choi.

Choi, of course, is one of two candidates in the runoff election for the Los Angeles City Council District 13 seat.  Mitch O'Farrell is the other.

Daniels told us that the photos was found Sunday in the Instagram account of a young man called Mamikon Sargysan, who, according to the Choi campaign is a Facebook friend of Mitch O'Farrell's and the brother of Sam Kbushyan, who ran against O'Farrell and in the primary and is now supporting him.

Daniels goes on to say:

Based on anecdotal information obtained from various individuals in the community, we believe these ballots were removed from the mailboxes of residents living in an apartment complex located at 1428 N. Normandie Avenue, and that individuals connected with Sam Kbushyan and his brother Manny fradulently cast these ballots and delivered them to the Los Angeles City Clerk's office.  We understand, again based on anecdotal information, that Mr. Sargsyan's mother may be the building manager at the apartment complex.

The L.A. Weekly did some more digging, after receiving the same email and talked to Sam Kbushyan who said, he had heard that same thing about Sargsyan's mother. He also pointed out that a lot of elderly people lived in the complex, where the Choi campaign had also campaigned.

The Weekly also talked to someone in the City Clerk's office.

She told the Weekly that, yes,  the ballots in the photo appeared to be unopened, in their original envelopes.

Renee Nahum, O'Farrell's campaign manager, told the Weekly that she had no idea who Mamikon Sargysan was and that he certainly did not work for the O'Farrell campaign.

Allegations of fraud and misconduct have tainted both candidates in this race, especially around the issue of mail-in ballots.

Depending on the margin in the race, this could become an issue of significance, something we and surely others will be monitoring.

It's certainly another reminder of heated this race for the coveted CD 13 seat has become.

Read our complete election guide here and keep an eye out all day and through the evening for coverage of all the citywide races, including this one.



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