Will We Let this Happen Again? Or have WE had enough?

By Paul Frommelt
No, this is not an article telling you how to vote, or when the Primary Election is (hint it’s August 2nd, 2022)
This is to inform our readers of several things that happened during the last election on August 4th, 2020 and events that occurred which should make you very, very concerned about how you will be voting or how you voted in the past. Several issues occurred both on election day and the days that followed the 2020 election, before the results were finalized. Review this information carefully.
Scroll back to August 4th Primary election day 2020..place..the polling site at Expedition Church.
What happened on that day. Well, if you have not heard by now, here is the Reader’s Digest version of events as they happened.
First of all on election days the polling places must enforce a 75 foot area which is strictly for voters with no politicking allowed. Per statute, ARS 16-1006 [7]- Changing vote of elector by corrupt means or inducement.
It is unlawful within that 75 foot distance for a person to knowingly:
Attempt to influence an elector in casting his/her vote or to deter him/her from casting his/her vote.
Attempt to hinder or disturb an elector in the free exercise of the right of suffrage.
Defraud an elector by deceiving and causing him/her to vote for a different person, for a different measure than he/she intended or desired to vote for.
A person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 5 felony.
Further, ARS 16-1007 [8] states Without the consent of the elector, discloses the name of any person who, the election official has fraudulently or illegally discovered to have been voted for by the elector. ARS 16-1013 [9] Directly or indirectly to practice intimidation, in order to induce of compel such person to vote or refrain from voting for a particular person.
ARS 16-1017 [10]. A voter who knowingly commits the following is guilty of a class two misdemeanor. 1) Interferes with a voter within the 75 foot limit of the polling place as posted by the Election Marshal. 3) Endeavors while within the 75 foot limit to induce a voter to vote for or against a particular candidate. (6) Hinders the voting of others.
How are these election laws enforced? ARS 16-1021.[11] “Enforcement by Attorney General and County, City or Town Attorney.” So, if one or more violations have been made and recorded, the Arizona Attorney General and/or the City or Town Attorney ( Payson Attorney ) must act. Civil or criminal actions may be enforced. If they are not, that’s a whole other issue.
Election tampering is an illegal offense and is punishable by strict law.
We are aware of a number of potential violations which have been reported to both the Attorney General’s office by a number of people, and also to the Town of Payson by General Complaint. There are reports that the Arizona Secretary of State is also involved.
On the day of the elections, most voters are aware there were three polling places available for walk in voters. One of the polling places was Expedition Church. On election day in 2020, Pastor Donovan Christian was noted to be within the 75 foot limit of the polling area. Although we have heard that the Church office was within this area, we are also aware that one or more voters who had picked up material on candidates table to take with them to vote, were stopped before they entered the voting place by Mr. Christian. The materials that were picked up by one or more voters, may have been taken from the voter(s)hands by Mr. Christian. We understand there may be one or more videos as well as pictures taken of the above encounter(s). These incidents are under serious investigation. We have been advised that information or “posts” on both the personal website of Mr. Christian and Expedition Church website have been removed after the election and following the start of these investigations. However, screen shots do remain of posts from both of these sites. We are aware that a number of the candidates for Town Council positions, as well as a candidate for Mayor, Jennifer (JJ Smith) Smith attend Expedition Church. We are aware of online communications and endorsements for nominating candidates, thru Expedition Church’s Facebook site. There are screen shots of this information. One post states that there were“ clipboards to sign up for all four candidates..Jennifer Smith, Scott Nossek, Jolynn Schinstock and Barbara Underwood”. Further disparaging remarks against council candidate Janell Sterner followed. There are numerous other politically charged posts. reflections..should anyone, including the Pastor of a church, be within the 75 foot limit on election day, speaking to voters on their way to vote? Is this politicking? Should the Pastor of a Church be involved in endorsing candidates for Mayor and Town Council, should disparaging information against any party candidate be published on a Church Facebook site? Should a Pastor of a Church suggest that tax monies are being wasted by Payson Town Government?
The Town of Payson is also investigating a potential severe violation which was published initially on Facebook by Ms. Colleen Prettyman. In her post Ms. Prettyman noted that a candidate for Town Council, Jolynn Schinstock, was allowed to see Ms. Prettyman’s name, address and other information by Tracie Bailey, the Town Clerk of Payson. Ms. Schinstock took it upon herself to take the contact information and drove over to Ms. Prettyman home! This again was published by Ms. Prettyman on Facebook post on August 11, 2020 on a site called “Payson, Az News & Views”. The post and subsequent comments are there for anyone to review. Widely commented on and shared. Review the violation(s) noted above in the ARS statutes. Through more investigation it turns out that after the election incumbents Barbara Underwood and Tom Morrissey, candidate Jolynn Schinstock and Tracie Bailey had a private meeting about the 3 ballots that kept Jolynn Schinstock from avoiding a runoff with Deborah Rose. It appears that the confidentiality and privacy of the voter was compromised, the information of the voter was not secured and was left available to be seen by those not noted to be election officials. Further, as many will remember, the election was not finalized with outstanding votes to yet be considered. The election was so close that just three votes would make a difference in whether a runoff would commence between Ms. Schinstock and Deborah Rose in November, or the election for the final council position go to Ms. Schinstock, without a runoff.
Ms. Prettyman filed an Attorney General Complaint, and posted said complaint on Facebook.
Question to the readers..How do you feel about the actions taken by a candidate for Town Council? Is there one or more issues here that cause you concern? Should the candidate be recused or disallowed? Are these ethical issues which need further investigation? Do you feel that this issue would cause you to consider the ethical standards of Ms. Schinstick as a possible elected Town Council member? Would you question her credibility as an honest elected official of the Town of Payson. Should Expedition Church be allowed to remain an Election polling place? Should Pastor Donovan Christian be cited for election violations, just like any other person?
From the Editor:
After Dave Golembewski reported the election Marshall hired by Eric for the Expedition Church who also worked at the church, he was let go after the primary for calling candidates not on “The List” m f ers.
Well, nothing happened to Schinstock and she is on the Town Council now. No one cared enough to say, ”NO MORE!” And look where we are now. Everyone has to care about our country enough to save it! WE OUT NUMBER them! Please stop being afraid and take a stand against these people who are ready and waiting to take complete control of your freedom. Now that Underwood, Schinstock and Nossek are on council and have majority you saw how long they didn’t want the people to have access to the town council meetings. We were the last town in Gila County, maybe even the state, to open the council meetings. They only did it because a few of us were fed up and protested before a Council Meeting. That night they voted to open the meetings. We have the POWER, we have to take back our town, our county, our state and our country. We are the ones we have been waiting for!