Councilman Jackson’s Attorneys File 58-Page Lawsuit to Block Recall

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Friday, October 21, 2016

GoLocalProv News Team

Attorneys for Providence Councilman Kevin Jackson have filed a 58-page lawsuit against the City of Providence's Board of Canvassers and the two lead petitioners who organized the effort to recall Jackson.

Attorneys Artin Coloian and Dan Calabro filed the suit in Superior Court, alleging among other things, that Jackson, who has been denied a hearing before the Board of Canvassers is, de facto, being denied due process to raise concerns about how the recall is being processed.

According to the complaint, “The Board’s decision prohibited Plaintiff from any meaningful opportunity to raise the above-cited defects before the Board….the Board is unreasonably allowing a flawed recall petition to proceed against Plaintiff, ignoring the intent of Section 208 of the Home Rule Charter and Section 2-43 of the Code of Ordinances.”

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In addition, the suit claims that the Board of Canvassers has not properly promulgated any administrative rules of procedure which would permit Jackson to appeal their decision.

Questions Raised About Signatures

The suit claims that those who signed the recall, when signing, failed to list the ward in which they live in, that a number of individuals who signed the recall papers were not registered to vote, and the suit raises issues of potential fraud.

“It appears that some of the signatures on the Declarations are very similar or identical handwriting, particularly among individuals in the same household," stated Jackson's attorneys.

The organizers of the recall named in the suit are Patricia Kammerer and Karina Wood.

As GoLocalProv first reported in May:

Providence City Councilman Kevin Jackson has been arrested by Rhode Island State Police reportedly for campaign finance violations and financial issues tied Providence Cobras track team, according to sources.

Jackson is the longest serving member of the Council. He was elected in 1994. He now serves as the Majority Leader of the City Council.

Amy Kempe, Public Information Officer for Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin, said that the State Police are in charge of the investigation.

"There are four charges -- two misdemeanors and two felonies," said Kempe. "The misdemeanors are giving false documents and personal use of campaign funds. The felonies are for unlawful appropriation and embezzlement."