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March 28, 2024

College of DuPage – Candidate admits photo-copying petitions-blames COD for her failure to comply with law

By Kirk Allen & John Kraft

On January 15, 2017

DuPage Co. (ECWd) –

In a rather interesting attempt to cast blame for noncompliance of specific election records, Rafath Waheed blamed COD citing, obfuscation of the electoral process” on the part of COD as it relates to her not filing a statement of candidacy. You can see that statement at the 48:40 mark of this video.  For those not familiar with the meaning of the word obfuscation; “the action of making something obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.” 

It should be noted that the College of DuPage had nothing to do with making the electoral process nor is it their duty to provide guidance and direction on such matters.   The guidance and direction come from the law, established by the legislature.  The fact that this person chose to blame COD for failing to comply with the law is yet another reason she has no business as a public official.

In addition to blaming the school for her non-compliance, she admitted under oath to being the one who copied petitions and then signed them and had them notarized affirming they were original signatures, which they were not, just as we said in our first article on this.

57:25 of the video is where the information comes to light regarding the copies of petitions being submitted.  The candidate first claims she DID not photocopy them and then when questioned further admits she did and that no one else was given her papers.

Candidate“They are the carbon copy of that, but did I do it?  “NO, it happen by mistake.”

Electoral Board“Did you make the carbon copy or did someone make it for you”

Candidate“I made it myself, I didn’t give any of my paper to anybody.”

So, on one hand, she denies making copies of the petitions and then does an 180-degree turn and admits she made them

What is disturbing with this situation is the fact this person, under oath, has admitted to photocopying petition sheets.  Sheets that were then separately notarized under oath and affirmation as originals.

After about 30 minutes of hearing this person create excuses and eventually admitting to things she did, made copies of signatures and turned them in, she reads a prepared statement which was her withdrawal from the race. You can watch that starting at the 1:19:04 mark of the video.

Was this whole event staged in an attempt to claim this was an attack on Muslims?  Let’s not forget the claim by one of the Democrats during public comment being an insinuation the objections were based on religion.  How ironic, both of the candidates being objected to have the most basic of items deficient in their papers.  Two candidates that in one case claims to be an Administrator and the other has an MBA and Masters in Education.  How do such educated people make these kinds of mistakes? Or was this well planned out for a much different purpose? Time will tell.

Now we will have to wait and see how the COD Electoral Board handles this matter as it is clear this person provided documents, signed under oath, that were in violation of the law.  We encourage them to turn this matter over to the authorities for a criminal investigation.  We can only pray the State’s Attorney upholds and enforces our election laws as it relates and prosecutes those who are found to have committed fraud and or forgery in that process.

 

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7 Comments
  • Judy
    Posted at 18:30h, 15 January

    Pieckert knew what he was doing. DuPage dems did not support those 2 people, did not want to spend any $ on them. Someone should explain it to those 2 “candidates”. You could talk to pres. of villa park to find out more about what happens when they don’t support you.

  • Danni Smith
    Posted at 20:02h, 15 January

    To Judy: .. so when dems don’t support you, you should violate election laws, commit perjury and attribute your failure to the credit of the College of DuPage. This is precursor to the performance that can be expected for anything, anywhere, anytime while working or providing a service to and for anybody. This failed candidate must already be in some gubment position. Needs to be told Trustees do not have a union.

  • Dennis Finegan
    Posted at 21:35h, 15 January

    While Mr. Peickert may have known what he was doing, Ms.Waheed failed to even read the petitions that she circulated. One of her claims was that she was told only that signers had to reside in one of the 3 counties of Cook, DuPage, or Kane. It is clearly stated at the top of the nominating petition that ” voters residing within such district.” This is quite clear to me: to sign the petition you have to reside within the boundaries of District 502. Further, it is also clearly stated just 2 lines above her own signature, that signers must be registered voters within the district.

    She didn’t even need to research the statutes on electoral law, which she also should have done, but she merely had to read the petition form.

    I read all documents that I sign. If she had bothered to just read the petition, she would have had this knowledge.

    Further, I must commend Ms. Mazzochi on keeping her cool during these proceedings. At no time did she belittle or demean the petitioners. In fact, she bent over backwards to clearly explain the proceedings and question Ms. Waheed. This added considerable time to the proceedings, but I was very happy to see this after the antics of previous Board Presidents.

    • Danni Smith
      Posted at 07:46h, 16 January

      Ms. Mazzochi has consistently demonstrated limitless decorum in the face of misconduct and abuse of the Taxpayers by Board Members Brit, McGuire, Wozniak. This only further demonstrates that when Ms. Kathy Hamilton put together the Clean Slate, she knew exactly what she was doing. The debt we owe to Kathy Hamilton can never be repaid.

      • Dennis Finegan
        Posted at 23:40h, 16 January

        After I wrote my original post I emailed Ms. Mazzochi commending her on the great job she did at the hearing. By the end of the day she replied with a thank you & encouragement to keep providing feedback, positive and negative. Class.

  • Judy
    Posted at 09:36h, 16 January

    Maybe I gave the long time Chairman of the DuPage Democrats too much credit, i.e. notarizing those petitions when he knew they were inadequate in order to streamline the field of candidates. He knew they would be scrutinized. He may, after all, just be incompetent. As ECWD said they should look within their organization for the failure of those 2 candidates.
    COD needs trustees that care about the institution first and foremost. Thank goodness for Kathy Hamilton and Deanne Mazocchi. The taxpayers, et.al. must remain vigilant. COD is a deep pocket always at risk of being picked by our “political” parties here.

  • Richard Anderson
    Posted at 16:10h, 30 April

    Well she needs to run next as a Democrat for County Board. She’s got the lying and cheating part down pretty good except she got caught.

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