Petition signers allegedly tricked
By Bronislaus B. Kush andKathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette | October 4, 2005
WORCESTER Some supporters of a ballot initiative that would make it easier to buy wine at supermarkets were duped into signing petitions aimed at reversing the 2003 ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that allows same-sex marriages, the Telegram & Gazette has learned.
Several voters have complained to the state attorney generals office that they were tricked into signing the anti-gay-marriage initiative by independent contractors hired at the behest of the Massachusetts Food Association to gather signatures at area supermarkets for another petition. That petition is aimed at boosting the number of establishments now selling wine.
Christopher Flynn, the associations president, said his organization is tossing out hundreds of signatures gathered by six workers hired to fill petitions calling for special wine licenses, because those workers also collected signatures for the anti-gay marriage initiative.
Mr. Flynn said the MFA contracted with California-based National Petition Management to exclusively gather support for the wine initiative.
He added, however, that at least six collectors had also collected signatures at grocery stores, including the Shaws on Gold Star Boulevard, for the anti-gay-marriage petition, using deceptive and illegal tactics.
We are very disturbed by the actions of these rogue operators, said Judy Chong, a spokeswoman for the Bridgeport, Conn.-based Shaws chain, which allowed contractors hired by National Petition Management to collect signatures at its outlets.
She said managers have been warned to keep a close eye on individuals gathering signatures at their stores, and asked customers to immediately report any suspicions to Shaws management.
Meanwhile, Corey Welford, a spokesman for Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly, said the office has received complaints about fraudulent attempts to get people to sign the anti-gay marriage petition.
The Telegram & Gazette also received a number of calls and e-mails from concerned residents, who believe they were snookered.
Residents told the newspaper they were asked by the solicitors to sign a petition that would allow more food retailers to sell wine. After they signed that petition, they said they were asked to place another signature on a second document that was hidden under the initiative they originally were shown.
I didnt think you had to sign a petition twice, so I asked the woman what was specifically on the second paper, said one complainant, who said she was approached by a solicitor outside the Shaws store on Gold Star Boulevard on Saturday.
When she showed me the sheet, it was the petition being circulated against gay weddings. It was obvious that I was being deceived.
Tom Lang of Manchester-by-the Sea, a founder of a group called Know thy Neighbor, advised those who fear their names will erroneously appear on the petitions to contact their city or town clerk to have their signatures nullified when the petitions are checked locally for authenticity. Know thy Neighbor previously vowed to post on its Web site the names of those who sign the anti-gay marriage proposal.
Mr. Lang, who married his partner last year after same sex marriages became legal in Massachusetts, said he was at a department store in Danvers on Friday when signature gatherers produced a sheet of paper claiming they had permission from the state secretary of state to be there.
A passer-by was told that signatures were being collected for the wine sales initiative, but Mr. Lang noticed that the petition was marked with the letter K. All proposed ballot questions are assigned a letter. The K identifies the petition against gay marriage.
After we informed the signer of this, she repeatedly asked to see what she had signed, said Mr. Lang.
He noted that the collector eventually ripped up the petition.
We did procure the signers name and phone number and permission to call the attorney general and press (the matter) on her behalf, Mr. Lang said.
He said two same-sex marriage supporters signed a petition about 10 minutes later when the collector said the drive supported gay and lesbian nuptials.
All of this in a total of 15 minutes in front of us without shame, Mr. Lang said.
Carisa Cunningham, director of public affairs and education at the Boston-based Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, said the organization has not receive any complaints, but added that MassEquality, a coalition supporting equal rights for same sex couples in Massachusetts, would have been the group most likely to have fielded calls from people with complaints.
MassEquality could not be reached for comment.
The anti-gay marriage petition is sponsored by VoteOnMarriage.org, a committee seeking a constitutional amendment that would clearly define marriage as an act between a man and a woman. Committee spokesmen said voters should decide the issue, not the courts.
The effort is backed by various conservative and religious groups, and last weekend Bishop Robert J. McManus of the Catholic Diocese of Worcester asked priests to allow parishioners to sign the anti-gay marriage petition.
A woman who e-mailed the newspaper said she was given an opportunity by her parish to sign the initiative, but added she was upset that she was tricked into backing it at a local supermarket.
Mr. Flynn said the Massachusetts Food Association is sorry for what happened, but expressed confidence the organization would still get the needed 65,825 signatures to put the wine measure on the ballot.
We dont condone these bait-and-switch tactics, he said. What happened was illegal.
Find out how to contact us for more information.
|
