The investigation into questionable nomination signatures provided by the Sabina Matos campaign, a lieutenant governor running for president, has been joined by the Rhode Island State Police. Former Democratic Rep. David Cicilline’s vacant seat in the House.
In this July 26, 2016, file photo, Rhode Island delegate Sabina Matos, right, watches a presentation during the second-day session of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Gov. Daniel McKee named Matos, Providence City Council President, (Source: The Washington Times)
Investigation of Suspected Forged Signatures
This week, election officials in three 1st Congressional District localities requested that local police departments look into possible forgeries on the nomination documents that the Matos campaign submitted. On Friday, the Rhode Island Board of Elections decided 5-1 to confirm Matos’ inclusion on the special election ballot while referring all of her nomination paperwork to the attorney general for review. Matos stated on Friday that she is “deeply sorry this happened.”
In an attempt to mislead his campaign, Rhode Islanders, and the democratic process, Matos claimed, “a vendor hired by my campaign to help gather signatures engaged in a widespread and outrageous attempt this week.” I want to be clear. I didn’t request that. I didn’t require this.
According to Matos, the vendor was fired and is now working with the state attorney general. One of the 12 Democrats vying to succeed Cicilline, who resigned earlier this summer to become the helm of the Rhode Island Foundation, is Matos.
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Review of the Nomination Procedure
The investigation is being coordinated by the office of Attorney General Peter Neronha. According to Neronha, his office will review the nomination papers that the Matos campaign sent to each municipality in the district. Part of the examination is centered on the part-time field campaign workers who collected and turned in the Matos signatures.
The campaign gave clear guidelines on how to correctly gather signatures, according to Brexton Isaacs, campaign manager for Matos. Anyone who disregarded these specific guidelines and the nomination procedure will be held accountable, according to Isaacs, and has no place in our campaign.
On September 5, a special primary election will be place. On November 7, a special general election will be held.
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