Pictured: Magistrate Eric Neu delivers the oath of office to newly elected District 5 Supervisor Cindy Scaturico.
The Carroll County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the canvass of the special election held on Tuesday, Feb. 7 to fill the District 5 supervisor vacancy as several voters raise concerns over alleged election violations. Unofficial results show Republican Cindy Scaturico defeating Democrat Tim Tracy by a 20-point margin, 601 to 396. CJ Niles and several other voters approached the board at Monday’s meeting to address concerns over Scaturico serving as a poll watcher at three precincts during last week’s election.
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County Auditor Kourtney Payer contacted the Secretary of State’s Office after learning of the violation, and they directed her to forward the information to Carroll County Attorney John Werden for review. He addressed the board Monday morning with his office’s findings.
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Later in the meeting, Scaturico acknowledged that she did serve as a poll worker, but it was her belief at the time that she was acting in accordance with the law.
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While the violation did not appear to impact the election results, District 3 Supervisor Gene Meiners says the issue is still concerning.
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The board voted unanimously to approve the Feb. 7, 2023 election results, declaring Scaturico winner of the seat previously held by Rich Ruggles, who retired in December. Scaturico was sworn in by Magistrate Eric Neu and took her seat on the board as a voting member. She will fill the remainder of Ruggles’s term, which expires Dec. 31, 2024. Video from this section of Monday’s Carroll County Board of Supervisors meeting is included below.
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