GAZETTE PUBLISHER

Incumbent District 1 Supervisor Brad Aborn apparently objects to the wording of his opponent’s campaign signs.

On May 5, Aborn filed a complaint with the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office against former supervisor Lee Stetson, alleging that Stetson was in violation of election code section 18350 “because his elections signs read ‘Stetson District 1 Supervisor.’” Aborn told law enforcement officers that he believed this is a violation “to mislead the voters because Steton is not the incumbent supervisor.”

Captain Joel Bibby assigned the investigation to Sergeant Jeremy Briese.

The case narrative states that “Aborn stated that none of Stetson’s election signs had the word ‘elect’ on them, which was misleading to the public and that Stetson was not the incumbent supervisor.”

Briese was also provided a photograph of one of Stetson’s campaign signs, along with a copy of his full page ad which was published on April 15 in the MARIPOSA GAZETTE containing the same language.

According to the report, on May 6, Briese reached Stetson by telephone. Briese’s report states, “I advised Stetson of the complaint, and Stetson stated it was not his intent to mislead anyone. Stetson advised me that the election signs he is using are the same signs he used during two prior elections, eight and four years ago. Stetson stated if there are any problems with his signs, he is more than willing to comply and make whatever changes are needed.”

The sergeant included another observation in his investigation report. He checked other campaign signs and noted that three other local candidates also did not have the word “elect” on their signs. Those included Eric Oster, who’s sign says “Vote Oster Auditor,” along with Floyd Davis’ signs which read “Floyd Davis Supervisor District III. Try someone new to represent you,” and Theresa Castaldi’s campaign sign, which reads “Castaldi Dist-3 Vote.”

When contacted on Tuesday, Stetson said, “I think it is unfortunate that we had to waste county time on an issue that should be addressed by the FPPC, if addressed at all. The only one that seems to be confused about this is Mr. Aborn. I believe everyone knows he is the incumbent.”

Aborn responded by telephone Tuesday saying that he didn’t contact the FPPC, “Because they don’t do anything on the local elections, is what I found out up there.”

Aborn explained his actions saying, “This evolved out of some other things. He (Stetson) or someone working for him said in door-to-door contacts for petition signatures that ‘Brad Aborn wasn’t running again,” and that ‘Brad Aborn was dieing of cancer.’”

“Neither of those statements are true,” Aborn said. He added that a number of “folks” on Davis Road had brought those statements to his attention.

In an email to the GAZETTE Tuesday, Stetson categorically denied any wrongdoing. “I have never said to anyone at anytime in any place that Brad Aborn was not running for re-election. If Mr. Aborn’s ‘numerous people’ would testify that I have said so, I urge them to make themselves known to us so that I may call them liars. Furthermore, I have not personally heard anyone else say that Mr. Aborn was not running for re-election, and I have never instructed anyone else, or suggested to anyone else, that they say so. Be assured, Mr. Aborn.”

Aborn also said, “When you read the sign, it leads someone not knowledgeable to believe that he is the incumbent supervisor.”

The investigation report has been forwarded to District Attorney Bob Brown.