A complaint recently submitted to
the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department and Board of Elections has accused
government officials in the Town of Lockport of judicial ethics violations and
identity theft. If the allegations are proven to be true, several top
Republicans could face felony charges.
Among those named in the complaint
are Mark Smith, Rick Updegrove, Nancy Brooks, Cheryl Antkowiak and Mark
Crocker. They are accused of manipulating ballots prior to primary elections.
The complaint claims the following:
“In the Town of Lockport
all Conservative and Independents petitions circulated were not carried by
people of that party, Most were done by Richard Updegrove, Mark Smith, Nancy
Brooks, Cheryl A. Antkowiak, Mark Crocker and more. Being all are
Republicans this violates notary law when they themselves have interest to
circulate petitions not of their own party. Most all of the town elected
officials became notaries to get on ballots of minor party lines.”
The complaint also accuses town officials of
conspiring to elect town residents to the Conservative Party committee without
their knowledge. This tactic allows Republican candidates sufficient
opportunity to
