Photos: Bill Rock, left, Larry Leach, right.
Gas City Mayor Larry Leach is accusing his opponent, Bill Rock whose opposing him as an independent, of “fraudulent voter practice.”
According to a letter sent by Leach to the Grant County Election Board on Oct. 11, Leach is alleging Rock signed Raymond Joe Barnes up as a voter with a false Gas City address. However, Rock states that this is all a “stab in the dark to try to mislead people.”
Barnes was listed as living at 1231 E. Main St., in Gas City, which is the location of Thompson Trucking.
Leach said he spoke with the owner of Thompson Trucking, Sam Thompson, who “assured me that Mr. Barnes has never lived at 1231 E. Main St.”
According to Rock, Barnes approached him and asked to register to vote. Rock asked for his address while filling out the voter registration form and Barnes told him 1231 E. Main St. in Gas City.
“It’s not up to me or my committee to investigate everyone that wants to register to vote,” Rock added.
WBAT spoke with Barnes who says he did infact live at Thompson’s Trucking address at one point, but now he lives at a friend’s apartment in Gas City.
“I had a couple strokes and now live on disability,” Barnes said. “[Thompson’s Trucking] is where all my mail stuff went. I worked for [Thompson]. He said you can put your mail here I don’t care.
“Bill’s honest, he’s a very honest man,” Barnes continued. “Larry’s trying to dig up dirt on him. I didn’t mean to get him any trouble.”
Leach claims that since Rock has been a life-long Gas City resident, he should know that 1231 E. Main St. is not a residential address.
“It’s another way to try to mislead the public to try to scare them into not turning in their absentee applications,” Rock said. “Anyone can file a complaint. [Leach] is just getting smoke out there.”
County Clerk Pam Harris said the Grant County Voter Registration office is looking into the allegations, but there’s nothing that her office can do until the absentee ballot sent out to Barnes is sent back to them with his vote. At that point, Harris says, her office will consult legal counsel until then there is a standstill.
