- Arno Political Consultants
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Arno Political Consultants, Inc. (APC) is a company based in Lincoln, California. The company was founded in 1979 by Michael Arno.[1]
The company reports that its former and current clients include the National Rifle Association and R. J. Reynolds.[2]
APC has frequently been the subject of controversy over its bait-and-switch tactics, bribery, forgery, and other types of fraud in gathering signatures.
Controversy
- In 2004, APC hired JSM who hired YPM who is accused of tricking people into registering to vote as a Republican.[2]
- In 2004, APC is accused of forging signatures on a petition to legalize slot machines in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.[3]
- In 2005, paid signature collectors from APC revealed that an unknown but large number of signatures for a petition to remove the right to same-sex marriage in Massachusetts had been collected through fraud. The collectors told voters that they were signing a petition about a different issue, or that the petitions were in favor of same-sex marriage.[4][5][6][7]
- In 2007, APC hired JSM, Inc. who hired independent contractors who gave snacks and food to homeless people in exchange for signing petitions and registering to vote.[8]
- In 2009, proponents of a payday loan veto referendum sued APC in Franklin County for breach of contract and negligence. 13,000 signatures were thrown out because the Form 15's had not been appropriately filled out. They were seeking $438,000.[9] Both parties reached an undisclosed settlement agreement on July 29th, 2009. [10]
- Also In 2009, APC gathered signatures to put the Ohio Casino Initiative on the November 3, 2009 ballot.[9] The overall validity of the signatures were certified at just under 51%.[11]
References
- ^ Official California Business Portal
- ^ a b David Karp, St. Petersburg Times, "Students complain of false party swap" October 23, 2004
- ^ Ken Walker, Florida Baptist Witness "Suit claims invalid signatures tainted Fla. gambling petitions" November 10, 2004
- ^ YouTube Video about APC petition fraud
- ^ Bay Windows, Mass Equality, "Signature fraud is an outrage" October 20, 2005
- ^ Nangle, Richard (October 19, 2005). "Signature fraud hearings get testy". Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
- ^ LeBlanc, Steve (October 19, 2005). "Marriage backers, foes point fingers". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/10/19/marriage_backers_foes_point_fingers/.
- ^ Evan George, Los Angeles Downtown News "Homeless Given Food To Sign Ballot Petitions" November 2, 2007
- ^ a b Reginald Fields, The Plain Dealer, "Ohio casino backers hire troubled California firm Arno Political Consultants" April 28, 2009
- ^ REJECT H.B. 545 COMMITTEE vs. ARNO POLITICAL CONSULTANTS, INC. - STIPULATED ENTRY OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE
- ^ Official Final Worklog from The Ohio SOS
External links
Categories:- Political advocacy groups in the United States
- Political consulting firms
- Companies based in Sacramento, California
- Companies established in 1979
- United States company stubs
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