Altadena needs election monitors, apparently

What does Altadena have in common with Kazakhstan, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, and Tonga? Look at the title of the post.

Tim Rutt, over at Altadenablog has done a fine job of following the Town Council elections (not to be confused with a city council- as Altadena is unincorporated, its council plays an advisory role).

The latest: a report issued by the council that details violations in the last Town Council election:

* Three candidates allegedly ignore repeated requests or warnings to stop campaigning within 100 feet of a polling place; one candidates' worker did likewise at one location.

* One candidate may have interfered actively with the Election Chair's process prior to the election.

* Two seated Town Council members, one candidate and a few others are alleged to have verbally abused the Election Chair prior to the election; some of these accused seemed intent on interrupting the process rather than assisting with the election.

So an election to an advisory town council was marred with trouble. The committee investigating the election, did certify the results, suggesting that whatever pressure that council members might have put on the Election Chair, electorate etc. did not have much of an effect on the results of the election.

In a related story veteran council member Steve Lamb had plenty to say on the subject of the council in an interview with Janette Williams:

"The Town Council is just full of conflict, in-fighting and favoritism, and it's always been that way," Lamb said. "I'm tired of trying to reform that, and I decided it was a complete waste of time."