COOKIEGATE!!!

March 5, 2009

Candidate condemned by his own statement!

I believe that Eric Ulrich is in clear violation of the election laws and should prohibit him from being certified as a NY City Councilman for the 32nd District, Queens, NY. His statement below, I believe constitutes and effort to influence the outcome of an election by bribery! Whether the bribery is dollars, cookies or even buying coffee for poll workers it is still an effort to sway the opinions of poll workers , eventually the voters opinion, and that is contrary to the election laws of The State of New York. And, I believe this to be “pernicious behavior” according to Election Law thus it is a serious matter for The Board Of Election, it’s General Council and New York State Attorney General and NY State Election officials.

Furthermore, the law is clear about electioneering and campaigning at poll sites on election day! Poll workers and attending officials are legally and adequately compensated for their work that day and are legally bound NOT to collect or seek any other forms of reward be it cookies, coffee, bagels, cannoli or offers of the same and it is illegal to proffer such offers!

“During his impromptu victory speech at Villa Russo in Ozone Park on February 24th, 2009 Mr. Ulrich said: Of course, the young Ozone Park Republican district leader didn’t do it alone. During his impromptu victory speech at Villa Russo in Ozone Park Tuesday night, Ulrich thanked his grandmother —‘who baked cookies for every single poll site in the district…’”

This statement was reported in several local newspapers including the Queens Chronicle, Vol XXXII No. 9 dated Thursday, February 26, 2009 by. Lee Landor, Editor. This information is being passed on to Mr. Steven H. Richman, Attorney for the NYC Board of Elections and should be passed on, in turn, to The Conflicts of Interest Board. It is being issued by Sam DiBernardo who says: “If I have to live by the rules and laws so, does everyone else without exception and insists on urgent action. Your respective agencies are familiar with the “chapter and verse” of the law as they pertain to this matter and they should be enforced evenly and equally!”

Thank you,

Sam DiBernardo