Perry Johnson makes it on GOP governor ballot despite last-minute allegations

State officials certify Perry Johnson for Aug. 4 ballot, despite last-minute claims of wrongdoing collecting signatures
Fellow GOP candidate Ralph Rebandt and Democrat Kim Thomas were disqualified from the ballot
Johnson has already spent more than $15 million on his campaign

LANSING — State officials on Thursday certified Perry Johnson to appear on the Aug. 4 primary ballot for governor, a day after allegations emerged that his campaign had altered nominating petitions after they were signed by voters.

By law, governor candidates have to collect 15,000 valid voter signatures to make the ballot. An Oakland County businessman who has spent $15 million on his campaign, Johnson submitted more than 22,000 valid ones.

A PAC backing fellow candidate John James, Michigan Mission, submitted complaints this week alleging Johnson’s campaign doctored petition sheets after they were signed by adding a required statement disclosing they were “paid for by” the campaign.

“If this is accurate, it is a huge problem,” Charles Spies, an attorney for James’ campaign, told the bipartisan Board of Canvassers, a four-member panel that certifies petitions.

In an affidavit submitted to police and obtained by Bridge Michigan, Johnson campaign consultant Trevor Pittsley alleged “approximately 10,000” petitions were altered by other members of the campaign team.

Related:

Police agencies that were sent the complaint, including Oakland County Sheriff, Troy and the state police, declined comment to Bridge or did not immediately respond.

No affidavit or complaint had been filed with the Board of Canvassers by the time of Thursday’s meeting. The state’s Board of Elections had already recommended Johnson’s name appear on the ballot.

“We don’t know about a whistleblower,” said Board of Canvassers Democratic member Mary Ellen Gurewitz. “We have nothing before us — we have no challenge.”

John Burns, an attorney representing the Johnson campaign, argued that the “mystery affidavit” was a “bad-faith smear attempt.”

The board, made up of two Republicans and two Democrats, voted unanimously to place Johnson on the ballot.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kim Thomas wasn’t as lucky and was kept off the ballot. A random sample of her petitions found that 92% of the signatures were either fraudulent or redundant.

“This is the worst we’ve ever seen,” Gurewitz said.

Republican governor candidate Ralph Rebandt was also disqualified for failing to collect enough valid signatures, along with Republican US Senate candidate Bernadette Smith.

Four years ago, Johnson and other Republican gubernatorial candidates were removed from the ballot when an investigation found signature circulators paid by their campaigns falsified signatures.

Two men were sent to prison this spring for fraud related to the case.