Robinson Responds to 'Wienergate'
Douglasville Mayoral Candidate Rochelle Robinson contacted Douglasville Patch to give her side of the story after being accused of vote buying.
Douglasville Mayoral Candidate Rochelle Robinson contacted Douglasville Patch to give her side of the story after being accused of vote buying. Read the story here.
"I would not insult the voters by trying to buy a vote with anything, especially not something as insignificant as a hot dog," Robinson said. "That's insulting to the people and to me.
"The fact is, I was given the hot dogs as an in-kind donation and I wanted to share them with the community. And we were never within 150 feet of a polling station. I didn't personally give out any hot dogs. I didn't say, 'I'll give you a hot dog for a vote.' When people left the polling place, we said 'would you like a hot dog?'
"I just wanted to feed the community," she said. "It didn't matter if you voted or not."
Robinson said she went into several downtown offices to offer employees lunch.
"Mr. Persons is the one who made the complaint," she said. "And then Laurie Fulton called the Secretary of State's Office. When I found out, I asked my supporters to go to another site. Then I waited there for an hour and a half."
She said Cecil Mann was the investigator who arrived.
"Three weeks prior to the election, I called the City and asked if I needed a permit or a business license," Robinson said. "They said I didn't need anything. They said talk to the board of health. I spoke to Robert Gore, a manager. He said, 'Your're fine.' The City or the board of health didn't say check with the board of elections or the Secretary of State's Office.
"I've been texted and told that other candidates have handed out food on election day," she said.
Robinson said she's heard of other examples of candidtes handing out food on election day, including Douglasville's current mayor, Mickey Thompson.
"He's given out Danishes, coffee, donuts and orange juice," she said. "The only difference is, I did hot dogs."
Robinson said Grill King, based out of Dekalb, was the company making the hot dogs. She said Clarkston Chief of the Police Tony Scippo is her supporter who gave the in-kind donation.
"He used to be a deputy sheriff in Douglas County and still has family here and ties to the community," she said.
"My intent was to feed the community and say thank you. When we were asked to stop we took the hot dogs and gave them to a homeless shelter. I'm going to move on from wienergate and continue my race."
A copy of the complaint is included in the photo gallery attached to this story.
Julie Camp
1:33 pm on Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Well, I think BBQ, hot dogs and burgers are a huge part of politics. I never knew that was buying votes, I just thought it was a way to get folks to show up and hear your voice.
Chris M
2:34 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Well, I feel better after reading her response to this situation. I had a feeling it was done with the best of intentions, and just maybe by someone a bit inexperienced. Welcome to politics. Possibly this is just a "tempest in a teacup". I'll still be interested to see how this all plays out.
Jack Benimble
2:36 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Wow. Hotdogs. Really?!?! Why is this even a subject? Persons really need to find a new focus, like what he is going to do for the betterment of the community.
James Bell
7:28 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
You could never buy my vote with a hot dog. But a slaw dog.... that's a different matter. And to complain to Laurie Fulton after she has been convicted of at least 4 violation of state laws herself? This show just how petty the politicians are. I'm sure the state attorney general will jump right on this case!
Is it any worse than the Sheriff robo calling voters threatening to raise our taxes if we don't approve a sales tax?
Their must more important issues than hot dogs in the city of Douglasville. Or maybe not!
Myra Coker Crawford
10:01 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
OH, no, not FREE HOT DOGS!!! What is this world coming to!!! James Bell, surely not a slaw dog...unless...it is a Varsity slaw dog. Add onion rings and I cannot be held responsible.
James Bell
9:55 am on Thursday, November 24, 2011
Myra, we need to take this conversation off line before we are accused of conspiracy!
Jim J
9:56 am on Thursday, November 24, 2011
You know what they say about hot dogs….it leads to hamburgers and then foot long hoagies. This complaint coming from a guy who filed a complaint with the Douglasville Police Department, because his opponent’s campaign signs were 10 inches too close to the street? That should tell you something about Mr. Persons.
This is your brain on a hot dog.
James Bell
10:13 am on Thursday, November 24, 2011
Well... you give them 10" and they will take a foot! I think political sign laws should be the same as the ones they enforce against the local businesses. If a business puts out a 2x2' sign advertising a daily special, code enforcement will be knocking on their door threatening them with court and jail time.
James Bell
10:16 am on Thursday, November 24, 2011
BTW the signs at Hwy 92 and Hwy 78 are illegal. It is on rail road right of way property. You need permission to put signs on private property! Citizens Arrest! Citizens Arrest!
Jim J
10:41 am on Thursday, November 24, 2011
James, you and Myra probably do need to watch out. Next thing you know, both of you will be targeted as the hot dog chefs by Mr. Persons. If he files enough complaints, then it will become the truth.
James Bell
11:19 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2011
I'm curious if this complaint by Mr. Persons is that the hot dogs were given away on election day or they were given away to close to a voting precinct or they were given away with the stipulation that in exchange for the tube steak the recipient will vote for the candidate dispensing the franks or that the complaint was mad because he didn't thing of this first? I am also curious if Mr. Person gave away any tee shirts, caps, buttons, fans, or other swag. Can anyone answer this?