Republicans want Schnebel investigated

Democratic county commissioner candidate Stacey Schnebel has called Republican Party allegations that she voted illegally a “frivolous tactic” to get her removed from the ballot.

Her statement came after Flathead County Republican Party chairman Jayson Peters sent a letter to Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan on Oct. 1 asking him to investigate Schnebel for illegal voting.

According to an official voter profile attached to Peters’ letter, Schnebel voted in the March 2008 Whitefish High School bond election and in the Whitefish municipal elections in November 2009 and 2011.

But according to an attached deed of trust, Schnebel and her husband bought a home in Coram in December 2007, and according to Schnebel’s own campaign resume, the couple have lived in Coram since 2007. Schnebel changed her voter registration to Coram in October 2012, Peters said.

Peters expressed particular concern because the 2009 and 2011 municipal elections in Whitefish were “hotly contested” and the 2011 election included the referendum on the Whitefish “doughnut” settlement.

“Because of Ms. Schnebel’s illegal voting, we ask that you review whether she should be removed from the general election ballot or from office if she prevails,” Peters said in his letter.

Peters alleges that Schnebel violated a state law that stipulates “no person may vote who is not entitled to vote.” He said state law provides that “a person who knowingly violates a provision of the election laws of this state for which no other penalty is specified is guilty of a misdemeanor.”

Schnebel and her Republican opponent, Phil Mitchell, of Whitefish, are running for the District 1 commissioner seat currently held by Cal Scott, R-Columbia Falls.

Peters sent his letter and attachments to the media, and Schnebel issued a written response on Oct. 2.

“I am flattered that the Republican Party is giving me this intense scrutiny,” she said. “I am not an illegal voter and am confident that the county attorney won’t find fault with my voting record. If anything, my voting record demonstrates that I perform my civic duty to vote.”

Schnebel also took at jab at Mitchell.

“I find it interesting that my opponent will not engage in a public debate, and instead his party will take the frivolous tactic of trying to remove me from the ballot,” she said. “Since we don’t have voter polls in Flathead County, I take this as an indicator that I am currently winning the race for county commissioner.”