Pubdate: Tue, 03 Apr 2007
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2007 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Monte Whaley

FELON SON'S BALLOT STANDS IN ELECTION

A Weld County grand jury investigation found no  wrongdoing in the 
Dacono mayor's one-vote victory in  the last election.

The grand jury got involved in late December when  election officials 
discovered that the mayor's son - a  convicted felon - cast the 
deciding vote in the race.  Under state law, convicted felons may not 
vote in  elections.

A recount showed that incumbent Wade Carlson defeated  challenger 
Larry Johnston 368-367. Carlson's son, Jon  Carlson, was convicted in 
2006 for attempted marijuana  cultivation.

A grand jury report released Friday said Jon Carlson's  parole 
officers never told him he could not vote while  on parole. State law 
also does not require a parole  officer to tell a parolee of the 
voting prohibition,  the report said.

Jon Carlson requested an absentee ballot and on Oct.  25, 2006, his 
ballot was received and recorded by the  Weld County clerk and 
recorder. Two days later, his  name was removed from Weld County's 
registered voter  list because of his parole status.

But no one looked to see if Carlson had already voted,  so his ballot 
was counted, the report said.

The grand jury determined that Jon Carlson did not  knowingly violate 
the law by voting and election  officials only mistakenly counted his vote.

Wade Carlson said Monday that he learned two months ago  that his son 
was not going to be charged with any crime  in relation to his vote.

"That's all there was to it," Carlson said. "It's old  hat, old news."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine