Flyers used to jam communications, a Ward 18 candidate alleges

A campaign organizer with candidate Kevin Beaulieu in Ward 18 says those opposed to his campaign attempted to interfere with his communication in the hours leading up to the close of the polls in tonight’s municipal election.

Beaulieu’s co-campaign manager, Brendan Agnew-Iler, reported that flyers with the campaign office’s telephone number were being handed out near Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue.

“We received dozens of phone calls from people who were handed a flyer at Y(onge)-E(glinton) that they had won a free pizza … The name of the pizzeria doesn’t exist in Toronto. That’s all we know,” Agnew-Iler said.

Beaulieu, who is outgoing Coun. Adam Giambrone’s former assistant, is matched up against Ana Bailao in the ward.

Giambrone reported on the tactic on his Twitter page: “Pizza flyer offering “Free Pizza” is out; if u call the number “coincidentally” it’s Beaulieu’s campaign office… Ties up lines. Dirty,” Giambrone wrote.

At 8:30 p.m. returns indicated that Ana Bailao was leading with just over 3,000 votes, with Keven Beaulieu in second place with 2,400 votes. Of 29 polls, 21 had reported totals.

Meanwhile in Ward 26, there are reports of an incident at Thorncliffe Park in which election employees were allegedly handing out pre-marked ballots.

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By: Jon Spratt
Posted: Oct 25 2010 6:42 pm
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Filed under: News