Caledonia Argus

Money Creek denies election fraud

Posted: 4/1/03

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

Money Creek Township has denied charges that illegal polling practices took place at an election on March 11.

A Notice of Election Contest was filed on March 17 by Eleanor Coulson, who claimed that the election, in which township residents voted against allowing the issuance of Sunday liquor sales licenses by a 141-89 count, was in material violation of Minnesota polling laws.

Coulson, who prior to the election had filed a liquor license application with Houston County and has plans to set up a bar and grill within the township, claimed that refreshments were served in the polling place in an effort to influence voters to vote against Sunday liquor, campaigning was allowed within 100 feet of the entrance to the polls, election officials and/or other persons told people to vote against Sunday liquor ìin order to avoid ruining the integrity of Money Creek Township,î persons opposed to Sunday liquor were allowed to remain in the polling place in an effort to intimidate voters, and election officials intentionally had an insufficient number of ballots on hand.

Money Creek election officials were advised by their attorneys not to comment on the matter, but in a statement filed at the Houston County Courthouse last week, Money Creek Township denied ìthat any action of Money Creek Township was taken in a manner which violated the procedures or process set forth in Minnesota law.î Money Creek also contended that Coulsonís claims are barred by the applicable statute of limitations found in Minnesota law.

A court trial has been set for April 3 at 9 a.m. before Judge James Fabian in the Houston County Courthouse.

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