PUBLIC CORRUPTION: Witness unveils campaign tactics (Vote Fraud 101)

PUBLIC CORRUPTION: Witness unveils campaign tactics (Vote Fraud 101)

SOUTH BEND -- A veteran of East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick's campaigns gave a federal jury a lesson Thursday in the city's hardball politics.
Byron Florence testified he helped win re-election for Pastrick and City Councilman Frank Kollintzas in 1999 by directing free concrete to city residents in return for their support

Florence said he also disenfranchised anti-Pastrick voters by luring them into illegally voting twice in the same election.

Kollintzas, East Chicago City Councilman Joe De La Cruz and East Chicago City Controller Edwardo Maldonado are being tried on federal fraud and conspiracy charges.

The trio allegedly took part in a scheme to convert $24 million from East Chicago city coffers into campaign money for Pastrick and his allies.
Federal prosecutors have named Pastrick as an unindicted co-conspirator along with a number of elected and appointed East Chicago figures, including Florence. They have not been charged with any crimes.

Florence, a lifelong East Chicago resident, said he is steeped in East Chicago campaign history and has profited from that experience with a career on public payrolls. He has been an East Chicago city worker. He now is chief outside investigator for North Township Trustee Greg Cvitkovich, a close Pastrick ally.

Florence said he was Pastrick's 4th District coordinator -- 'I coordinated all political activities, recruiting workers, putting up signs' -- for the 1999 municipal Democratic primary against challenger Stephen R. 'Bob' Stiglich.

He said Stiglich's campaign paid $20 to $40 to voters ignorant of the law to cast absentee ballots for Stiglich. Stiglich, who now is Democratic county chairman and county auditor, couldn't be reached Thursday evening for comment.

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