CLEAR LAKE – A man named Jack Smith has declared he is a candidate for Clear Lake city council, but wants to be on the ballot as Ben Smith – and a candidate who was already on the ballot – Bennett Smith – has filed a complaint, putting elected leaders in the position of deciding who’s right.
Bennett Smith declared weeks ago that he is a candidate for Second Ward city council in Clear Lake. He has been campaigning and working to oust incumbent councilman Tony Nelson, who also declared he is running for re-election. NIT has learned that Clear Lake resident Jack Leroy Smith has turned in nomination petitions and an Affidavit of Candidacy that was submitted under the name of “Ben Smith” to run for council in Second Ward. However, he signed the affidavit of candidacy as “Jack Leroy Smith” and also owns property in Clear Lake under that name.
Today, Bennett Smith filed a complaint with the Cerro Gordo county auditor’s office regarding Jack Leroy Smith’s request to use “Ben Smith” on the ballot and the potential confusion he feels it will cause to voters.
“I have submitted a formal challenge to the listing of a candidate’s name (“Ben” Smith) on the ballot in its current form for the Second Ward city council seat in Clear Lake that is not the apparent legal name of the candidate and is very similar to my own,” Bennett Smith said in a statement. “I have attached my letter of challenge that I turned in to the Cerro Gordo County Auditor on Monday, September 25th.”
That statement reads:
Dear Mr. Kline,
I would like to formally request a challenge to the presence of a name on the ballot for the Second Ward city council seat in Clear Lake, IA for this upcoming fall election in its current form. Jack Leroy Smith has turned in nomination petitions and an Affidavit of Candidacy that was submitted under the name of “Ben” Smith. While I recognize that family and friends of Jack Smith may refer to him as “Ben” I believe that if his legal name is Jack Smith, then that would be the appropriate name to list on the ballot. Listing his name as “Ben” on the ballot will cause unnecessary confusion for voters who may not know each of us personally given that my name (and legal name) is “Bennett” Smith, and will create an undue burden on voters to correctly identify and make a fully informed choice for a candidate in the Second Ward of Clear Lake.
According to a post on September 3rd, 11:00 p.m. on his campaign Facebook page, Jack Smith (aka “Ben” Smith) was fully aware of my candidacy for the Clear Lake Second Ward city council seat (which was formally announced on August 16th) and the fact that my name was Bennett Smith. He stated, “I am running for Clear Lake City Council Ward 2. I would love to be able to better serve our community. Please don’t confuse me for Bennet Smith who is also running.” Though he did not include the final “t” in my first name, he was clearly aware that I was already in the race and that our names could potentially be confused. This was well before his submission of his nomination signatures and Affidavit of Candidacy.
I have no objection to Jack Smith or anyone else being in the race and on the ballot, but there needs to be the appropriate clarity about the names of the candidates so that voters are not confused about the identity of the candidates. I also checked the Iowa Secretary of State website to see if there was a “Ben” Smith registered to vote in the Clear Lake zip code of 50428 and there was not. My name (Bennett Smith) was what showed up based on that search, and a subsequent search of Jack Smith returned a Jack Leroy Smith. So, if this is the same individual running for office in Ward Two in Clear Lake and this is the name that he has voted under (or simply been registered to vote) it seems only appropriate that it should be the name listed on the ballot once he has decided to become a candidate for office. Being registered to vote under one name and being listed on the ballot under another name would be incongruous with the basic principles that underlay the integrity of our election process.
Furthermore, the property at the address submitted on the Affidavit of Candidacy of “Ben” Smith is actually owned by and listed under the name of Jack L. Smith according to the property records that are publicly available online at the Cerro Gordo County website. For these reasons I am requesting a formal review of this matter by the appropriate county and/or state officials responsible for determining the legal sufficiency and eligibility of candidates to be on the ballot and the proper form of names on the ballot. Thank you.
To lend perspective to this story, NorthIowaToday.com contacted GOP political strategist Todd Blodgett, who has managed and advised many north Iowa political campaigns, and asked him for his thoughts on the matter. Blodgett told NIT that, “I’m not accusing anyone of playing any dirty tricks, here, not at all. But this sort of reminds me of what JFK did to a Boston City Councilman in his first race for public office, in 1946.” Blodgett told NIT that the Kennedy for U.S. House campaign knew that a City Council member named Joe Russo was favored to win the Democratic party’s nomination for the Congressional seat that the young JFK was seeking.
“What happened,” Blodgett said, “was that JFK’s dad paid a foundry worker named Joe Russo – who had no political interest whatsoever, and had never been involved in politics – to file as a candidate.”
This meant that there were two candidates named Joe Russo on the ballot, Blodgett said, “which confused voters.” The result was that first-time candidate John F. Kennedy won the nomination, and was easily elected in that fall’s general election.
Is someone taking a page out of an old political play book, using trickery which worked for a future President of the United States? Stranger things have happened, and in politics, some times the truth IS stranger than fiction.
NIT has also learned that the Clear Lake mayor and city council will be called upon later this week to decide whether “Ben Smith” will continue on as a viable candidate on the ballot. As many as two meetings may be held to come up with a decision.
NIT will continue to keep readers informed of whatever develops in this most intriguing local political story.
Hate.
@ bodacious I wish I could know how come some these people on here, they hate on Todd. I do not go with his brand of politics but he is a nice man and very smart. He has help lot’s of drug addicts to get clean off the drugs, one of them was my cousin Jean.
She lives in heaven now but she could not of broke off from meth, if Todd had not got her thru some dark days when she was using trying to shake off the devil, her drug habit.
You people that like to hate, do you even know this man. You should not judge if you don’t know the person your going after. Just leave him be people.
@ Lori, maybe you have not seen a side of Todd I know. He is nice, yes. But a terrible anger problem, it goes back to Roosevelt in Mason like almost 50 years. He was in the principle’s office more then class he got beat up on count of his mouth, he was in fights all the time. One day he brought a sling shot in his lunch box and fired steelys at recess at some boys who beat him up before. A boy went to Mercy, I seen two went to the nurses room bloody. Todd, he was kicked out for like 3 days. He is a nice man at heart yes. But when he does get mad at somebody he can get real violent, I seen it with my own two eyes. Todd is real lucky his family is who they are and they have money and they know who they know. Power people. He would of got sent away to Eldora back then if it was not for that.
Are you kidding me? Why would you even bring up something like that. It happened when he was a child and he is a grown man now. We all did things as children we wouldn’t do today.
I wonder how many of the anti-Blodgett posters are real people. I know ex-NIACC is as I have seen his posts previously. But, it seems to me that Todd has paid his dues. Nothing he says here is really political other than his swipe at JFK. However, the ISEA and Warren posters only add more fuel to the fire and help to ensure that Trump and the right wing will continue to pick up votes as you demean their supporters. I am no Blodgett or Trump fan, but it seems to me that the 2 I mentioned above are a bit too vitriolic. Perhaps they are Trump supporters who just want to widen the divide.
@ Bo, I think alot of them goes after Todd, they do not know him. I do know him, not that much but he is a nice guy to talk to. No we do not agree on his politics but alot of people the ones use these fake names, they just like to tear him down. I do not know why, they just do. Your right, yes he did pay his dues
@ bodacious, while I use the name of our next president (we pray) as my pseudonym, I’m definitely a real person, with real concerns. You seriously overestimate the intelligence of Trump supporters to think that any could even be so clever as to use reverse psychology in the manner you outlined. As to your false claim that Mr. Blodgett has paid his dues, I shall now ask, are you cray-cray? This drug addict belongs in prison. Yet, thanks to Terry Brain-dead, he is allowed him to pack a loaded gun in our midst. Did you know that last summer, Toddy Boy pulled one of his guns on a college student who was working at a carnival to earn tuition money? Blodgett, who was drunk in public, accused the student of stealing from him, which was never proven. So, there’s that. Educate yourself, bodacious.
@ Elizabeth, I Hate to tell you this lady, but you’re about as wrong as wrong can get. I was at the bar when Mr. Blodgett got robbed. This was up to Rumorz at the lake. And it was about 3-4 years ago, not last summer like you say. Todd really was robbed by two carnies, not one. They stole his wallet that he said had around $500 dollars. We stayed till the cops came, they arrest the carnies take them away. We saw Blodgett give a statement to the CLPD there was like cops. A girl we know, she worked the bar that night said Blodgett was not drunk, he only pulled his gun to scare the holy shit out of the thieves. Which was great, LOL. If Todd had not left out when he did, we would of bought him a drink, he deserved it. That is what happened, not like you think.
@ ‘Bodacious’ – I am, most assuredly, a real person. I’m also a real professional educator who has taught in Mason City for nearly 15 years. I am also a real ISEA member who is very proud of my involvement with our organization. I am also a real holder of a real Masters degree in the field of Education.
What I posted happens to be true: most of Mr. Blodgett’s fans are semi-literate (at best) and many are racists. Truly, many are absolutely deplorable people whose presence is a blight on north Iowa. You may disagree, which is your right. Goodnight to you.
I know all of the old Blodgett stories. I also know that you certainly aren’t going to gain voters by calling them ignorant. Nor will you gain much of anything other than smugness.
Reading these awful postings just makes me wonder if any of Mr. Blodgett’s racist defenders know grammar, or how to properly write a sentence, or even spell. To date, I have seen not a one.
Why do you people lend credence to an admitted drug abuser and former neo-Nazi who panders to the lowest? You people really are deplorables, just as Hillary said you were. You are all your own worst enemies. Crawl back under your rocks and let nature take its course with you. Your kind is not needed, or respected, by decent people anywhere. Keep smoking and drinking and using drugs like Mr. Blodgett does. You’ll soon be six feet under where you all belong.
@ ISEA, ok so now I am a deplorable to your brain, yeah right. You think your so smart, you look down on people like me well you got no right to think that. Yes Todd has admit he done drugs for a minute, he use to but now he is clean. I do know the man, him and I are both grateful recovered addicts, we do attend Narcotics Anonomyous every week. Here in Mason. Todd, he has been clean along time, he a tone for his past, he paid his dues just like bodacius says he did.
So you say you want me 6 ft under, well I would like to see you try. I will lay you out in like 30 seconds bitch. You tell me how I am my own worse enemy? You do not want me for a enemy teachy, I will sure teach you that bitch.
Wow Darcy, you’re so tough. I’m sure everyone here is scared.
It looks like Retired NIACC has struck some nerves here, based on the comments from the Deplorables, AKA fans of the drug-addicted Republitard whose crypto-Fascist, pro-Trump rants are, thankfully, no longer published by the Globe Gazette.
Kudos to you, Retired NIACC. By their postings here, you proved that such Neanderthals exist in our midst, and that most of Toddy Boy’s readers are bigoted simpletons whose presence in north Iowa is a major negative for the rest of us who have to put up with them. If you’re reading this, Darla, maybe you should go to NIACC and get your GED. Come back to this site once you have attained proficiency at communicating at a fourth-grade level.
@ Warren, Darla just happens to be our daughter, the young mom you owe a apology to. You really got some nerve, you witch, to make fun of her on this sight. Why I do not even think, you know her do you?
So then you go off on Blodgett, well he can take care of himself. Do you know, we agree with him most the time, he is good with us. Your not tho. You got a problem with that, witch? This is just what you are, a witch and something else that ryemse with that word.
We might of prayed for you but your a lost cause, witch. Get on your broom and fly away before my man stuff’s it up your’s. Witch.
Speaking of someone that needs an education. Hi, Bonnie S.
Speaking of someone who needs to learn some manners, Hi Tim Ordell.
I wonder if Todd is advising Matty on his campaign. Notice how comments relating to his candidacy were quickly closed when he announced. Lol
Who listens to blodgett
@ Mike – Who? Unfortunately, too many people, most of them crazy. Even after the Globe kicked his column off of its Op-Ed page, Toddy boy still has a rabid following. His fans are mostly rednecks, Trump voters and assorted kooks who are suckers for his simple solutions to complex problems.
Republitards, as these deplorables are commonly known, probably make up about 90% of Mr. Blodgett’s blue collar, somewhat insane, audience. And how tragic it is that north Iowa is loaded with their ignorant kind. They may barely be literate, but they love to read his right-wing nonsense.
Hey, WTF Nick-nack paddy wack, who the hell are you, trash talking people you think your better then. Why don’t you try walk up to Mr Blodgett, say that shit to his face?
I bet you would not be able to walk for a long while if you try it, you sick bastard. You got a problem with blue collar workers do you, Mo-Fo?
F-U, you sick F–k.
@ NIACC, people like you are whats wrong now what make’s you any better then me, I work 50 hrs ever week easy to feed my kids pay my rent there brace’s make my car payment pay off my tattoos’ ect.
Your just wrong, your a bad person you are, you snobby POS.
Trump Trump Trump Trump Trump Trump Trump forever and ever you MF Demo-Crap.
Darla, what is a POS?
@ Curious: POS = piece of sh*t. You know, Trump voters and fans of Todd Blodgett. Basically, all Republicans!
That’s some expensive tattoos if you’ve got to pay them off. What a waste of money on your part.
Hey Timmy you know what you can do you can kiss my ass.
NIACC is nothing but a retired art teacher. He is not qualified to say anything about anyone. What a joke.
Is this other Smith is he trying to get Bennet to lose. Interesting comment from Mr Blodgett, the JFK thing. Far as I know, Blodgett is for Tony Nelson, thats his council man they are friends.
Well if anybody knows about rich daddy’s buying sons way to jobs in politics its Toddy boy LOL. Where would he of been if old doc Blodgett would not of paid to get him his jobs, he got. Go Bennett, your the one for this you got our vote.
Tony is nice but been in there to long now. New blood.
Get over yourself Bennett. You’re going to lose anyways.