How exciting! Learning how to rig an election!
Just like in third world countries.
During the initial formation of the Clackamas County Complete Communities "Village", the Consultants and the County Staff were all about "involving the Community". Promises were made, assurances given, bylaws put in place to make sure the Community was the driving agent for the input to the Commissioners.
As discussed in the "Bylaw Fiasco", the County Bureaucrat, VJG, hired to "manage" the Complete Communities, (who wasn't involved in the formation), didn't really have the skills to mange the group in a constructive way.
The resulting meltdown with 1/3 of the Board resigning, allowed the bullies to appoint their crony friends to the board last September.
=> but how to make sure they stayed on the Board?
=> if the Community got a chance, they might "do something" about the malfeasance.
Answer: Rig the Election!
Further Answer: Get the County Bureaucrat to help!
With everyone collaborating (or just ignoring) on the election, they accomplish three big steps to insuring the re-election of the cronies (click to read details):
In the May 2008 election, they were completely successful. Only one community member managed to get an "application" in on time and they were hidden on the back of the election brochure which likely cost them the single vote they lost by.