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Write-in candidate for SLO County supervisor charged with fraud

September 22, 2024

Michelle Morrow

By KAREN VELIE

A Grover Beach woman is facing four felony counts related to her run as a write-in candidate for the San Luis Obispo County District 3 Supervisor seat in the March 2024 Primary Election.

Following a SLO County District Attorney’s Office investigation, 55-year-old Michelle Marie Morrow was booked into the SLO County Jail on Sept. 12 on felony charges of voter registration fraud, filing false nomination papers, perjury and fraudulent voting. Morrow bailed out of jail shortly after her arrest.

In late 2023, a group of people who were looking for someone to oppose SLO County Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg asked Morrow to run. However, Morrow lived in Oceano, outside the District 3 boundary.

Morrow and a supporter went to the SLO County Clerk-Recorder’s Office to ask questions about running as a write-in candidate if she moved to Grover Beach, as there was not enough time to have her name on the ballot.

In mid-January, Morrow signed a lease to rent a room in Grover Beach, inside the District 3 boundary. She then registered to vote at the Grover Beach address.

Morrow submitted paperwork to run as a write-in candidate on Feb. 16.

On March 5, Supervisor Ortiz-Legg won the seat with 91.41% to 6.59%, or 12,272 votes to 866 votes. Not long after, the SLO County Clerk Recorder’s Office reported Morrow’s alleged violations of election law, Morrow said.

During its investigation, the SLO County District Attorney’s Office determined Morrow continued to live in Oceano in District 4 while running for office in District 3. It is also alleged that on March 5, Morrow voted fraudulently through a District 3 ballot while her actual residence remained in District 4.

Morrow’s arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 10. She currently lives in Grover Beach.

 


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With all the real crime going on, this seems incredibly petty.


2

Whats the big deal, we used to have a county supervisor that everyone knew was into soliciting bribes and he continued to get elected so a little fraud is nothing


16

And the current County Supervisor for district 3 is just as bad. Probably learned the art of bribes and kickbacks during her “pillow talk” with the previous Supervisor which earned her an appointment to the county planning commission in 2018-ish.


Guess District 3 constituents were screwed either way as both candidates have practiced unethical activities.


7

You have to wonder if things would have been different had DA Dan Dow done his job earlier instead of turning a blind eye to Hill’s illegal activities and waiting for the feds to step up.


13

Next time find a real candidate. With the incumbent’s connections to Adam Hill and his machinations, it should not be that difficult.


20

Shouldn’t be difficult? The republicans couldn’t get rid of Bruce Gibson even with a gerrymandered map, multiple recounts and $25,000 from district attorney Dow! The people are tired of the underhanded and bizarre behavior of the local republicans.


-12

Kind of sounds like everyone is tired of Bruce…


31

A majority of voters are not tired of Gibson.


-43

Now that’s a sad statement about the majority of voters.


13

You forget that Gibson was Adams “Best Buddy”! Birds of a feather? My understanding is that he was right there, basically holding hands with Adam, while Adam was berating woman and demanding pay offs. Wasn’t he in that elevator and did absolutely nothing while he verbally assaulted her? How many other situations was Gibson privy to? Sad!


4

Yes, more voter fraud nonsense from the local republicans. Nothing new here.


How bout that Eve Hinton (Eve Dobler Drew) running for re-election for SLCUSD. She won’t even talk to Tribune reporters. She doesn’t want to answer questions about her posting QAnon videos online, saying Melinda Gates is satanic and that gay youth can ‘pray away the gay.’


Local republicans – keep disappointing


-44

It’s not like the democratic supervisors in this county have a clean bill of record. Have you really already forgotten about adam hill and that whole mess? Politicians are corrupt on both sides of the aisle and it’s unfortunate voters think one side is more evil than the other. Holding politicians accountable regardless of party instead of buying into their divisive games would make government much more efficient.


62

The democrats on our BOS didn’t foist a gerrymandered map on us. That was the republicans. Did you forget about that? One side is ‘more evil’ – and that side is going to lose big time come November.


-33

I’m sorry I don’t buy into the politicians games of dividing the voters. Both parties are corrupt it’s your choice to believe one is more evil than the other as that’s what the parties want you to believe. Stop giving into it and be an independent voice to hold them accountable.


40

For many of us, there’s a significant difference between random corrupt government officials in government (on both sides of the aisle) — compared to a party that game-plans to subvert elections from down-ballet all the way to the highest office in the nation.


10

Your also complaining about a republican that only recieved a little over 6.59 percent of the vote compared to the winner of over 91 percent. The winner happens to also be somebody that is being accused of taking advantage of am affordable home project in slo. If your not familiar with that cal coast news has an article about it. Why are not upset about that corruption? But upset about a candidate’s corruption who recieved less than 10 percent of the vote?


26

Whether it’s 10% of the vote or 90% of the vote — there is no reason for whataboutism. Nip it in the bud.


2

What a web we weave when we practice to deceive.


12