Opinion ID: 1679212
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: East Central Cleveland Precinct. 1) Poll watcher (Mr.) Beverly Perkins

Text: Though Rizzo alleged some 17 separate violations, central to his claim for a new election in the east central Cleveland precinct was the conduct of Beverly Perkins. Bizzell paid Perkins as a supporter and campaigner, and Bizzell assigned Perkins as a poll watcher at the precinct. Perkins, in turn, assigned other Bizzell poll watchers at the precinct. Police arrested Perkins sometime during the morning at the polling place after Democratic executive committee sub-committee on elections chairman Willie Earl Griffin swore out a warrant for disturbing the peace. Perkins later was released and returned to the east central Cleveland precinct and continued his poll watching. Griffin testified, and the special judge found, that Perkins violated the restriction on campaigning within 150 feet of the polling place, although the only pieces of literature Perkins might have had were brochures for a former gubernatorial candidate eliminated in the first primary. Several Rizzo supporters testified that Perkins told them the election had already been wrapped up. These and other Rizzo supporters testified that Perkins harassed and discouraged voters.