Alameda County Candidate Charged With Voter Fraud

A candidate who says she wants to be Alameda County's next auditor-controller because the office needs to be reformed has been charged with six felony counts for allegedly lying in campaign papers about where she lives.

The Alameda County District Attorney's Office has charged Kathleen Knox with one count of registration of an ineligible voter, two counts of perjury by declaration and three counts of fraudulent voting.

Knox is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland.

Knox didn't return a phone call seeking a comment on the charges against her and prosecutors weren't immediately available for comment on the basis for their allegations.

Knox is running against Steve Manning, the county's chief deputy auditor, in the June 3 election for the right to succeed Patrick O'Connell, who was elected to the position in 1986 but announced in March that he wouldn't seek re-election.

On her campaign website, Knox said, "The Auditor-Controller's office needs reform and it needs it now. Business as usual is just too expensive."

Knox said the auditor-controller's position "has gone unopposed for almost 30 years, leaving Alameda County residents and voters with little or no idea about what the office and the job are about."

Knox said she believes she is qualified for the job because she has been involved in county politics for 30 years and also has 30 years of business experience. She said, "I will bring 21st century leadership to this office through leading edge technology and innovation."

Knox said five San Leandro city leaders have endorsed her: Mayor Stephen Cassidy, Vice Mayor Michael Gregory and City Council members Benny Lee, Diana Souza and Ursula Reed.

--By Bay City News Service