Vote-buying accusations have heightened tensions in Blacktip Island’s already-heated mayor’s race. (photo by Sampson Post / BTT staff)
Blacktip Island’s hotly-contested mayoral election, scheduled for Tuesday, became supercharged this week when challenger and political newcomer Pinky Bottoms accused incumbent Jack Cobia’s campaign of paying voters ahead of time.
“When you have voters saying, ‘I’m voting for Jack because he paid me more,’ that’s a problem,” Bottoms said. “And we’re hearing that from multiple voters. This is a democracy. You don’t just buy voters. Not like that, anyway.
“This strikes at the heart of why I’m running against Jack,” she said. “This shameless, unchecked corruption is poisoning Blacktip’s political and social fabric. Jack started at the bottom and dug down from there. His time on the gravy train needs to end.”
Cobia defended his campaign’s actions.
“Pinky’s just mad ‘cause we’re paying more than she is,” he said. “I gotta do something to level the playing field, running against a Bottoms. If the extended Bottoms clan voted as a block, they’d run the island. The key for us is to split the Bottoms vote, and a little beer money here and there’s the best way to do that.”
Island political observers noted the island’s unique political structure played an oversized role.
“Blacktip really doesn’t have political parties, per se,” political watchdog Ginger Bass said. “Oh, they label and relabel themselves every election cycle, but they’re not divided on ideological lines like left-vs-right, or big government-vs-small government. It’s more a matter of whose cousin’s running and who you’re most-closely related to.
“On Blacktip, the family trees don’t have many branches,” Bass said. “And in the case of the Bottoms, damn near every local’s related to them somehow. That’s not an excuse for bribing voters, but it is necessary to recognize Jack’s up against a potentially-unstoppable voter base.”
Island residents were more concerned about important local issues than in election irregularities.
“The big issues are bars and roads,” Rusty Goby said. “Jack and Pinky both want the bars to stay open longer, so they’ve got my support on that. But Jack wants to pave both the roads, while Pinky wants to keep ‘em dirt. I’m voting for Pinky unless Jack drops some hefty dosh in my pocket.”
Local officials said there will be a zero-tolerance electioneering policy at the island’s sole polling place Tuesday.
“We won’t stand for any sort of inducement or improper influencing of voters at the Customs house,” Island Police Constable Rafe Marquette said. “You have any shenanigans to pull, get that out of the way before you come to vote. I’ll be on duty outside, and Noddy Bolin, the Customs agent, will be watching inside. Ol’ Noddy, he has an old-school belaying pin he won’t hesitate to use on miscreants.”
Voting begins at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Poll watchers from both campaigns will be on hand to monitor the process.
The Blacktip Times 