Candidate arraigned in election fraud case

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP (AP) -- An Oakland County Board of Commissioners candidate has been arraigned on an election fraud charge. Eastern Michigan University student John Scott is accused of petition-gathering irregularities. The 22-year-old independent candidate is running in a race that also includes Republican Commissioner John A. Scott of Waterford Township. John A. Scott says his namesake opponent is trying to confuse the election process. The independent John Scott was arraigned last Thursday in Waterford's district court. Defense lawyer H. Wallace Parker told The Oakland Press of Pontiac that his client won't be dropping out of the race and calls the case "all political." A not-guilty plea was entered on Scott's behalf. The charge against him is a misdemeanor punishable by 93 days in jail. Judge Jodi Debbrecht set a pretrial hearing for Oct. 23. Published: Mon, Oct 15, 2012