The 2016 election cycle seems to have carved out a new path for candidates who don’t like the outcome of their races: they sue. Both former Council Member Mahn Nguyen and his political ally, recently defeated Council candidate Jimmy Nguyen, say they are moving forward with lawsuits against the Registrar of Voters after losing their election bids.
Strangely, Jimmy Nguyen is not suing to change the outcome of the election. He does not even claim that correcting legal problems with the ballot counts would result in him being declared the winner. His goal appears to be political, not legal. He seeks to undermine voter confidence in the election itself. Having now run and lost twice, he may see this Trumpian tactic as a set up for yet another run for office.
Who would advise Jimmy Nguyen that attempting to cast doubt on the integrity of the election was a wise decision? That would be his legal counsel Jim Sutton, who was also former State Senator Leland Yee’s Campaign Treasurer when Yee was indicted for bribery, taking illegal cash contributions and corruption.
Mahn Nguyen’s strategy appears to be similar to Jimmy’s. Manh Nguyen is rumored to be considering a move to Council District 7, where he would run against incumbent Council Member Tam Nguyen in two years. Presumably Mahn Nguyen would claim that last year’s election, which he lost to Lan Diep, was actually stolen.
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