LYNNWOOD — A City Council candidate is accusing her now-defeated primary opponent of having an accomplice steal campaign fliers from Lynnwood doorsteps. The alleged culprit — a 12-year-old boy.
Less than a week before the August primary election, Julieta Altamirano-Crosby filed a police report about her Position 5 primary opponent, Rosamaria Graziani, in connection with the theft of seven political pamphlets, according to police records.
Deputy Chief Jim Nelson said the Lynnwood Police Department is investigating the matter. A detective is still determining whether to hand the case to prosecutors.
Altamirano-Crosby, her campaign manager and volunteer Marcella Calleros were handing out fliers in neighborhoods near the Alderwood mall on July 31. Calleros returned to her car afterward and was approached by Graziani, she told police.
While they were talking, a 12-year-old boy allegedly went to seven homes in the area and replaced Altimarano-Crosby’s campaign literature with Graziani’s. Calleros told police she saw the boy leaving one home with an Altamirano-Crosby flier. Additionally, when she went back to the other homes, Altamirano-Crobsy’s fliers were gone.
Graziani dismissed the allegations as “political dirty tricks.” She said the boy placed her fliers on the doorsteps, but did not take any.
Altamirano-Crosby declined to comment for this story.
The charges are not the first time the two have quarreled.
In June, Graziani filed a complaint with the Snohomish County Auditor that alleged Altamirano-Crosby didn’t live in Lynnwood long enough to run for the seat, as reported by the Lynnwood Times. The county dismissed the challenge.
Altamirano-Crosby advanced to the general election with 42 percent of the vote. Graziani finished third and will not be on the November ballot. Atlamirano-Crosby will face David Schirle to fill the seat being vacated by Councilman Ben Goodwin.
According to the state Public Disclosure Commission, her campaign has raised nearly $11,000.
Graziani reported her campaign would raise less than $5,000.
In 2017, Graziani challenged Position 3 Councilwoman Ruth Ross. She lost by 121 votes.
Joey Thompson: 425-339-3449; jthompson@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @byjoeythompson.
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