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Dead Can't Vote: Parks Mailer Named Deceased 'Supporters'

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A mailer sent by an independent political action committee on behalf of Bernard C. Parks lists, among other inaccuracies, dead people supporting his reelection.

L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was also erroneously named as a supporter, backs Parks' opponent in the City Council race and has slamed the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored campaign mailer calling it one of the "most stunning displays of political manipulation" he's ever seen, reports the LA Times.

Candidates and campaigns cannot by law coordinate with independent committees that spend on their behalf, however Ridley-Thomas thinks Parks should denounce the piece sent by Los Angeles Jobs PAC, notes the LA Times. Said Parks, "The reason they're called independent is because we have nothing to do it. It's unfortunate, and I would hope that whoever paid for it got their money back."

L.A. Chamber President expressed embarrassment and anger over the mailer that listed more than a dozen deceased religious and community leaders as endorsing Councilman Parks' reelection. He said the committee's vendor, Englander, Knabe & Allen, used a "woefully outdated" list of supporters from 2003 City Council race.

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