The following is supposedly a true story. To be included, besides
being true, the story is most likely strange, weird, surprising, or
funny.
Martinez, California:
Gus Kramer faces an unusual challenge in his race for county
assessor: His opponents would rather see a dead man elected.
Kramer's only rival in the Contra Costa County race, Dan Hallissy,
died of a heart attack April 10 -- too late for anyone else to run.
But Hallissy's name will remain on the ballot for the June 7
nonpartisan primary. And the incumbent assessor is working to get him
elected.
Voters should have "a chance to elect an honest, experienced person
to this office," said assessor John Biasotti.
A Hallissy victory would force a special election next March, open to
any candidate.
U.S. Representative Bill Baker, a Republican, also is backing the
posthumous effort. His spokesman said voters should have a choice.
Kramer, who briefly stopped campaigning to mark Hallissy's death,
decried the effort as a "classical case of cronyism." He said his
opponents "want the taxpayer to blow $800,000," about the cost of a
special election.
Kramer also bristled at the charge he's unfit for the job, citing his
experience as city clerk for Martinez and as a real estate agent for
the county's Public Works Department.
The assessor's office is responsible for estimating property values
in the 830,000-person county, 30 miles east of San Francisco. The job
pays $84,000 a year.
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