Collier’s Cogitations: “If we don’t question potential local fraud and speak with one another, how can we expect things to change on the national level?”
- Brian S. Collier
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
Collier’s Cogitations: “If we don’t question potential local fraud and speak with one another, how can we expect things to change on the national level?”
August 15, 2025
by
Brian S Collier, Ph.D.
You should know, I’m a liberal. Some people don’t like that, but you should know it.
You should know that I believe in the principles that we need to care for one another, which many religions and societies teach.
You should know that I’m deeply disturbed by the political landscape both in my hometown, a place I was born, and in the nation.
These cogitations are meant for you to think about too, for you to comment and respond to, and for us all to get smarter through thinking and perhaps in future dialogue. I don’t have all the answers; some of the things I’m thinking about are more complex than I can understand (so feel free to help me understand these things better or from your perspective).
I’m currently involved in litigation against a person holding a Common Council seat. She holds the seat for my district. She was appointed to be my representative because Randy Kelly moved out of the district, and the rules state that you have to live in the district you represent.
It’s a good rule in my opinion, so that you can interact with your Council member in your neighborhood or at the grocery store or the like. This Council member moved from the residence in my district and then ran for a term in her own right.
Election rules and laws state that you must reside in the district for six months prior to the election. My Council member, Sharon McBride, did not live at the property she owns for the six months prior to the election, nor has she lived there for more than two years. I know this because, under oath, in sworn testimony before the court in another case, she told the court she could not be at her property. This testimony in various forms was repeated during her testimony in that other case; if it’s not correct, she’s perjured herself. If it is accurate, she’s committed election fraud.
Meanwhile, my representative is under serious investigation for various things in connection with her role at the Ducomb Center. I hope that those things are unfounded, as she is someone my age and from my political party, and I can empathize that things are a little more complicated for many of us than I think anyone would like. I also know nobody wants to be involved in the court system, as lawyers and courts can obfuscate even the simplest of explanations.
I tell you all this because it pains me greatly that a member of my political party and my representative seemingly committed election fraud. I also share all of this because liberals cannot complain about election fraud in its many forms and iterations around the United States if it is also happening under their political tent. Members of political parties must police their party; citizens must police the elected officials who work for them.
When I reached out to St. Joseph County Democratic Party Chair with my frustrations, his response was rather nonplus, responding that he had not received very much pushback or ‘contact’ around this issue. I explained that as people come to trust the process less and less and given that city officials regularly just ignore citizens who write, call, or show up in person that people are giving up – I explained that as a fairly active Democrat that I didn’t know who he was until I had to search for him and his contact information. At first, he was somewhat dismissive, a bit combative, and a little condescending, but he did eventually listen.
As we debate election fraud and gerrymandering, we should remember that these issues are meaningless if we allow disingenuous behaviors and/or fraud to exist within our local communities.
This piece is part of the social and political musings of the author. If you’d like to respond to any of the thoughts or ideas, please do so by writing info@redresssouthbend.com or posting comments in the social media sections of places you read these pieces.
© 2025 Brian S Collier. All opinions are those of the author. The author reserves all Rights and copyrights. To request permission to reprint any or all of this article, contact info@redresssouthbend.com.
Reprinted with permission of the author by Redress South Bend.
All opinions and views in this piece are attributed to the author and are not necessarily the thoughts or opinions of Redress South Bend.