Will MSP find Mojzak election fraud?

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Candidates who file to run for office need to follow the rules, the spokesperson for the Republican Speaker of the Michigan House said Monday.

Ari Adler, who is Jase Bolger's spokesperson, commented about the Michigan State Police investigation into whether Matt Mojzak engaged in election fraud when he filed to run as a Democrat for the House seat held by Roy Schmidt - who jumped over to the Republican Party.

"Speaker Bolger has said all along that election law on candidate filing lays out the rules and should be followed by all candidates in all races statewide," Adler told 24 Hour News 8.

But what, exactly, does following the rules mean? And how far can election laws be stretched?

Minutes before the filing deadline on May 15, Mojzak filed as a Democrat to run in the 76th District. Only 8 minutes later, Schmidt filed the paperwork to become a Republican.

Both of those petitions - according to the Kent County Clerk's office - were filed by the same person, whose identity remains officially unidentified.

Was that a coordinated effort? Schmidt denies it. Mojzak refused to speak with 24 Hour News 8.

But only 40 hours after filing, Mojzak withdrew from the race in a handwritten note to the clerk.

At the request of the Kent County prosecutor, the Michigan State Police began an investigation.

Both parties regularly recruit candidates. But these questions remain:

• Did someone try to get Mojzak to run as a Democrat to  make it harder for the Democratic Party to field a candidate of their choice?
• If so who is behind such a move?
• Did that person do anything that violates campaign law?

The investigation continues.