Trenton couple being investigated for election fraud

TRENTON — An unsuccessful mayoral candidate and his wife, who is running for the South Ward council seat, are being investigated by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office for election fraud.

Prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Casey DeBlasio confirmed Tuesday allegations of election fraud for Wiley and Photina Fuller were brought to their attention.

“We are reviewing those claims,” DeBlasio said.

DeBlasio declined to provide further information on the investigation.

Wiley Fuller was unable to secure the required 238 signatures to run for mayor, while his wife is a certified candidate in the South Ward. Photina Fuller needed to secure 32 signatures to be in the race.

The Fullers did not return a call seeking comment.

Wiley Fuller has unsuccessfully run for mayor in prior elections.

The allegations add to an already controversial election slated for May 13.

Two weeks ago, Trenton Clerk Richard Kachmar erred in the election process by allowing all candidates to submit less signatures than required by law.

The mishap occurred when Kachmar read the wrong state statute and his mistake was caught by a city resident.

The city hoped to file paperwork in state Superior Court on Monday to clear up the issue and have a judge review the matter, but the attempt failed.

“There was additional information that was required,” judiciary spokeswoman Winnie Comfort said Tuesday. “They left without filing the papers. They have not been back.”

Kachmar has made several other mistakes in the election process as well, such as needing to redo the at-large ballot drawing because he placed one candidates name in the basket twice, publishing an outdated absentee ballot and notice to voters in a local newspaper and telling two council candidates they failed to meet the certification requirements when in fact they did.