The Kansas Attorney General’s office has filed criminal charges against a well-liked, newly re-elected small-town mayor who is alleged to have voted despite not having U.S. citizenship.
Attorney GeneralKris Kobach said Jose “Joe” Ceballos, 54, is a Mexican citizen with legal permanent residency in the United States but is not a citizen. Ceballos was re-elected as mayor this week by residents of Coldwater, a community of 687 people in southwestern Kansas.
Ceballos is being charged with three counts apiece of election perjury and voting without being qualified, Kobach said Wednesday at a press conference. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 68 months’ imprisonment and $200,000 in fines.
Skip Herd, Coldwater city attorney, told Wichita's KWCH-TV that Ceballos, who he said holds a green card, drew "red flags" by applying for permanent citizenship.
The state's charges are based on Ceballos’ votes in the general elections of 2022 and 2023 as well as the 2024 primary election, but Kobach said Ceballos was a registered voter prior to those elections.
The state's charges are based on Ceballos’ votes in the general elections of 2022 and 2023 as well as the 2024 primary election, but Kobach said Ceballos was a registered voter prior to those elections.
Coldwater City Council president Britt Lenertz issued a statement saying the mayor had convened council members for a special meeting on Wednesday to discuss the situation. Just a thought.
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