Voter Files Complaint Against Boulanger with Secretary of State

A Hercules voter filed a complaint Monday with the California Secretary of State regarding City Council candidate Gerard Boulanger's alleged self-misrepresentation.

Boulanger, who won a seat in last week's special election, is amid controversy over his description of his qualifications to the media and public.

Hercules resident Giorgio Cosentino submitted a complaint charging Boulanger with providing "false statements" to the media, including the Contra Costa Times and Hercules Patch, as well as on the official voter information pamphlet. 

Cosentino charges Boulanger with falsifying information, using the following occasions as evidence:

• The Contra Costa Times article that cites Boulanger has having degrees in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics as well as 12 years of city council experience.
• Boulanger's own admission to providing "misleading" information in his.
• Boulanger's statement in the Contra Costa Times that information on his campaign website could have been interpreted as an embellishment.

Each complaint submitted to the Secretary of State's Office is investigated by the Election Fraud Investigation Unit. 

"If there is sufficient evidence of wrongdoing, a case will be opened and the complaint will be investigated," said Shannan Velayas, a spokesperson from the Secretary of State's Office. "The case will be refered to law enforcement officials for prosecution when there is sufficient evidence. It's up to the prosecutor to press charges because the Secretary of State's Office does not have prosecutorial authority."

Not all complaints lead to an investigation or to prosecution, said Velayas. The process can take time to initiate, depending on the workload of the department, and the length of each investigation varies.

When contacted by Hercules Patch, Boulanger said that he was not aware of any official complaint and therefore had no comment to make.