Ralph Lillig sues Bannock County

Ralph Lillig, who helped create the Yes Pocatello organization is suing Bannock County.

The suit names Bannock County Clerk Robert Polecki, more than 100 current and former employees of the county and election volunteers. The suit claims fraud and corruption after Lillig said the county refused to give him public records.

The county fired back Thursday, saying thesaccusations are completely unfounded and insulting to the hardworking staff in Bannock County.

“My county personnel, especially my election officials, have worked extra hard to their exhaustion,” said Ian Service, chief civil deputy attorney for the county. “It’s sad to see them criticized for all that hard work.”

Service said Lillig and Yes Pocatello have never been denied any public records. Service discussed a June 2 meeting where Lillig, his lawyer (over the phone) and elections staff met to discuss the records request.

Service said because the requests were so numerous, the county wanted to meet with Lillig in person. Service said they walked Lillig through each request and told him they could fulfill those requests, but it would take some time.

He said now that the lawsuit has been filed they can’t release any records. Service said he doesn’t understand why Lillig would further delay getting the records.

“It boils down to a ‘the government is conspiring against the people’ kind of argument,” he said. “It ranks right up there with UFOs.”

Lillig did not return any phone calls for comment.

This lawsuit will not affect the recount already ordered by the Attorney General’s Office. That recount is on June 27 beginning at 8:30 a.m.