fight at – A union president says state Del. Gabriel Acevero sucker-punched him outside an early voting site in Gaithersburg during the last day of early voting for Tuesday’s primary election. Acevero denies it and a complaint has been filed.
Gaithersburg, Md. — The complaint was filed after a fight broke out outside an early voting site at Bohrer Park Activity Center, just as the last day of early voting for Tuesday’s primary election was coming to an end.
UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO President Gino Renne filed the complaint Thursday night against state Del. Gabriel Acevero, a Democrat representing District 39. Renne alleged the legislator “sucker punched” him outside the polls.
In a Friday phone interview, Renne said he and members of his staff were at the early voting site in Gaithersburg on Thursday evening canvassing for the union’s endorsed candidates. The union represents Montgomery County government employees.
Renne said a union staffer confronted Acevero about passing out campaign literature past the site’s “no electioneering” point. He described the confrontation as escalating, and said he stepped in.
“I looked at him and I said, ‘This is the exact behavior that forced me to fire you,’ ” Renne told Bethesda Today, referring to Acevero’s past employment with MCGEO.
The complaint adds a new, personal flashpoint to what was already a tense stretch of campaigning at the polls, with the allegation focused on conduct just outside the voting area and the timing tied to the final day of early voting.
Gino Renne Gabriel Acevero UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO early voting Gaithersburg Bohrer Park Activity Center Montgomery County Maryland primary election electioneering