The city of Bell, Calif., was rocked recently with news of its top administrator taking in an annual salary just south of $800,000 and a police chief pulling in $457,000.

Those two have stepped down, although that hardly addresses the immeasurably obscene pay other officials are getting in the Los Angeles County municipality of around 37,000.

It appears that voter fraud may be part of the problem in Bell, with city officials playing the roll of politiqueros.

Texas Watchdog has documented similar practices here and here in this state, showing the often common practice in South Texas elections. California permits anyone to vote by mail under its no-excuse policy, whereas in Texas voters casting absentee ballots must be 65 or older, disabled or out of town during the voting period to qualify to vote by mail.

Today, California Attorney General Jerry Brown announced a voter fraud hotline.

“We’re finding out that Bell, not only are they paying their city manager more than the president, but there’s people coming forward talking about voter fraud, that some of the councilmen had policemen and others come and pick up absentee ballots, which you’re not supposed to do,” Brown told Good Day LA this morning. "We haven’t nailed it down, but we’re asking people to come forward, let us know if you have some reports about illegality in the city of Bell.”

Contact Steve Miller at 832-303-9420 or stevemiller@texaswatchdog.org.