Sounds like Peng Her may have used a typical political strategy (if true)

[theking]

Did Peng Her put the squeeze on clients of The Hmong Institute?
Some elders say people were pressured to sign the former candidate’s nomination papers


Peng Her, a longtime leader in Madison’s Hmong community, is the CEO of The Hmong Institute, a nonprofit that provides services to resettled political refugees of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Isthmus spoke with two sources with deep ties to that community who allege that Her used the nonprofit and his leadership position to further his recent run for lieutenant governor (Her lost the Democratic nomination for that office to Sara Rodriguez in the Aug. 9 primary.)

These sources tell Isthmus that Her took advantage of Hmong elders and others in the community by collecting signatures while The Hmong Institute distributed free food at the nonprofit’s Femrite Drive location in May. Both sources were contacted by members of the Hmong community about the campaign activity, and one witnessed it personally. Isthmus also obtained statements, with help from an interpreter, from several Hmong elders about feeling pressured to sign Her’s nomination papers. Statewide candidates need to submit 2,000 valid signatures to appear on the ballot; signing does not obligate support on Election Day but voters can’t sign nomination papers for more than one candidate in a race.

[theking]

And yes, I tend to believer the elders more than a politician...