EAST PROVIDENCE — Local candidates aren’t the only ones under political fire lately — the arguments swirling around the city Canvassing Authority grow by the day.

Among the numerous accusations, city Democrats believe authority member Thomas C. Riley is too partisan.

Riley responds that it’s the Democrats who are selectively enforcing election laws.

In addition, Shannon Barbosa, a political newcomer and School Committee candidate, complained the board hasn’t provided any public service to her. And then there are the complaints against the clerk at the canvassing office, MaryAnn Callahan, and the department she says is “a tight ship.” Failing to get ink for the time-stamp machine and putting the wrong name on a candidate’s nomination papers are just some concerns recently debated.

Yet none are likely to be discussed when the authority convenes tonight at 7 in City Hall to hear evidence regarding alleged fraudulent activity — such as forged signatures — by candidates and those who signed their nomination papers.

“It’s a lynching party,” Riley says of the hearings into the signatures collected by Barbosa and former state Rep. Brian Coogan. Although East Providence’s local races are nonpartisan, Riley and others believe the two are being “singled out” because they are not Democrats.

Riley, a Republican, continued, “It’s like driving while not Democrat. It’s like getting pulled over because the color of your skin is not blue. They say if you’re not with us, you’re against us.”

He said there is a clique of city Democrats — including Callahan, authority chair Dorothy O’Gara and City Councilman Bryan Silva — who are most to blame.

Riley said O’Gara has abused her position as chair when she excludes topics he asked to be placed on the agenda. He said Callahan withholds information from him when she is supposed to be a “servant” to the board. He also said Callahan’s alleged mistakes are inexcusable because she has been doing the job for more than a decade.

The 61-year-old said he’s “tired of it” all.

Yet O’Gara says the office has improved in the last year and until recently, she thought Riley was getting better also. She included matters Riley asked to be on the agenda at last week’s meeting and changed the start time for most meetings to 7 p.m., which Riley and others pushed for.

Last week, she banged her gavel repeatedly to control audience outbursts and spats between Riley and Callahan, who sat next to each other even though Riley said Callahan should be sitting with the audience. Callahan later told him he had “no respect.”

“You’re out of order,” O’Gara said at one time.

Riley said, “No, I’m not out of order.”

He then continued to talk over most.

It led Nuno A. Branco, the city’s Democrat Committee chairman, to yell he doesn’t think Riley should be overseeing any upcoming evidentiary hearings because Riley allegedly helped Barbosa with a complaint she filed against Brian Monteiro, a former opponent. Riley claims he was there so Callahan wouldn’t turn Barbosa away or give her incorrect information. That issue is being heard tonight as well.

“He’s not being partial,” Branco shouted. “He’s not being objective.”

Wendy Caputo, a Democrat City Committee member, wrote similar concerns in a letter to the board. She discussed his “abusive behaviors” and asked that the board request that the City Council get involved to make Riley recuse himself from voting on any other matters regarding this election.

Caputo said Riley’s ability “to remain impartial has been jeopardized,” but after a few minutes of discussion, the matter was thrown out because the council doesn’t have authority over the canvassing board.

Filling in the wrong name on School Committee member Steve Santos’ nomination papers was also thrown out without any action taken. O’Gara agreed it should not have happened and when Riley continued to voice his displeasure, she said, “So noted.”

She also said she would take care of the ink for the time-stamp machine and apologized to member Peter Barilla for scheduling a meeting earlier this month without polling the members’ availability first. When Barilla continued, she said, “I apologize, OK?”

When the meeting was over, Barbosa handed out a letter. She said several residents told her not to run for office and she is beginning to see why. She didn’t realize things “would get this ugly.”

She said she is not happy with the canvassing department and alleges Callahan treated her differently the moment Callahan saw Barbosa with Coogan. She also said the hearing against her tonight is partly happening because the office gave her the wrong advice.

“I am appalled by the way Brian and I have been treated,” Barbosa said. “When the canvassing board should be there to support my needs, answer my questions, and show me the ropes. … It’s Brian who has helped me.”

apina@projo.com