I don't have any underground ties to him. You are correct that I do receive his vote quickly. I thus can't truly be unbiased in anything I have to say about this.
I actually noticed your post because I was looking for places to place my own votes manually (I have no bots). Perhaps he knows me by my past and knows when I have a chance I do this.
I do take my voting seriously but since I am not a bot I cannot always do it. Perhaps this is why he has automated some but not all of his voting. I cannot say. I am just guessing.
Since I only returned to posting here about 2 months ago after stopping about 2 years ago I can assure you I have no ties to him other than he is offering me his endorsement for my posts.
The real question is if you look at my posts that I upvotes are they unworthy? If so that may be an issue.
This is something worth looking into. Of the people he up votes automatically are they doing cookie cutter posts or are they consistently putting some thought into what they posts? If they are then that would change things.