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Friday, March 24, 2023

Commonwealth Court Moving Quickly With Rowe Ballot Challenge

In a ruling on Monday, Senior Judge Ed Reibman dismissed a challenge to the GOP County Council candidate William Rowe. He concluded that Steven Topp, who challenged Rowe's right to run, should have appeared at the hearing or, at the very list, verify that he is a Republican who lives in D1, where Rowe is running. Thus ruling was appealed and, yesterday, the Commonwealth Court issued an order requiring briefs from both sides no later than April 4. 

While this matter is being considered, elections officials are unable to prepare and print a ballot for County Council District One. 

This could result in fewer mail-in-ballots from Bethlehem. That could hurt Tara Zrinski in the Controller race and help Nadeem Qayyum. 

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7 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 24, 2023 at 2:29 AM

    It is unfortunate that Kraft and his political cronies are working so hard to deprive voters
    of a choice. He is not only holding up the ballot process, he and his sponsors are showing a very Trumpian attitude. Who is paying the lawyer?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousMarch 24, 2023 at 7:18 AM

      “a very Trumpian attitude”?

      Sorry, but gaming the elections is really more of a democrat thing.

      Delete
  2. Bernie O'HareMarch 24, 2023 at 6:02 AM

    We'll find out who specifically is paying for Otter when campaign finance reports are filed. My guess would be Kraft. The appeal will not hold prevent the elections office from preparing, printing and mailing ballots in Council Districts D2, D3 and D4. The elections office might be able to send out Democratic ballots in D1 since no one is challenging Kraft. But the office is unable to send out R ballots in D1 until this is resolved. In fairness, the elections office should not send out any ballots for either party in D1 until the challenge is resolved. I will ask about that issue, which just dawned on me.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMarch 24, 2023 at 9:07 AM

    Reibman is dead wrong on this. He will be overturned. He is disgracing the Reibman name. Go back to Lehigh County!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bernie O'HareMarch 24, 2023 at 9:12 AM

    Although the rules of civil procedure do not apply in election contests, I believe there should be proof that the objector is in fact a R who resides in the district when the issue is raised by the other side. That issue was, in fact, raised.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousMarch 27, 2023 at 11:28 AM

      So the election commission being present and verifying that he is in fact registered republican isn’t proof enough?

      Ok then

      Delete
  5. Bernie O'HareMarch 27, 2023 at 11:33 AM

    The elections office was never asked to verify that the petitioner is a Republican who lives in the district.

    Ok then.

    ReplyDelete

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