LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Two Republican activists have sued over
Libertarian state treasurer candidate Ken Moellman's place on the
ballot.
The two activists claim that about half of the 8,100 signatures
Moellman collected for his nominating petition are either flawed or
fictitious, leaving him with fewer than the 5,000 signatures
required to run for state-wide office.
Moellman, who has filed to run against Democratic incumbent Todd
Hollenbach and Republican K.C. Crosbie, told The Courier-Journal he
plans to contest the suit in Pendleton County Circuit Court
(http://bit.ly/qqMe7x).
"I'm not too worried about it," Moellman said in an interview.
"We've done our own spot-checking of signatures. The bulk were
collected by professionals who do a good job of qualifying who is a
registered or who is not."
D. Eric Lycan, the lawyer representing Fayette County GOP
Chairman Carol Rogers and activist DeAnna Brangers, said the suit
is about "the integrity of the election."
"The General Assembly has set a bar to ensure that only bona
fide candidates are on the ballots," Lycan said. "The truth is
that Moellman can't win this election and can't even get the
support of 5,000 people to get on the ballot appropriately."
The suit asks that Moellman be removed as a candidate and for
the state not to count any votes for him.
Lycan said Crosbie was not involved in filing the suit "but she
was informed before it was filed that the challenge was being
made." Crosbie's campaign defended the suit, saying that it was
important to make sure all candidates are properly qualified.
Hollenbach said the Libertarian appears to have the legally
required signatures.
"It appears that Ken Moellman is a favorite of the tea party
and that is why my Republican opponent wants him out of the race,"
Hollenbach said in a statement.
The suit was filed in Pendleton County, where Moellman lives.
Under state law, most independents and third-party candidates
are required to obtain 5,000 signatures and addresses of registered
voters before they can be placed on the ballot. Republicans and
Democrats need only two signatures.
According to the suit, Moellman made petition forms available on
the Internet, which people could print out, sign and return to him.
The suit claims that because of that, Moellman cannot swear that
people signing the petition knew what they were signing.
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Information from: The Courier-Journal,
http://www.courier-journal.com

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)