Ellspermann Candidacy Cleared
The Indiana Election Commission has cleared Republican Sue Ellspermann to run against Rep. Russ Stilwell, D-Boonville, in Indiana House district 74. Brian Howey has all of the details here. The only member of the Indiana Election Commission to vote against Sue was Anthony Long, the attorney of her primary opponent. Hoosier Advocate first broke the story of the petty games Democrats were playing with Ellspermann. Here’s our previous coverage:
- Democratic Dirty Tricks: March 3, 2010
- Ellspermann Responds: March 1, 2010
- Ellspermann Formally Challenged: March 1, 2010
March 6th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
I don’t really mind that she’s going to be on the primary. She’s clearly a Republican. I don’t really buy the “I didn’t remember which primary I voted in in 2008″ simply because the 2008 election was kind of a big deal and, if you were typically a Republican, it seems like something that would stand out. This statement really stood out to me: “I was not convinced until I saw it.”
More than anything else, it probably speaks to the fact that our ballot access laws are needlessly complicated. If a candidate can certify to a fact that is false, and it’s a “no harm, no foul” situation, then probably a candidate shouldn’t have to certify to anything at all.
March 6th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
We find it disappointingly odd that you would fixate on Ellspermann’s alleged errors in this case, when the bigger story is the unethical conflict of interest of Anthony Long. His refusal to recuse himself from, and possible even encourage, this case presents a mountain of red flags that deserve a healthy dose of disdain.
March 7th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
Is that a royal “we”? (Personal pet peeve – don’t mind me.) Go after Long too. I just don’t know what value the “certification” adds if, in this case, it ends up not mattering at all. More than anything else, I’m probably going after the form and the law that requires it.
March 7th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
It isn’t the royal “we”. It is the literal “we”.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:17 am
[...] heels of a petty and unsuccessful attempt to keep Sue Ellspermann of the ballot (pertinent links here), Southern Democrats are now turning their sights on voter access. Warrick County GOP Chairman Rick [...]