On July 14, at the last possible hour, Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell removed Charlie Morrison from the November ballot. Morrison had qualified as an independent candidate for U.S. House in the 15th district (the district now represented by Republican Deborah Pryce). His petition had been verified.
However, he was challenged because he had voted in the Republican primary earlier this year. Ohio state law does not say independent candidates must not have voted in a party primary. Section 3513.04 only says they must not have run for office in a party primary.
Ohio is a state in which the voter registration form does not ask voters to indicate party affiliation. However, Ohio elections officials keep a record of which party’s primary ballot a voter chooses. Morrison was running on a platform of cutting federal spending, and most political observers felt his candidacy was more damaging to the Republican incumbent member of Congress, than to the Democratic nominee.
When a candidate is challenged, the local Boards of Election vote. In Morrison’s case, the two Republican Board members voted to remove him, and the two Democratic members voted to retain him. The law provides that in case of a tie, the Secretary of State shall decide. Morrison will sue.
There is a very instructive lesson here: No Morrison should EVER vote in a (spit, spit) Republican primary.
Maybe it serves him right.
I understand how you feel. I have been trying to work inside the republican party for about 10 years to get republicans to follow their own platform. After working this long, I have found that most people do not even care what their party believes.
In general, the party position (any party) is not about right vs wrong: it’s about power and greed. The current republican party leaders are following the footsteps of the democrat platform, and the democrats are spouting republican party values.
Worse yet, is the voting public which just goes along with both parties positions, even when they change polarity. The democrats have long been known for tax and spend, yet they are spouting fiscal responsibility, a republican value.
All are liars, none practicing their true values.
I’ve had enough of both (even all) parties.
Charlie Morrison, candidate for Congress
http://www.charliemorrison.com
1776 Lone Eagle Street
Columbus, OH 43228
The games not over till the fat lady sings. We’ve filed in federal court. Stay tuned for more.