On August 28, Carl Romanelli filed an appeal of his ballot access lawsuit in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Romanelli v Caroselli. It argues that the correct number of signatures needed for statewide minor party and independent petitions this year is 15,494, not 67,070. This lawsuit is the only remaining hope for any statewide minor party or independent candidate to be on the Pennsylvania ballot this year, since the rehearing to the 3rd circuit on the constitutional issue, even if granted, would not be heard in time for the election. The challenge proceedings to the Green Party petition are not complete, but since the party turned in 94,000 signatures, and so far 60% of them are invalid, clearly the party won’t be able to show that it has 67,070 valid.
What are his chances? And if he is successful what does this mean for the other parties and nominees? Did the LP and CP and Russ Diamond even submit petitions since they were well short of 67,000?
No one else submitted petitions as they were all short of the 67,000 mark.
All we are saying, is give us a chance.
Sure Romanelli has little chance, but he is the last chance we progressive voters have for the PA Senate. By endorsing Casey against Pennacchio instead of leaving it a fair contest for the Democratic voters to decide, the Democratic Committee has left us out in the cold. Perhaps there is no place else for us to go but to the Green Party.
All I know is forcing reluctant Democratic voters to vote for Casey by trying to eliminate the competition is wrong. I used to contribute to the Democratic Party. I can’t in clear conscious support such a party today.
Put Romanelli on the ballot and let the people decide.