According to this newspaper story, Carol Miller will be an independent candidate for US House, in New Mexico’s 3rd district, this year. If she gets on the ballot, she will be only the second independent congressional candidate on the ballot in New Mexico history. The first was Betty Turrietta-Koury in 1996.

Miller needs a petition signed by 3% of the number of voters who voted for Governor in her district, in 2006. That works out to 5,779 signatures. Thanks to Denise Lamb for that figure.

Miller formerly ran twice for U.S. House in New Mexico as a Green Party nominee. If she were running as a Green this year, she would only need one-third as many signatures.

On February 19, a U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania issued a temporary restraining order against enforcement of a township ordinance. The ordinance makes it illegal for a homeowner to display a lawn sign saying “Vote for (whomever or whatever)” more than 30 days before any particular election. Rudolph v Township of South Park, 2:08-cv-334, western district. South Park is a suburb of Pittsburgh. Thanks to Tom McLaughlin for the news. The case was brought by the ACLU.

On February 19, the Kentucky Senate passed HB 18 after amending it. The Senate amendment changes the Kentucky primary schedule.

Currently, Kentucky holds its presidential primary, and its primary for all other office, together, in May. The Senate amendments would establish an early February presidential primary, and a primary for all other office in late August.

HB 18 also eliminates the run-off primaries for Governor that have long existed in that state. HB 18, as passed by the House, only concerned abolishing run-off gubernatorial primaries. Now the bill will to to a conference committee to see if the House will accept the amendment to the bill that changes the primary schedule.