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Although I agree with most of this @CapTimes editorial, there is an unnecessary, and I would say uninformed, adjective that I can’t let go. As one of the lawyers representing the complainant who filed the challenge to the Green Party’s nomination papers, I need to address it. 1/ https://twitter.com/captimes/status/1304218106336690176
First, the statement itself: “The failure to place the Greens on the ballot was based on a petty objection and, we suspect, the court will order Hawkins and Walker to be listed.” It is the inclusion of the word “petty” that I think needs to be addressed. 2/
Is it “petty” that Wisconsin law requires all nomination papers submitted by candidates to be accurate and truthful? If it’s not, then how can half of the nomination papers list one address as being correct, and the other half list a different address as being correct? 3/
Is it “petty” that when the Elections Commission expressly notified the Green Party that they needed to submit an affidavit clarifying the discrepancy in the addresses, the Green Party refused? 4/
Is it “petty” that the Green Party also refused to file a written response to the complaint, again declining to submit the evidence that would clarify why two different addresses were listed? 5/
Is it “petty” that the the Green Party’s VP candidate didn’t bother to show up to the Elections Commission meeting on August 20 where a vote was being taken whether to place the party on the November ballot? 6/
Or “petty” that she didn’t file an affidavit for the Elections Commission to consider at that meeting? 7/
Is it “petty” that Wisconsin law says that when you want to appeal the decision of the Elections Commission, you must do so in the state circuit court, but the Green Party refused to do that? 8/
Is it “petty” that the Green Party waited TWO WEEKS after the August 20 decision of the Elections Commission not to put them on the ballot to actually file a court challenge, creating the very emergency that now threatens to cause chaos with printing ballots? 9/
Is it “petty” that when the Green Party actually did seek review of the WEC’s decision, they refused to follow the appeal procedure REQUIRED by the Wisconsin statutes to file in circuit court, instead running directly to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to seek “emergency” relief? 10/
Is it “petty” that the Green Party STILL hasn’t submitted any evidence to clear up the discrepancy in the VP candidate’s address, despite having every opportunity to do so? 11/
Is it “petty” that we should require our candidates for the elected offices of President and Vice President of our Nation to tell the truth on their nomination papers, and if there are discrepancies, to correct them when asked? 12/
I think that we’ve had enough damage caused to our Nation and our State in the past four years by elected officials who don’t tell the truth and serially violate the laws that it’s time for us to stop ignoring violations of our laws. Even if you think they are “petty.” End.
