Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Politics Mary Norwood sues for access to Fulton County ballot
Posted by Scott Henry @ScottTheHenry on Tue, Jun 22, 2010 at 9:27 AM
Running as an Independent candidate, Norwood must obtain signatures from five percent of Fulton County’s registered voters to be placed on the ballot. Back in May, Norwood’s campaign obtained written approval from the Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections to pre-type in the word “Fulton” in the space provided for the signer’s county of residence.Relying upon a hyper-technical interpretation of the law, John Eaves’s campaign claims that each signer must handwrite the word “Fulton” along with their address on the form. The Eaves campaign is being represented by former U.S. Representative George W. “Buddy” Darden (D-GA). This interpretation would void thousands of signatures already obtained by Mary Norwood and her supporters.
Norwood will be asking a Fulton County Superior Court judge to rule that the signatures in question can be considered valid. She is attempting to collect approximately 23,000 John and Jane Hancocks.
Norwood will be holding a 10 a.m. presser at the Buckhead Barnes & Noble on Peachtree Road for anyone who wants to know more — or who wants to pick up a latte and the latest issue of Lowrider.
Add on: I threw this post up so fast I forgot to add my two cents. Whenever petitions are involved — whether it's to run for office, recall an incumbent, etc. — there's typically debate over the validity of the signatures. That said, if what Norwood says is true and Eaves is simply looking for a "gotcha" technicality to keep her off the ballot, that's bogus — as it was when Karen Handel tried to boot Democrats from the state ballot.
Petition-gatherers should certainly follow the established rules, but those rules shouldn't be subject to re-interpretation mid-way through the process.
Comments (8)
Showing 1-8 of 8
Isn't this a slam dunk, if the Fu Co Dept. gave written approval I would think that ends the Eaves lawsuit.
Bottom line though if she hits her 23k, she'll most likely win the election. Eaves knows this and will do everything to stop her.
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She doesn't file this lawsuit if she thinks she'll get to 23k. I guess petition signatures are hard to come by one pool party at a time.
John Eaves is a JOKE. White liberals (especially gay ones - should be very leery of Mr. Eaves...); We need an independant voice to keep Fulton County intact (from Atlanta). Not a race-inclined Eaves....
if Norwood is not on the ballot eaves will likely lose to a North Fulton Rupublican...I will never vote for Eaves not after this tactic...clamping down the indie voice...
Joan Garner better watch it she supports Eaves...and is trying to take over Boxill's seat....Wake up in-town atlanta -Elect people for change...all intown dem canidates are black...hmmh....
On race: Atlanta's demographics are changing. The city is gentrifying. That doesn't just mean it's getting whiter. It also means it's getting more corporate, less ideological and less interested in casting votes based on a candidate's skin color – or on his or her affiliation with the political machine of the late Maynard Jackson.
As a transplant to the city who, if you didn't gather from the words above, thinks City Hall would benefit from newer and better leaders, I'm intrigued by the possibilities of Atlanta's changing electoral blocs. But I'm also worried.
Last year, the mayor, Rep. John Lewis and former Mayor Andrew Young recorded a vicious last-minute campaign ad on behalf of black Fulton County commission chairman candidate John Eaves. In it, three of the city's grandest elder statespersons said voting for Eaves' white, Republican opponent would be like voting to turn Fulton County into Birmingham, circa 1963, complete with attack dogs and fire hoses.
If ads like that are indicative of how low Atlanta's current leaders are willing to stoop to hold onto power, then the city's going to have an increasingly difficult time getting suburban and state leaders to help the city with regional issues such as transit or air quality. Never mind the fact that thoughtful people of all colors aren't going to want to live in a city whose leaders scream Jim Crow at every opponent.
Norwood is obviously getting desperate. I doubt she makes the 23K with or without this lawsuit.
the only hope for white dems is independent canidacy - you cannot make it through the Atlanta primaries withoput the black vote (as a dem)...that's why the republican's will probably win if Norwood is not on the ballot. It is a shame that it is so hard to run for office in a free society. Great country of ours....
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