Padgett can run for Ney’s seat, board says

The Columbus Dispatch ^ | 8/21/06

[LdSentinal]

NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio — The leading GOP candidate to replace U.S. Rep. Bob Ney is eligible to run in the primary, a county elections board ruled yesterday, denying a complaint filed by the brother of one of her opponents.

The Tuscarawas County Board of Elections voted 2-1 along party lines against the challenge, which asserted that state Sen. Joy Padgett could not run because she already lost an election this year.

One board member, Socrates Space, abstained from voting because his son, Dover law director Zack Space, is the Democratic candidate who will face the winner of the primary in the Nov. 7 general election.

Gordon Firman, the brother of candidate Samuel Firman, filed the complaint Saturday, saying Padgett's candidacy violated a state law that generally prevents losers in primaries from running in a general election. Padgett lost the GOP primary for lieutenant governor in May.

Gordon Firman did not attend the brief hearing on his complaint yesterday, said Robert T. Bennett, chairman of the Ohio Republican Party.

[AwesomePossum]

Socrates' brother, Lost N. Space, is running for city council................

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