Posted on 08/23/2004 11:05:03 AM PDT by Dog Gone
PLAQUEMINE, La. (AP) - A state judge ruled Monday that the sign-up period should be reopened for the Nov. 2 election in Louisiana's 5th Congressional District, where incumbent Rep. Rodney Alexander infuriated Democrats by switching to the Republican Party minutes before the qualifying deadline.
District Judge Allen Edwards did not set a date for the new sign-up period in his Monday ruling. He said the new dates should be set after appeals - which are likely - have been exhausted.
``Mr. Alexander has attempted to subvert the electoral process for his own personal gain,'' Edwards said. ``His action deprived voters of the right to vote for a Democratic candidate.''
On Aug. 4, at the start of qualifying for the 5th District race, Alexander registered as a Democrat. The afternoon of Aug. 6, the last day of qualifying, the first-term congressman made his last-minute switch, leaving Democrats no time to enter a strong candidate in the race. They called Alexander a ``traitor'' and a ``coward.''
A lawyer for the Louisiana Democratic Party filed the lawsuit aimed at either forcing Alexander to run as a Democrat or getting him kicked off the ballot altogether. The lawsuit cites a Louisiana law stating: ``no candidate shall change or add his political party designation ... after he has qualified.''
Edwards heard arguments in the case Monday morning.
Alexander, of Jackson Parish, won the seat formerly held by Republican John Cooksey by less than a thousand votes in 2002, and only after vigorous campaigning by other leading state Democrats.
The only Democrat remaining in the 2004 race is Zelma ``Tisa'' Blakes, of Monroe, a political newcomer who called herself a ``domestic engineer'' when she signed up.
Former state Rep. Jock Scott, a Republican, entered the race before Alexander made the switch. Scott has said he is in the race to stay.
Under Louisiana's open primary system, all candidates run on the same ballot regardless of party. If no one gets more than half the vote on Nov. 2, a runoff will be held in December.
You think they'll hear about this in New Jersy?
Absurd! The Democrats had every opportunity to enter a candidate in this "nonpartisan" primary and did not do so.
Ah, shades of NJ........and the corrupt judges! They're everywhere!
Five minutes before the close the dem became a republican.
It was legal, they have a right to bitch and moan, the judge does not have the right to change the law........but then.....it's LA so not unexpected.
And they still do have a Democrat candidate in the race. It's just not the one the party bosses and the judge want.
The kicker is Louisiana has a non-partisan primary. The whole reaosning behind it it to remove the need for party affiliation.
Now that it's helping Republicans the Dems are hell bent on subverting it.
The media never tells the whole story if it hurts the dems.
Unbelievable. I would love to read this opinion. I just shake my head at how judges can just say that the law doesn't count.
It's not a good ruling, but I wouldn't vote for this guy for love or money. He's shifty and underhanded.
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