Suit Aims to Keep Harris Off Ballot

AP via Yahoo ^ | August 15, 2002

[Fixit]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Katherine Harris' opponent in the Republican primary for a Florida congressional seat sued Thursday to have the former secretary of state kicked off the ballot.

The lawsuit argues Harris should be removed from the ballot because she violated a state law that required her to file a letter of intent to resign as secretary of state when she qualified to run for Congress.

If Harris were disqualified from the Sept. 10 primary, John Hill, the former television anchor who filed the suit, would automatically win the GOP nomination.

Harris called the lawsuit frivolous. "It is a shame Mr. Hill is wasting taxpayer dollars," she said in a statement.

Harris resigned Aug. 1, saying she had misunderstood the resignation letter rules. She should have filed a letter July 15 stating her intent to step down before the next Congress takes office in January, but didn't.

Harris hopes to succeed GOP Rep. Dan Miller, who is retiring from the heavily Republican district in central Florida after four terms. Four newcomers are vying for the Democratic nomination.

[Fixit]

bump

[gcruse]

. "It is a shame Mr. Hill is wasting taxpayer dollars," she said in a statement.

I don't see how he is wasting any taxpayer dollars,
but c'est la vie.  I hope you had a less lame defense
that got editted out, ma'am.

[Vladiator]

Oh, come on.

Why is it people are always asking the courts in Florida to make such silly decisions?

[Vidalia]

This is pathetic...

[Grut]

Why is it people are always asking the courts in Florida to make such silly decisions?

Because they're silly courts?

[Fixit]

It really is pathetic.

The Sec State position is going away after the election, so there is no federalism problem with her not resigning.

[Dog Gone]

Her answer here is rather lame, but so is the suit. If he would happen to win the suit through some injustice, he would be the most unpopular Republican on the Hill, and a one-term congressman.

[gcruse]

Apparently there are a couple of other contestants to share the ignominy.

[Lx]

I sure hope it doesn't end up in the Florida Supreme court, not they have an axe to grind against her.

[harpu]

NO, this comment....

"I don't see how he is wasting any taxpayer dollars, but c'est la vie.  I hope you had a less lame defense that got editted out, ma'am."

IS pathetic!!

[kcpopps]

This is a crazy race... on the flip side, the democrats are suing each other also

[JulieRNR21]

FYI Ping.......is this serious or so frivilous it will be thrown out of court?

This John Hill is bad news! Didn't Butterworth make a similar mistake with no legal ramifications.....since Harris' office as SOS will no longer be elected; her resignation date doesn't seem critical to me.

[billva]

Could she then run as a writein in November? I think so and she would likely win.

[gcruse]

How so? Or is explanation to tedious?

[SBeck]

resignation date doesn't seem critical to me.

Sorry, but that doesn't wash. Ms. Letter of the Law must be so squeaky clean that her farts are lavender scented. Anything less will be seen as hypocrisy. By the way, can't the party do better than her?

[billva]

Sorry, but that doesn't wash. Ms. Letter of the Law must be so squeaky clean that her farts are lavender scented. Anything less will be seen as hypocrisy. By the way, can't the party do better than her?

She seems like a very good candidate to me.

[JulieRNR21]

I think Katherine will be an excellent Rrepresentaive for District 13.

Have you heard her speak? She's smart & conservative....and a fourth generation Floridian. She wasn't intimidated by Gore's attacks nor his thugs in the media.

Are you in her district?

[Republican Wildcat]

Sorry, but that doesn't wash. Ms. Letter of the Law must be so squeaky clean that her farts are lavender scented. Anything less will be seen as hypocrisy. By the way, can't the party do better than her?

Absurdity in its purist form. Good grief.

[JulieRNR21]

Could she then run as a writein in November? I think so and she would likely win.

I certainly hope it doesn't have to be a 'write in' as that is always more difficult.

It is my understanding (based on an earlier thread) that her resignation was 'automatically' effective the day (7-15-02)she filed her candidacy papers.