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Suit Aims to Keep Harris Off Ballot
AP via Yahoo ^ | August 15, 2002

Posted on 08/15/2002 7:50:33 PM PDT by 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.


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: harris; herewegoagain
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To: JulieRNR21
I hope it doesn't come to a writein either. I don't think it will and think this suit is going nowhere. You never know though with the depth of feeling against her in Democrat circles.
41 posted on 08/16/2002 3:31:32 AM PDT by billva
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To: gcruse
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.

There will be no Secretary of State in Florida by January of 2003, the office has been eliminated. Undoubtedly AP knows this, as it was under discussion nationally during the 2000 election mess. Yet they're saying she said she "misunderstood" the rules.

What she should have said, and very well might have said for all I know, is something more along the lines of this:

"I don't understand why anyone would think it necessary for me to declare my intention to step down next January from a job I will be effectively dismissed from in December, as the position will no longer exist. My intention to step down, therefore, is utterly irrelevant, since I will not be employed as Secretary of State by year's end, regardless of whether or not I win the election in November.

"If my intention was to stay on as Secretary of State and not step down, it would be too damned bad for me, wouldn't it? That's why a notice of intent to step down from a job that won't exist for me to step down from is so damned silly. My permanent and irrevocable "dismissal date" has been on the public calendar long enough for you people to figure this out."

42 posted on 08/16/2002 4:40:23 AM PDT by hellinahandcart
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To: Grut
Because we need jobs for the economy and suits bring attorney fees.In the year 2025 everyone will have his own personal attorney assigned to him by the government.This is the governments way of creating jobs.
43 posted on 08/16/2002 4:46:24 AM PDT by gunnedah
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To: dorben
Good, vote for her. When her real estate special interests successfully lobby her to roll back the legislation aimed at saving the Everglades and your property turns into a sand dune, you can hold your head up high and say, "she's my gal". Like I said, there are better men and women for Florida's interests than her.
44 posted on 08/16/2002 5:04:33 AM PDT by SBeck
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To: Lucius Cornelius Sulla
As opposed to a lawyer? By all means then, a real estate agent.

Yes, we all know real estate agents never, ever lie.

45 posted on 08/16/2002 5:05:19 AM PDT by SBeck
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Comment #46 Removed by Moderator

To: Fixit
Rules are rules. Got to stick with the rules. I hope he wins the suit.
47 posted on 08/16/2002 5:24:17 AM PDT by Cacique
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To: SBeck
"When her real estate special interests successfully lobby her to roll back the legislation aimed at saving the Everglades and your property turns into a sand dune, you can hold your head up high and say, "she's my gal".

"Yes, we all know real estate agents never, ever lie."

Painting with a pretty broad brush, aren't we? So because someone is a real estate agent, they should be precluded from serving in Congress? That they are automatically going to be liars or give in to the lobbyists? As if real estate agents are the only people susceptible to lobbying interests!

Forgive me if I am misinterpreting you, but what you really seem to be saying is that you think people of certain professions or backgrounds should not seek public office, because they are more prone to corruption. If so, could you please provide a comprehensive listing of what professions you would deem appropriate? Thank you.

48 posted on 08/16/2002 5:29:49 AM PDT by BlackRazor
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To: BlackRazor
That they are automatically going to be liars or give in to the lobbyists?

Yep, they are.

Forgive me if I am misinterpreting you, but what you really seem to be saying is that you think people of certain professions or backgrounds should not seek public office, because they are more prone to corruption.

That's right.

If so, could you please provide a comprehensive listing of what professions you would deem appropriate? Thank you.

Three of the four heads on Mt. Rushmore were surveyors. That would be a good start to a list and no I'm not a surveyor.

49 posted on 08/16/2002 5:43:42 AM PDT by SBeck
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To: gcruse
In the State of Florida it is common for elected and appointed officials to use Florida State employees and resources to defend officials in private lawsuits.

One of the perks of being a Florida elected or appointed official.
50 posted on 08/16/2002 5:54:08 AM PDT by Donald Stone
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To: JulieRNR21
Thanks for the flag, Julie. A-yep, John Hill seems to be hell-bent on reinforcing the (well deserved) stereotype that anyone who works in the media can't be trusted as far as you can throw a lead-lined safe. Victory at all costs, and it's "all about them".

My mom was actually enamored of Hill until I asked the question, "Why, simply because he was a talking head on TV?" You could hear the mental gears grinding as she realized she was acting from unconscious impulse due to "brand name" recognition.


51 posted on 08/16/2002 6:00:11 AM PDT by Joe Brower
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To: JulieRNR21; All
I also must point out to everyone that this news is on the national wires, whereas the Democrats' tearing at each other has been strictly local in scope.

Can we say "media bias"? I knew you could...

52 posted on 08/16/2002 6:02:02 AM PDT by Joe Brower
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To: TheOtherOne
In effect then, Harris has not legally been secretary of state since she qualified to run for Congress July 15."

Except Jeb appointed her, as her own replacement, until anotrher can be found - so legally she is still the acting SOS of Florida.

Actually, he didn't appoint her to be her own replacement. He appointed former Republican Secretary of State Jim Smith as her replacement. It's funny, because I had my application for a concealed weapons permit in her office during this whole episode. The license finally arrived last week, and on the license itself, it has Jim Smith's signature (issue date 8-6-02). But, on the paper that the license is attached to when it arrives in the mail, it has her name in two separate places with stickers over top of it that say "Jim Smith".

53 posted on 08/16/2002 6:05:19 AM PDT by RightFighter
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To: RightFighter
Which brings up an interesting question - why do concealed weapons permits get issued through the Department of State rather than the Attorney General's office?
54 posted on 08/16/2002 6:06:47 AM PDT by RightFighter
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To: Vidalia
Knowing the nature of the FL judiciary, Mrs. Harris might well be disqualified from the ballot. In 1974, the Democrat gubernatorial nominee in SC was struck from the ballot due to failure to meet a residency requirement. Sometimes an opponent who can't win at the polls will resort to the courts to strengthen his candidacy. I would imagine Mrs. Harris, by the nature of her November-December 2000 public profile, has gained considerable opposition within the FL judiciary.
58 posted on 08/16/2002 6:48:15 AM PDT by Theodore R.
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To: kcpopps
Maybe no one will be elected!
59 posted on 08/16/2002 7:16:28 AM PDT by Conservative til I die
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To: Hed
If the last person alive wouldn't vote for her, howcome she's all set to win this seat?
60 posted on 08/16/2002 10:03:47 AM PDT by katherineisgreat
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