The Prince William County court case over whether primary elections should be held for board of supervisors chairman Corey Stewart and three GOP colleagues has a hearing scheduled for Friday, officials announced on Monday.
Stewart (R-At Large,) county Sheriff Glenn Hill and supervisors Martin E. Nohe (Coles) and Maureen S. Caddigan (Dumfries) filed the lawsuit last week to overturn a county electoral board decision against staging primary elections after a local party official missed a state deadline requesting that they be held.
The incumbents hope to avoid a less predictable firehouse canvass or caucus nomination that would draw fewer voters and more likely favor lesser-known opponents.
One might want to stop right here and ask one’s self who has been behind shaking all the challengers out of the woodwork. There has been some pretty active recruiting going on for about the past year. The three board supervisors have also been the object of picking, mimicry, cheap shots and down-right lies for several years.
Now all of a suddenly the incumbents found themselves in a less than desirable position as candidates because the party chair failed to file the paperwork in time. The incumbents appealed their case to the Prince William Board of Elections and according to the WaPo:
But those candidates must also be confirmed by the state department of elections, which that agency chose not to do after the paperwork requesting that action was filed 36 hours after the Feb. 24 deadline. The county electoral board’s two Democrats — chairman Keith A. Scarborough and Jane M. Reynolds — cited that decision in their vote against staging primary elections. Guy Anthony Guiffre , the sole Republican on the board, voted for primaries.
The lawsuit, filed in the county’s circuit court, claims that the candidates have the right to a primary election under a different portion of the state elections code that allows political parties to determine the method for nominating their candidates for office.
Corey Stewart, chairman of the Board of County Supervisors had a few things to say about the many snafus that have happened:
The county electoral board decision appeared to be partisan, Stewart said.
“Well, I’d like to think that there wasn’t any foul play, but it certainly looks fishy,” he said.
How could he think anything else? It is transparently obvious that something just isn’t working as it should. Frankly, I smell a rat, or perhaps several of them. Corey, it’s a lot more than partisan. Its also some inner party cannibalism.
Too many people are disenfranchised. Fellow blogger Al Alborn points out that those stationed overseas cannot vote. Neither can any voter who is away for work, in the hospital, handicapped, or any number of other reasons. I cannot vote because I voted in a Democratic primary.
In other words, there is a deliberate attempt to narrow the voting field so that lesser known candidates can have a chance to “pew pack” and out caucus the better known candidates. Hardly seems fair to me.
The entire thing, from beginning to end, reeks. If justice is served, the incumbents will prevail. Meanwhile, it would behoove the Democrats to stay out of it. There are enough Republican tricksters at work. Let’s see who gets caught with a loaded deck of cards.
Savor these words: Corey Stewart is right.
For additional reading, see One Libertarian’s Point of View-Al Alborn’s latest post.
I find it amusing that all the republican blogs in the area are avoiding the incumbent issue like its a national plague. Only Al who is not party affiliated, to my knowledge, and I, an independent, are talking about it.
The Republicans aren’t talking about it because I suspect it is they who are trying to do their fellow party mates in. It would be oh too easy to blame the democrats, who I am sure aren’t innocent in this matter either but people might want to look around to see who is working with whom. Just letting folks know.
I don’t blame you all for not talking about it. It is a shameful situation all the way around and not indicative of fair and legal elections.
In fact, I think I might just call the DOJ and ask them to look in on Prince William County and how their elections are being run. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Anyone want to join me?
I will be chirping like a bird, also.
Moon, I suspect it has more to do with the fascination (and to some respect giddy joy) many are taking in watching this slow motion train wreck as there are all manner of potential casualties, incumbents, challengers and party officers.
I do believe Mom “nailed” it.
I suspect something far more nefarious. While many people might take delight in the potential casualties, there is still that business about fair and legal elections.
The bad thing about me is that I have a sense of fairness about even those I have issues with. Remember the camera challenge a few years ago?
I have a unique ability to push personal feelings aside (after I have had a minute or two to laugh) and go directly for the sense of fairness, even for my enemies.
And yes, I often hate myself when the sense of fairness comes over me. This really isn’t one of those times though, mainly because I don’t see the incumbents as my enemies.
Am I to assume that I am the only person who cares about this issue?
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@Moon-howler
No, many care, we are simply waiting to see what happens tomorrow as that is when the excrement could really hit the fan.
Motion denied, let the fun begin.
It is transparent that this entire debacle was orchestrated by someone or several someones.
Moon, not orchestrated just the predictable outcome when the lazy incumbents placed their faith in the party apparatus to fulfill their responsibility. Nothing nefarious, just laziness and incompetence, and mind you, I’m speaking of my own.