ハワイ旅行･ホテル･ショッピング･グルメ･求人

Controversy is brewing over election paperwork filed yesterday by local candidates seeking office. In a mad dash to meet the deadline, some candidates are reported to have filed incomplete paperwork or have submitted applications after the 4:30 deadline.

Much of the controversy surrounds the last-minute departure of Ann Kobayashi's City Council seat to run for mayor. Two big names wanted to take it over, Duke Bainum and Kirk Caldwell. Both had to scramble for 15 votes in the district, but one city clerk signed Caldwell's paperwork even though he did not have the required number of signatures. Bainum has called for an investigation, while Caldwell maintains that he had the paperwork completed on time.

With Caldwell running for city council, his seat with the State House of Representatives was rendered vacant. Republican Jeri Jeffryes submitted paperwork for the seat before the deadline. Chrystn Eads, a Democrat and Mayor Hanneman's assistant, also tried to get her paperwork finished, but was too late for the 4:30pm deadline. Reports are that the city clerk then accepted her application.

Republicans vow to fight the decision. They want to know why the application was accepted after the deadline and how many signatures came from city workers on taxpayer time. Challenges can be filed up until 30 days before the September primary. The state's chief elections officer and county clerks have the authority to issue preliminary decisions and, if it is determined a candidate should be disqualified, can take the matter to circuit court for a ruling.