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2 candidates removed from Milwaukee Co. Executive race trying to get back on ballot
2 candidates removed from Milwaukee Co. Executive race trying to get back on ballot
MILWAUKEE -- Two candidates removed from the Milwaukee County Executive race are joining forces to try to get back on the ballot.
There's really little time to spare on this decision. Milwaukee County must provide ballots for the 2020 spring primary to all municipalities by Jan. 27. That leaves only a few days for the courts to rule on the ongoing dispute.
Bryan Kennedy
It's not often two people vying for the same elected seat work together. But, for now, Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy and former state senator Jim Sullivan find themselves in an uncommon alliance.
"We needed to band together on this because it's the same evidence being used against both of us," Kennedy says. "Our campaigns didn't do anything wrong, and they should not be penalized by a handful of circulators."
On Jan. 22, Kennedy and Sullivan filed an injunction to remain candidates in the race for Milwaukee County Executive. This week, the Wisconsin Elections Commission decided a number of signatures in both of their nomination papers were not valid.
Milwaukee County Election Commission
According to Kennedy, more than one campaign in this race went to the same vendor to collect signatures on their behalf -- a common practice in campaign.
"The campaigns had no way of knowing that. That's not the candidates' fault," says Kennedy.
Theo Lipscomb
The dispute began on Jan. 10 when candidate and Milwaukee County Board Chairman Theo Lipscomb challenged the validity of his opponents' collected signatures. It was discovered circulators collected the same signatures for multiple candidates -- a violation of state law. Lipscomb issued the following statement regarding the candidates' filing:
Jim Sullivan
The Milwaukee County Election Commission approved the challenge, but the motion to strike the signatures failed. Lipscomb then filed his appeal with the state -- and won. Both candidates argue it was the chair, not the entire elections commission, who made this week's decision. They say the matter deserves another look.
"We try to do the right thing for the voters, and that's to make sure the voters have choices," Kennedy says.
Sullivan's campaign stands by his previous statements about fighting this challenge: