LOCAL NEWS:

Lawsuit Filed Against State Board of Elections

Source: Maryland Green Party

Baltimore, MD, Dec. 22, 2004—Glenn L. Ross, who ran as a Green Party candidate for the Baltimore City Council, filed a lawsuit against the Maryland State Board of Elections on November 5, 2004, on the grounds that the defendants unlawfully allowed his opponent, Paula Branch, to be a candidate in Baltimore’s 13th City Council district race, despite missing campaign finance reports. Maryland election law prohibits the candidacy of any individual on whose behalf campaign finance reporting is delinquent.

“It’s not about who won the race, it’s about who is eligible to run in the race.” said Ross in a prepared statement to the press. “The state board needs to hold all candidates accountable equally and fairly according to law.”

The Baltimore City Circuit Court did not honor a request from Ross to issue a temporary restraining order to prevent Branch’s swearing-in.

Ross is receiving assistance from Joan Floyd, the 2004 Green Party candidate for City Council President and a civic advocate. Floyd states that the state Board of Elections discussed the eligibility issue during their October 26 meeting, but no ruling was made and no action was taken regarding Branch’s candidacy prior to election day.

Ross and Floyd expect initial hearings in this case will take place in January 2005.

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This story was published on December 28, 2004.