ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A Lehigh County judge booted an Allentown City Council candidate from the Democratic primary ballot Wednesday, determining he failed to file the necessary paperwork with city officials.
Judge Douglas Reichley ruled that Luis Acevedo failed to file a statement of financial interest with the city by the March 11 deadline. The disclosure form, along with a collection of signatures of qualified voters, are required under state law to appear on the primary ballot.
In a prepared statement Wednesday night, Acevedo announced he will launch a write-in campaign in the crowded field.
Seven Democrats will appear on the ballot competing for four spots on city council. No candidates filed to appear on the Republican ballot for council.
Acevedo is far from alone.
Multiple other candidates across the Lehigh Valley could be pulled from the ballot for issues ranging from questions over their address to alleged flaws in their paperwork, to challenges about their residency.
Multiple races under challenge
Earlier in the day, Lehigh County Judge Michele Varricchio removed Republican Betsey Charles from the ballot in the Whitehall Township commissioner race. The judge found that Charles' husband Brian was not a registered Republican when he signed his wife's petition, leaving her one signature short of the required 10.
The Whitehall Township race could be pared down further. Township tax collector Tina Koren challenged incumbent Commissioner Thomas Slonaker's candidacy, saying he failed to file a statement of financial disclosure with the township by last week's deadline.
Slonaker's hearing will be held in Lehigh County Court on Monday, Chief Clerk of Elections Tim Benyo said.
Solomon Tembo, the lone Republican to enter the Allentown mayoral race, provided a Salisbury Township address on his form. Danielle Scott, an Allentown Republican, cited the bad address in her challenge and alleged that more than 100 of the 140 signatures on his petition are ineligible.
Tembo is due to appear in court before Varricchio; either issue would be enough to prevent his name from appearing on the ballot.
Tembo would face long odds to win even if he stays in the race, as voter registration in the city heavily favors Democrats.
Incumbent Matt Tuerk and City Councilman Ed Zucal are vying for the Democratic nomination.
Northampton County challenges
Northampton County commissioner candidate Patti Bruno failed to turn in her statement of financial interest with the Northampton County Council clerk, according to a challenge filed by Ed Nelson, a former Upper Mount Bethel Township supervisor.
If Bruno, who has managed campaigns for county candidates in the past, is removed from the ballot, it would leave five Democrats competing for five slots on the November ballot.
Dan DePaul, West Easton's two-term mayor, challenged the petition of his Democratic challenger Asim Qureshi. DePaul labeled dozens of Qureshi's signatures as suspicious, noting that much of the handwriting of different voters appears the same.
He alleged 30 of the names listed on Qureshi's petition appear to be people registered with other parties or aren't registered to vote.
"This is the worst petition I ever saw," DePaul wrote in his court filing.
Additional cases
Other candidates facing challenges include:
Easton
- Lance Wheeler, a Democrat running for Easton City Council - District 2, on grounds that 38 of his 120 signatures are invalid. Wheeler needs at least 100 signatures to withstand review to remain on the ballot. If he's removed, Julie Zando-Dennis would be the only Democrat to appear on the ballot.
Forks Township
- Orlando Ortiz, a Republican candidate for township supervisor, on grounds he hasn't lived in the township for a year as required by state law.
Lehigh County Magisterial District Court 31-2-02
- Jake Hammond, the incumbent judge in a district overseeing North Whitehall and South Whitehall townships, has had both his Democratic and Republican petitions challenged on grounds he lacked 100 valid signatures. The challenge was filed by his opponent, Derek Kirsopp. Kirsopp, a registered Democrat, may lack standing to challenge Hammond's Republican petition.
- Kirsopp is having his petition challenged on grounds he failed to file a statement of financial disclosure with the county.
Lower Saucon Township
- Republican candidates for township council Curt Balch, Mark Ozimek and Kathy Pichel-McGovern have all had their petitions challenged on the grounds of faulty addresses. Most or all of the people who signed their petitions listed their home municipality as either Hellertown/Lower Saucon Township or Easton/Lower Saucon Township. All three challenges were filed by David Boulin. If a judge rules the three should be removed, candidates Donna Louder and Cheyenne Reiman would be the only Republicans left on the ballot.
Parkland School District
- Mike Millo, a candidate who cross-filed in the school board race, had both his petitions challenged on grounds he failed to file a statement of financial interest on time with the district. The challenges were filed by Republican David Hein, an incumbent who also cross-filed, and Kristine Goorsky, a Democrat.
- David Caruth, a candidate who cross-filed in the school board race, had both his petitions challenged on grounds he failed to file a statement of financial interest on time with the district. The challenges were filed by Hein and Goorsky.
South Whitehall Township
- Sharon Fehlinger Ricker, the only Democrat running for township commissioner, on grounds she failed to file a statement of financial disclosure with the township.
Southern Lehigh School District
- James Pica, a Republican candidate for school board, was removed from the ballot after Varricchio found he failed to file a statement of financial interest with the district.
Stockertown
- Rene Cantwell, a Republican incumbent seeking re-election to borough council, on grounds she failed to file a statement of financial interest with the borough. The challenge was filed by Democratic candidate Richard Wagner; he may lack standing to successfully challenge Cantwell since challengers must be of the same party.
- Pamela Davis, a Democratic incumbent seeking re-election to borough council, on grounds she failed to file a statement of financial interest with the borough. The challenge was filed by Wagner, one of her primary opponents.
- Herbert Koenig, a Republican candidate for mayor, on grounds he failed to file a statement of financial interest with the county. The challenge was filed by Peter Dewey, his opponent in the primary.
