EASTON, Pa. — A Northampton County judge has ordered several would-be political candidates be removed from the primary ballot after determining last week their paperwork contained fatal flaws.
County Judge Craig Dally found that multiple candidates failed to collect enough valid signatures or to turn in mandatory statements of financial interest.
Either issue is enough to strike a candidate from the ballot.
Candidates knocked off the ballot are:
- Patti Bruno, a Democrat running for Northampton County Council, was removed for failing to turn in her statement of financial interest with the clerk of county council. Her removal leaves five Democrats competing for five spots on the November ballot.
- Orlando Ortiz, a Democrat running for Forks Township supervisor, was removed for failing to file a statement of financial interest with the township.
- Asim Qureshi, a Democrat running for West Easton mayor, was removed for failing to collect 10 valid signatures. While Qureshi submitted dozens of signatures, most were stricken because the petition was circulated by someone who wasn't a registered Democrat or were the names of people who weren't registered Democrats. Qureshi's removal leaves incumbent Dan DePaul as the only Democrat running for mayor.
- Herbert Koenig, a Republican running for Stockertown mayor, was removed for failing to file a statement of financial interest with the borough. His exit leaves Peter Dewey as the only Republican candidate on the primary ballot.
In addition, Lance Wheeler withdrew from the Democratic primary for Easton City Council District 2 after his candidacy was challenged.
City resident Susan Eagle alleged that 38 of his 120 signatures were invalid, leaving him short of the required 100. Julie Zando-Dennis will be the only Democrat on the ballot for the seat.
Dally also overruled or dismissed several challenges. Challenged candidates who will remain on the ballot include:
- Stockertown Borough Council candidates Renee Cantwell, a Republican, and Pamela Davis, a Democrat, will remain on the ballot despite challenges by Richard Wagner, a Democratic council candidate. Wagner lacked standing to challenge Cantwell since they are of opposite political parties. Dally found Davis complied with a state law requiring candidates to turn in statements of financial interest.
- Lower Saucon Township Council candidates Curt Balch, Kathy Pichel-McGovern and Mark Ozimek will remain on the ballot despite a challenge by David Boulin. The three Republicans submitted petitions on which signatories provided their municipality as "Hellertown LST." Dally ruled the petitions could stand because both mailing addresses and their home municipality are acceptable.
