Democrat challenges Hawkins' candidacy
WSTM Channel 3 (NBC), Syracuse NY
Jim Kenyon
September 2nd, 2008
http://wstm.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=184529
Video
http://wstm.com/news/video.aspx?id=184529
SYRACUSE -- For months Green Party Congressional Candidate Howie Hawkins was on street corners gathering names on nominating petitions. Even though he's filed over 6,300 signatures, many more than required, Democrats are challenging his petitions in an attempt to keep him off the ballot. "The system is designed to keep upstart independent candidates out." Hawkins told reporters Tuesday.
Dustin Czarny, who heads the 17th ward in Syracuse for the Democratic Party, filed the challenge to Hawkins petitions. "I'm following the State Board of Elections Law." Czarny told Action News. When asked if Democratic Congressional candidate Dan Maffei approved of the challenge, Czarny replied, "I didn't ask for approval and didn't get approval."
But working with other Democrats including staffers for Maffei, Czarny claims 3,400 signatures on Green Party petitions are invalid because the people weren't registered to vote. "He stands on a corner and gets petitions from anybody who comes by."
Hawkins says Dan Maffei wants him out of the way, "If he wanted democracy, he'd let the voters decide this question, not technicalities on ballot petitions. They got a lot invested in their candidate and I think the national Democrats would be mad at the local Democrats if they didn't try to knock out the competition. It's hard ball politics."
Maffei spokesman Michael Whyland refused our request for an interview with Maffei. "I don't want Dan talking about that. It's so stupid. " he added: " I don't think Howie should be made out to be a victim...We don't make the laws...he's got to follow the law."
Hawkins says he need only prove that a couple hundred of the signatures in question are valid to get his name and the Green Party on the November ballot.
The State Board of Elections is expected to review the challenge to Hawkin's eligibility as early as this Friday.
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