The Wisconsin Election Commission ruled that both candidates Kennedy and Sullivan for Milwaukee County Executive failed to submit sufficient valid nomination signatures to get on the Spring Election Ballot 2020, leaving the option for both candidates to appeal.
By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
January 21, 2020
Madison, Wisconsin- On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Election Commission (WEC) found on appeal that the Milwaukee County Election Commission erred by dismissing a complaint filed by candidate Theodore Lipscomb Sr. for Milwaukee County Executive alleging that both candidates Bryan Kennedy and Jim Sullivan for Milwaukee County Executive had insufficient nomination signatures to be on the Primary Spring Election Ballot 2020 as required by state law. Lipscomb Sr. alleged that both Kennedy and Sullivan had used the same circulators that another candidate for Milwaukee County Executive had used to get nomination signatures, thus violating state law.
Lipscomb Sr. alleged that circulators Alisha Pettis, Lesa Trotter and Dominique Thomas circulated nomination papers for David Crowley another candidate for Milwaukee County Executive and then for Kennedy. Also Lipscomb Sr. alleged that Alisha Pettis, Lesa Trotter, Keith Pettis and Dominique Thomas circulated nomination papers for Crowley and then for Sullivan violating state election laws for certifying nomination papers.
Apparently, the circulators involved lied to the Kennedy and Sullivan campaigns that they had not circulated nomination papers for another candidate, when in fact they did, according to the Lipscomb Sr., Kennedy and Sullivan campaigns.
The circulators involved worked as canvassing nomination signature papers circulators provided by Simon Warren, the owner of the Sweet Black Coffee shop and his partner Jerrel Jones, the owner of the Milwaukee Courier and WNOV 860 AM radio who operate an outsourcing contract canvassing operation available to candidates to contract.
The circulators involved worked as canvassing nomination signature papers circulators provided by Simon Warren, the owner of the Sweet Black Coffee shop and his partner Jerrel Jones, the owner of the Milwaukee Courier and WNOV 860 AM radio who operate an outsourcing contract canvassing operation available to candidates to contract.
In the WEC case of Kennedy, Lipscomb Sr. filed a verified complaint with the Commission appealing the decision of the Milwaukee County Election Commission (MCEC) to approve ballot access for Candidate Bryan Kennedy for the 2020 Spring Election as a candidate for County Executive. The WEC reviewed the complaint and supporting documentation as well as the response of the MCEC filed by Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson and Elections Director Julietta Henry.
The WEC finds that the Milwaukee County Election Commission did not comply with the election laws when it accepted signatures on nomination papers for Candidate Bryan Kennedy which were collected by circulators who had previously collected signatures for Candidate Crowley in violation of Wis. Stat. § 8.04. The WEC finds that § 8.04 is unambiguous and is to be construed as a mandatory regulation of the circulation process.
The WEC finds that 844 signatures submitted by Candidate Kennedy shall be stricken as invalid, resulting in a total of 1,840 valid signatures, which is less than the 2,000 valid signatures required to obtain ballot status. The WEC decision letter states that Bryan Kennedy's name shall not appear on the ballot for the Office of County Executive at the 2020 Spring Primary or Spring Election.
In the WEC case of Sullivan, Lipscomb Sr. has filed a verified complaint with the Commission appealing the decision of the Milwaukee County Election Commission (MCEC) to approve ballot access for Candidate Jim Sullivan for the 2020 Spring Election as a candidate for County Executive. The Commission has reviewed the complaint and supporting documentation as well as the response of the MCEC filed by Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson and Elections Director Julietta Henry.
WEC finds that the Milwaukee County Election Commission did not comply with the election laws when it accepted signatures on nomination papers for Candidate Jim Sullivan, which were collected by circulators who had previously collected signatures for Candidate Crowley, in violation of Wis. Stat. § 8.04. The WEC finds that § 8.04 is unambiguous and is to be construed as a mandatory regulation of the circulation process.
The WEC finds that 1,001 signatures submitted by Candidate Sullivan shall be stricken as invalid, resulting in a total of 1,449 valid signatures, which is less than the 2,000 valid signatures required to obtain ballot status. The Commission's decision letter states that Jim Sullivan's name shall not appear on the ballot for the Office of County Executive at the 2020 Spring Primary or Spring Election.
The JSOnline reported that, "The full six-member commission didn't vote on the matter — staff made a recommendation to Administrator Meagan Wolfe. She consulted with Commission Chair Dean Knudson, who approved the decisions. He decided it was not necessary to call a meeting of the full commission to discuss or vote on the complaints, Wisconsin Elections Commission spokesman Reid Magney said via email. Magney added that the commission usually delegates these kinds of decisions to the administrator."
The JSOnline reported that, "The full six-member commission didn't vote on the matter — staff made a recommendation to Administrator Meagan Wolfe. She consulted with Commission Chair Dean Knudson, who approved the decisions. He decided it was not necessary to call a meeting of the full commission to discuss or vote on the complaints, Wisconsin Elections Commission spokesman Reid Magney said via email. Magney added that the commission usually delegates these kinds of decisions to the administrator."
The WEC left the option open for both Kennedy and Sullivan to appeal their decision in a State Circuit Court.
Kennedy released the following statement, "Today we were given a setback when the Wisconsin Election Commission ruled against me and ordered the Milwaukee County Election Commission to remove my name from the ballot. Just as you would expect from me, I am challenging the Commission’s decision in the Circuit Court. This battle is not over. Milwaukee County needs a County Executive with a plan."
Sullivan is expected to appeal the WEC decision in Circuit Court as well.
Kennedy released the following statement, "Today we were given a setback when the Wisconsin Election Commission ruled against me and ordered the Milwaukee County Election Commission to remove my name from the ballot. Just as you would expect from me, I am challenging the Commission’s decision in the Circuit Court. This battle is not over. Milwaukee County needs a County Executive with a plan."
Sullivan is expected to appeal the WEC decision in Circuit Court as well.
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