Two new party lines in Guilderland and New Scotland faced objections, and one has been eliminated from the ballot, according to information from the Albany County Board of Elections.
An independent party petition started by Republican Matt Nelligan, running for Town Board in Guilderland, has been invalidated, according to information from the Albany County Board of Elections. Another by Republican candidates Roz Robinson and Tim Stanton, running for Town Board in New Scotland, has been challenged, but remains in tact for the time being.
Matthew Clyne, Democratic commissioner for the Board of Elections, said Nelligan did not collect enough valid signatures to create the line, and it was thus removed from the ballot.
It’s hard to get on an independent nominating petition, Clyne said. `You [usually] need more than enough signatures. You need to have some padding there. There’s a lot of nuance to this.`
Nelligan said he is disappointed that his independent line will not be on the ballot, but is optimistic about the election.
`The election continues,` Nelligan said. `We’re in it to win it.`
Robinson, Stanton and Supervisor candidate Mike Fields started the New Scotland First Party. Fields has the support of the Republican committee, while Robinson and Stanton do not. The line would allow them to stay on the ballot, even if they lost in the primary on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Clyne did say, though, that there is a chance that the matter could be brought to the New York State Court of Appeals, if the objectors file for such an action.
The deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 1 for the filing.
`It wouldn’t surprise me if they did,` he said.
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