Judge: Valley View School Board candidates can remain on the ballot

Mar. 22—Two candidates who want to represent Blakely on the Valley View School Board can remain on the May 16 Democratic primary election ballot, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Lackawanna County Judge Terrence R. Nealon said Alan "Al" Gillow and Tracy Grant filed financial interest statements before the March 7 deadline as required.

Kevin Swift, a Blakely councilman seeking reelection, contended Grant and Gillow did not file the statements with their Democratic nominating petitions by the March 7 deadline, and filed statements only with their Republican petitions on time.

He wanted both removed from the Democratic ballot for the Region 2 seat.

Nealon said state law allows barring candidates from the ballot who don't file any financial interest statements or file them late.

Nealon cited a prior appeals court ruling that said requiring a redundant financial interest statement does not reflect a liberal interpretation of the state Election Code to protect a candidate's right to run for office.

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