Jasper County Judge issues ruling in Vernon County GOP Committee lawsuit
Update
JOPLIN, Mo. — Jasper County Judge Gayle Crane issues a ruling in a case we’ve been telling you about that involves Vernon County elected officials and the Republican Committee.
At the heart of this case is whether the Vernon County GOP Committee can control which candidates are listed as Republicans. The committee sued the clerk in this case.
Current county commissioner Cindy Thompson also asked to join the lawsuit. She was named as one of the candidates the committee wanted to prevent from appearing on the ballot in August.
Judge Crane ruled she could not join this lawsuit.
Additionally – the judge overruled the motion to dismiss the case. She ordered the Vernon County Republican Committee to produce the documents requested by the county clerk.
There will likely be another hearing before there’s a decision about whether the GOP can control who is listed on the ballot.
Missouri Republicans clash over candidate selection process
JOPLIN, Mo. — County officials all over Missouri are watching a Vernon County court battle between the Vernon County Republican Committee and County Clerk, Adrienne Lee.
PREVIOUS: Missouri Republicans begin legal battle with County Clerk over vetting
Jasper County Judge Gayle Crane was appointed to preside over the case because it involves current Vernon County officials and the Vernon County Republicans.
Attorneys for the Republican Committee argued today (4/30) the committee should have the right to say who can run as a Republican for any county office.
Republican committees across the state of Missouri are attempting to put in place a vetting process they say will allow them to select true Republicans to appear on election ballots.
Opponents say it should be up to the voters to say who their candidates should be.
The state law being argued deals with the payment of the candidate filing fee, RSMo. 115.357.
Republican committees say they have the final right of refusal and if they decline to accept the filing fee, that person should not be allowed to appear on the ballot as a Republican.
“She [Judge Crane] understood, that this isn’t about vetting. This is about whether not government has the right to tell a political party who its candidate is going to be when the party doesn’t want that candidate,” said Cyndia Haggard, Vernon Co. GOP Committee chair.
Travis Elliott, the attorney for County Clerk Adrienne Lee, says that her position on free and fair elections and open elections in the state of Missouri is a really important thing and he hopes that came across today to the judge.
As the Vernon County Clerk, Lee is responsible for accepting the filing fee and paperwork provided by candidates who file for elected office.
Her attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the case and to quash an Order of Mandamus issued by the Court.
“Ultimately we want the voters to make those decisions and I think the judge will see that and allow the candidacies to go forward and the elections in August,” said Marc Ellinger, attorney for Cindy Thompson, County Commissioner.
The Vernon County Republican committee has listed at least eight names they want to be kept off the ballot.
BRENT BANES – COLLECTOR/TREASURER
KELSEY WESTERHOLD – PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR
LENA KLEEMAN – ASSESSOR
MIKE BUEHLER – RICH HILL POLICE CHIEF
CINDY THOMPSON – COUNTY COMMISSIONER
JIMMY DYE
FRANK RADSPINNER
JOHN SHORTEN
Judge Crane says she intends to issue her ruling tomorrow.
