Latest news with #DanielBlackman
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dem candidate for Georgia Public Service Commission challenges disqualification
A Fulton County Superior Court hearing is scheduled for June 10 on Georgia Public Service Commission candidate Daniel Blackman's appealing a ruling disqualifying him from the Democratic Primary of June 17. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder (file) A Georgia Public Service Commission candidate will remain on the Democratic primary ballot after appealing a decision this week disqualifying him from the race for failing to meet residency requirements. A Fulton County Superior Court hearing is scheduled for June 10 when Chief Judge Ural Glanville will hear arguments on PSC candidate Daniel Blackman's appeal. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger had affirmed a state court judge's ruling that Blackman was unable to provide evidence that a Fulton County property is his primary domicile. Blackman is a candidate for District 3, which includes Clayton, DeKalb, and Fulton counties. Commissioners are elected statewide but must be residents of a given district for at least 12 months. Blackman served as the Environmental Protection Agency's Southeast regional administrator under the Biden administration, and he's a former PSC candidate who came close to winning a seat on the commission back in 2020. Blackman's lawyer, Matthew Wilson, said Blackman's name will remain on ballots after Glanville granted an injunction Thursday. 'Once we're given the opportunity for a fair hearing, I'm confident that Daniel will prevail because all of the facts and all of the law are on his side,' Wilson said Friday. The complaint against Blackman was filed by Atlanta resident Rodney Stephens, who currently resides in a home previously owned by another Democratic candidate, Keisha Waites, according to online county property records. Stephens and Waites declined to comment about the residency challenge. The residency dispute involves a one-bedroom dwelling in Atlanta that Blackman leased on Oct. 4, 2024. Blackman testified that he purchased the property to live closer to work while his wife and children continued to reside in their Forsyth County home north of Atlanta, according to the 12-page ruling. The state court judge wrote that Blackman failed to provide evidence that he actually lived in the home, such as utility bills or mail being delivered to the Atlanta address. Early voting for two PSC seats began Tuesday with Blackman's name on ballots statewide. If Blackman's ban is permanent, notices will be placed in polling places advising voters of his disqualification and votes cast for him will not be counted, Raffensperger's office said. Election Day is June 17. Three other Democrats appear on the District 3 PSC ballot: Waites, a former Atlanta City Council member and ex-state representative; Peter Hubbard, founder of the clean nonprofit Center for Energy Solutions, and Robert Jones, a former utility executive. The winner will face GOP incumbent Fitz Johnson in the Nov. 4 general election. Johnson was appointed to the seat by Gov. Brian Kemp in 2021. Jones said Friday he would like to see an expedited final decision in the Blackman case so candidates can focus solely on their own campaigns without having to deal with the distraction. 'The appeal filed Wednesday was another surprise in a race that has had too many,' Jones said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Georgia PSC candidate will remain on ballot while appealing disqualification
The Brief Georgia Public Service Commission candidate Daniel Blackman will remain on the ballot as he appeals his disqualification. Earlier this week, a judge ruled Blackman didn't prove he met the qualifications to run in part because he moved to Fulton County in October but voted in Forsyth County on Nov. 5. Blackman's lawyer said Chief Judge Ural Glanville of the Fulton County Superior Court approved a request to keep him on the ballot until the appeal is ruled on. FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - A Democratic candidate running for the Georgia Public Service Commission will remain on the ballot a day after he was disqualified by Georgia Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Daniel Blackman appealed the ruling and will remain in the race while the appeal goes through the court system, Blackman's lawyer says. The backstory Earlier this week, an administrative law judge recommended Raffensperger disqualify Blackman, a former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator, from the District 3 seat because he did not show he lived there long enough. Voters statewide elect commission members, but they must live in one of five districts for at least 12 months before an election. District 3 includes the core metro Atlanta counties of Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton. All five commissioners are currently Republicans. Administrative Court Judge Dominic Capraro said in his ruling Blackman didn't prove he met the qualifications to run in part because he moved to Fulton County in October but voted in Forsyth County on Nov. 5. He switched his registration to his Fulton County address in April, right before signing up to run for the District 3 seat. Blackman said he moved to Fulton County for work in October while his wife and kids temporarily remained in Forsyth County where they could finish the school year. After that, they plan to live together in Fulton County. Blackman said he waited to register to vote at his new address in order to comply with Georgia's rules that require address changes to be registered at least 30 days before an election. What they're saying Blackman's lawyer, Matthew Wilson, said Chief Judge Ural Glanville of the Fulton County Superior Court approved a request to keep him on the ballot until the appeal is ruled on. "We are very confident that at the end of this process Daniel will be deemed a qualified candidate for PSC because all of the facts and all of the law are on his side," Wilson said. The Democratic primary is June 17. Early voting is underway now. Dig deeper Three other Democrats are set to run in the primary. Keisha Sean Waites, a former state House member and former Atlanta City Council member, most recently lost a bid to become Fulton County clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts. Peter Hubbard has worked for the Georgia Center for Clean Energy Solutions. Robert Jones has worked on energy for both the government and private companies. The Source Information for this story came from the Associated Press and previous FOX 5 reporting.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Daniel Blackman disqualified from Public Service Commission race
The Brief Daniel Blackman has been disqualified from the Public Service Commission District 3 race after a judge ruled he did not meet residency requirements. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger confirmed the disqualification ahead of the June 7 special primary election. Blackman was seeking the Democratic nomination but will no longer appear on the ballot following the administrative court's decision. ATLANTA - In a major development in Georgia's Public Service Commission District 3 race, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has announced that Daniel Blackman has been disqualified from appearing on the ballot. What we know Blackman was seeking the Democratic nomination in the June 7 special primary election. However, a state administrative court judge ruled earlier this week that he failed to meet the residency requirements needed to run for the Public Service Commission seat. PREVIOUS STORY: Early voting begins in Georgia Public Service Commission primary elections What they're saying The Secretary of State's office confirmed the disqualification, effectively removing Blackman from contention in the closely watched race. Blackman has 10 days to appeal Raffensperger's decision. What's next Early voting is underway for the special primary election to fill two seats on the commission, which is a 5-member board that regulates utilities in the state.
Toronto Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Disqualified Georgia utility candidate Daniel Blackman appeals and will remain on the ballot for now
ATLANTA (AP) — A day after Georgia Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger disqualified Democrat Daniel Blackman from running for the Georgia Public Service Commission, the candidate appealed Thursday and will remain on the ballot for now, his lawyer said. An administrative law judge recommended earlier this week Raffensperger disqualify Blackman, a former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator, from the District 3 seat because he did not show he lived there long enough.
Washington Post
5 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Disqualified Georgia utility candidate Daniel Blackman appeals and will remain on the ballot for now
ATLANTA — A day after Georgia Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger disqualified Democrat Daniel Blackman from running for the Georgia Public Service Commission , the candidate appealed Thursday and will remain on the ballot for now, his lawyer said. An administrative law judge recommended earlier this week Raffensperger disqualify Blackman, a former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator, from the District 3 seat because he did not show he lived there long enough.
