Latest news with #JeffersonCountyBoardofElections
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Printed Watertown City Council primary ballots do not include Olney's name
May 30—WATERTOWN — Ballots have been printed for the June 24 City Council primary and Councilman Cliff G. Olney's name is not on them. The Jefferson County Board of Elections went ahead printing the ballots while Olney is continuing his efforts in court to secure a spot on the ballot as he runs for reelection. Olney, a first-term councilman, has a court hearing next Friday after refiling a motion seeking to have a state Supreme Court judge reverse a decision that his name is not on the ballot. If he's successful in court, the elections board can reprint them with his name on it before the primary, County Attorney John L. Sabik said. If Judge McClusky denies his legal argument, Olney plans to run as a write-in candidate. "I won't have a lot of time to let my supporters know how they can vote for me," he said. Seven other candidates are running in the June 24 primary. Four will go on to the November election. Olney, who is acting as his own attorney in the court matter, said Thursday night that he was surprised to learn that Judge McClusky did not place a restraining order on stopping the elections board from printing the ballots until after Friday's court hearing. He's requesting that Judge McClusky reconsider a ruling that a legal challenge of an elections board determination that he did not have enough valid signatures on his campaign petitions was not filed in a timely manner. Olney initially filed suit asking to have his petitions reviewed by the court after it was determined he lacked the required minimum number of signatures to be on the ballot. While Judge McClusky did rule that Olney had enough signatures to be on the ballot, he subsequently dismissed Olney's complaint because it had not been served on the defendants in a timely manner. Olney, who contended he followed the court's timeline when serving the papers, filed a motion to have the matter reconsidered. Judge McClusky declined the request, ruling that Olney did not abide by state Civil Practice Laws and Rules when filing his motion for reconsideration. Olney subsequently refiled the motion, indicating that he has corrected any procedural error in his filings.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Watertown Councilman Olney refiles motion to have election challenge reheard
May 28—WATERTOWN — City Councilman Cliff G. Olney III is continuing his efforts in court to secure a spot on the ballot as he runs for reelection. He refiled a motion seeking to have a state Supreme Court judge reconsider a ruling that a legal challenge of a Jefferson County Board of Elections determination that he did not have enough valid signatures on his campaign petitions was not filed in a timely manner. Olney initially filed suit asking to have his petitions reviewed by the court after it was determined he lacked the required minimum number of signatures to be on the upcoming June 24 City Council ballot. While Judge James P. McClusky did rule that Olney had enough signatures to be on the ballot, he subsequently dismissed Olney's complaint because it had not been served on the defendants in a timely manner. Olney, who contended he followed the court's timeline when serving the papers, filed a motion to have the matter reconsidered. Judge McClusky declined the request, ruling that Olney did not abide by state Civil Practice Laws and Rules when filing his motion for reconsideration. Olney, who is acting as his own attorney in the matter, has now refiled the motion, indicating that he has corrected any procedural error in his filings. Judge McClusky has scheduled an order to show cause hearing for June 5.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Olney submits argument to remain in November election
Apr. 21—WATERTOWN — Councilman Cliff G. Olney III thinks he has found enough signatures on his election petitions that will allow him to remain on the ballot for November's election. On Monday morning, Olney submitted his argument to the Jefferson County Board of Elections why 33 questionable signatures should be deemed eligible. He needs 165 signatures to remain on the ballot. He is 11 signatures short. "I think I really have a good chance," Olney said Monday afternoon, calling the way that signatures are thrown out "a broken system." Last week, 95 signatures were determined to be invalid. Since then, 50 of them have been found eligible, he said. A hearing has been set for 1 p.m. Thursday to determine whether the remaining 33 signatures are valid. After contacting the voters himself, Olney said he has found 12 signatures from people he believes are eligible voters. Those 12 voters were wrongly disqualified under the labels "Not Registered" (NR) or "Illegible" (ILL), despite their eligibility, according to Olney. He contends that another 19 signatures should be reinstated. They're being questioned because Olney signed and dated the petition in an incorrect spot because the page had gotten wet, he said. "I urge the Board to reconsider the findings and reinstate the candidacy based on the overwhelming evidence of voter intent, lawful registration, and substantial compliance with New York Election Law," he wrote to the two elections commissioners. Elections commissioners Tiffany Ladd and Michelle R. LaFave will vote at the hearing on Thursday whether or not the signatures are valid. If the vote ends up a 1-1 tie, it will follow the previous decision and the signatures won't be allowed. "The hearing will be really quick," Ladd said. "The hearing will be very, very quick to be over." Olney has vowed to run as a write-in candidate if he does not have enough valid signatures. Olney can also appeal the hearing in court. Olney, a first-term councilman, obtained a total of 249 signatures, 84 more than the 165 needed to get on the November ballot. Fifty were put back on his petitions. Olney is one of eight candidates running for four-year seats in the nonpartisan race. They are vying in a June 24 primary, with four candidates moving on to the November election. Marra Drive resident Jeanne Barker filed the complaint with the board of elections originally questioning the 95 signatures. Her son, Clifford H. Lashway, ran an unsuccessful campaign for council two years ago. Two years ago, Barker got council candidate Brian Watson kicked off the ballot after raising questions about Watson's signatures on petitions.
