Recent court rulings have allowed three political candidates to remain on the ballot for the upcoming election, ensuring that voters have options despite challenges to their candidacy. State Sen. Marty Flynn, his challenger Jeffrey Lake, and Rep. Maureen Madden will all be on the Democratic ballot for the primary election scheduled on May 19, following the Commonwealth Court’s decisions.
The Case of Marty Flynn
Marty Flynn, the current representative of the 22nd Senate District that includes parts of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, is campaigning for another four-year term. Jeffrey Lake, aiming to take his place, challenged Flynn’s eligibility based on the claim that Flynn did not properly complete his candidate affidavit, specifically leaving out the name of his voting precinct. However, a previous unrelated court decision determined that such an omission does not disqualify a candidate.
Ultimately, Judge Matthew S. Wolf ruled in Flynn’s favor, not due to the affidavit issue, but because Lake filed the challenge after the stipulated deadline of 5 p.m. on March 17. Similarly, a challenge by Lawrence Sparano regarding Flynn’s petition was also dismissed for the same reason. Notably, Sharon Soltis Sparano, Lawrence Sparano’s wife, stands unopposed for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat.
Jeffrey Lake’s Signature Controversy
Amidst the election preparations, Larry Wynne, a supporter of Flynn, questioned the validity of Lake’s petition signatures, asserting that only 440 out of 758 were legitimate, falling short of the required 500 valid signatures. Wynne’s legal representative, Kevin Greenberg, eventually withdrew the challenge after concluding that Lake’s signatures would likely pass the minimum threshold, estimating between 502 and 509 valid lines. “Close doesn’t count so we didn’t want to make the court or Mr. Lake waste his time,” Greenberg explained in an email.
Maureen Madden’s Ballot Status
In another case, the court also favored Rep. Maureen Madden, who is pursuing a sixth term for the 115th House District in Monroe County. Madden faced a challenge from Anna Lopez, who is also vying for the Democratic nomination. President Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer dismissed Lopez’s challenge due to late filing.
Meanwhile, Lopez’s own petitions are under scrutiny as Monroe County Democratic Party Chairperson Tameko Patterson and Alfred Johnson dispute the validity of her signatures. They claim Lopez lacks the necessary 300 valid signatures, citing issues such as unregistered voters or voters not registered within the district or party. The hearing for this challenge is set for Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Richard Szabo is the sole candidate for the Republican nomination for Madden’s seat, ensuring no intra-party competition.
