Peggy Moseley seeks to invalidate Republican challengers in auditor’s race

A week after losing her bid to keep her job as Charleston County auditor, Peggy Moseley has filed a protest to have her two challengers in last week’s GOP primary ruled ineligible.

In their place, she is asking the Charleston County Republican Party to declare her as the only legally qualified candidate from the June 12 vote, even as she finished a distant second to certified nominee Paul Gawrych. She also wants third-place finisher David Engelman disqualified.

In an eight-page filing, Moseley contends neither man properly submitted a paper copy of their statement of economic interest simultaneously with the mandated statement of intention of candidacy.

The condition is the same jeopardy that forced hundreds of candidates from both major parties off ballots statewide this year, after a review and order the state Supreme Court.

The filing is not a lawsuit; it is considered a legal protest of the election that will go to the Charleston County Republican Party Executive Committee.

Moseley said today the issue was clouded before the election when party Chairwoman Lin Bennett did not return her calls about election and candidate questions. She denied her protest was a result of not being supported for a 6th term by county Republicans.

“I just got calls telling me it wasn’t right,” Moseley said today. “It’s not sour grapes.”

Her attorney, Sam Howell of Charleston, said they plan to present evidence they believe shows Gawrych did not file in a timely manner.

Howell said the Moseley protest is in the interest of the GOP, because it seeks to clarify the other two candidates’ status before it is challenged by Democrats and possibly preventing a Republican from being on the November ballot.

While some candidates were removed from the ballot, some others this year have fought to stay on the ballots by saying that as current or previous office holders, their economic statements are already available.

Gawrych served on Mount Pleasant Town Council.