Platt off ballot for District 115 race
The Post and Courier
Eugene Platt
The State Election Commission decided Friday to uphold its staff's decision not to allow Eugene Platt on the ballot as a Green Party candidate for the state House District 115 seat.
Platt lost the June 10 Democratic Party primary for the seat to James Island lawyer Anne Peterson Hutto, but he also had sought certification as a candidate from the Green Party. South Carolina is one of a few states that allows candidates to run for office under multiple parties and have their votes added together.
Election Commission spokesman Chris Whitmire said commissioners heard from several people arguing for and against Platt's Green Party candidacy this year. In the end, they made no decision, meaning that the staff's interpretation of state law — that Platt is ineligible to run for the District 115 House seat — stands for now.
Green Party organizer Gregg Jocoy urged commissioners to let Platt on the ballot as a Green candidate. He noted the Green Party had selected him before Platt lost the Democratic primary.
Jocoy said late Friday the party may seek relief from state or federal court, particularly if another group with more money joins in the case.
Should the case go to court, state law might not be the only issue: Platt also signed a pledge with the Democratic Party vowing that he wouldn't run again this fall.
The Democratic Party sent a lawyer to Friday's commission meeting to argue against Platt's presence on the ballot. Charleston County Democratic Party Chairman George Tempel said earlier that he has been Platt's friend for years, but added, "The law is the law, and a pledge is a pledge. He lost, and the party has an excellent candidate, Anne Peterson Hutto, who has been elected by the people."
Hutto will face incumbent Republican Rep. Wallace Scarborough on Nov. 4.
Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Problems, problems,...PROBLEMS,
Eugene Platt.....Do YOU know where ENERGY is At ? Look in your trash ! And then go to www.startech.net.
1) Your... Smiling ? What are you happy about? You should be ..MAD.
2) What does it take to get YOU ..MAD ?
3) Do you really NEED a party. Party, Party,...PARTY.
4) Have you ever met WILD BILL. Maybe you and him could team up? If you need a refresher, he is Bill Collins in Summerville...at least he looks concerned?
5) Eugene...you broke a VOW? A pledge? You had better pull a HILLARY. That's right ..a HILLARY? You need to KISS and make up with MRS HUTTO. It needs to be genuine too? If Mrs. Hutto is smart, she'll use YOU to take all the arrows coming at HER. She will use you to double check the facts that her own inner circle are pumping her UP with to give her ...perspective. She will use you to be HER pit bull.
6) Mrs. Hutto...HOW smart are you??? Look in your TRASH.
7) No email, no telephone numbers, no schedule? ...DEMS ..get a CLUE.
8) ..."Should the case go to court, state law might not be the only issue: ...." the ONLY issue to taxpayers if this stupid cat fight goes to court is HOW much the taxpayers are going to get RAPED by lawyers ..you fools. Are you going to play MRS HART like a fool again?? I don't think Supreme Court Judge Jean "Our Judy" Toal and the "Honorable Rest" will be ...PLEASED.
9) ...........
June 28, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lou9 (anonymous) says...
Mr. Platt, when you were running in the Democratic primary you called yourself a man of integrity. Going back on your promise is not a sign of someone with integrity, it's dishonest. Don't be a sore loser. The voters have spoken snd they don't want you representing them.
June 28, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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