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Tuesday, May 24, 2011 | 4:40 p.m.
Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller and the Nevada State Democratic Party on Tuesday filed appeals with the Nevada Supreme Court challenging the ruling of a District Court judge who said political parties can choose their candidates for the open 2nd Congressional District seat.
The appeals follow Carson City District Judge Todd Russell’s ruling last week in favor of the Nevada Republican Party. The party challenged Miller’s opinion that a special election to replace Republican Sen. Dean Heller be open to all candidates.
The vacancy to represent the congressional district that covers all of rural Nevada, Reno and portions of Clark County, was created when Gov. Brian Sandoval selected Heller to replace fellow Republican John Ensign, who resigned from the Senate.
Miller additionally requested that the Supreme Court expedite the appeal and accept opening briefs by May 31, answering briefs by June 8 and reply briefs by June 13.
The state Attorney General’s Office, meanwhile, has asked the Nevada Supreme Court to speed up handling of appeals on the lower court ruling.
The Supreme Court has not decided yet whether it will accelerate the handling of the case.
The special election is set for Sept. 13.
Sun reporter Cy Ryan contributed to this report.
This is what happens when u over-regulate. Shouldn't a political party that is privatly funded by its members be able to pick whomever they want to reprisent them?
Justin:
Short answer, no.
Primaries are held so that the people can select the candidates they wish to offer for consideration in an election. When a political party committee is the only deciding factor as to who is able to run, "the people" lose out on the very first step, and perhaps the most important step aside from the general election, in deciding who has the opportunity to represent the public.
The Republican's assertion that the managing committees of the political parties should decide who gets to run disenfranchises the electorate, limits choice and opens the door to all kinds of back room dealings that have the potential to do serious harm to the public, all in the name of political patronage.
Open the race to all comers and let the public decide who will represent them, not a group of party insiders.