The Bottom Line is back on the ballot. Superior Court Judge John D. Boland approved a stipulation negotiated between The Bottom Line party, Town Clerk Patricia Spruance and the State Attorney General’s office that allows the third party’s eight candidates to be placed back on the ballot.
“The nightmare is over,” said Mark Doyle, chairman of The Bottom Line. The party, which formed about six years ago, had its nominees removed from the ballot on Oct. 21 by order of the secretary of the state, even though Town Clerk Patricia Spruance went to bat for them. At issue is a 2011 regulation requiring third party candidates to sign the nomination form. The Bottom Line candidates all signed their campaign finance form and until she was ordered to remove them from the ballot, Spruance believed the law had been satisfied.
Because Spruance is the local administrator of the state election laws, it was Spruance who was sued. The Bottom Line holds seats on every major board in Windham and is running candidates for all of those boards.
Three other suits based on the same statute have all gone to court and been judged in favor of the minor party. The statute requires third party candidates to sign the endorsement paperwork. Democratic and Republican candidates do not have to sign their endorsement paperwork.
Full Article: Third party is back on ballot in Windham – News – The Bulletin – Norwich, CT.