Missouri appeals court hears arguments linked to GOP vetting process
The vetting process includes a background check, a signed pledge and a 25-question values survey.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A showdown over who decides whom you can vote for played out in court on Tuesday in Kansas City.
The Missouri Western District Court of Appeals heard arguments from attorneys representing the clerk in Vernon County and the Vernon County Republican Committee. KCTV5 previously shared the concerns of local election officials who have been following the case since March.
The committee’s chair, Cyndia Haggard, sued the clerk, Adrienne Lee, for taking the filing fees of eight candidates who refused to participate in the committee’s new vetting process. The committee cited a state statute that requires candidate fees be paid to the treasurer of the committee before filing with the clerk.
A circuit court judge originally ruled in the committee’s favor saying Lee acted outside of her ministerial duties.
On Tuesday, Lee’s attorney argued that she followed the law, and the case should be moot given that they can’t legally take names off the ballot now. Conversely, Haggard’s attorney maintained that county committees should have the final say on who can run as Republicans.
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“I was a little dismayed by some of the questions in there because it sounded to me that the idea that Republicans should be able to decide the membership of their own party was not an accepted idea in there – and I think it has to be,” said Mark McCloskey, attorney for the Vernon County Republican Committee. “We’ll keep fighting this battle as long as it takes.”
“This was a very specific case as far mandamus,” said Travis Elliott, the attorney for Vernon County Clerk. “That’s a complicated legal thing that the average person doesn’t appreciate and so I think we need to decide, voters need to pay attention to these issues, who’s on the central committees and get involved.”
Both sides seemingly agreed that state law needs to be clearer about the filing fee process.
For now, the eight candidates who refused to participate in the vetting process remain on the August ballot. The Missouri Court of Appeals could issue their ruling as early as next Tuesday.
To watch our previous reporting on this matter, click here.
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