SD Legislator Candidacy Dispute Remains Unresolved
by Associated Press
November 01, 2012 9:29 AM
It appears unlikely that a dispute over the candidacy of a Rapid City legislator will be resolved before Tuesday's general election.
Rapid City businesswoman Stephanie Strong earlier sued Secretary of State Jason Gant, alleging he improperly approved Rep. Brian Gosch as a candidate despite an issue with Gosch's nominating petitions.
Strong wants a judge to force Gant to remove Gosch from the ballot. Gosch calls it "a groundless charge politically timed as a smear campaign."
A judge granted a request by Attorney General Marty Jackley to move the lawsuit from Rapid City to Sioux Falls. Strong has now appealed to the state Supreme Court.
Jackley and Gosch's attorney, Sara Frankenstein, contend that Strong missed the deadline for making an appeal and filed it in the wrong venue.
