Technicality disqualifies Cheuvront from JP election

Veteran Democratic lawmaker Sen. Ken Cheuvront’s bid for justice of the peace was derailed on a technicality.

Cheuvront collected petition signatures using the wrong form. Instead of using the form for primary election candidates who belong to a party, such as the Arizona Democratic Party, Cheuvront used the form required for independent candidates in the general election.

That means the 797 signatures he collected are invalid, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Richard Gama ruled June 17.

As a Democrat, Cheuvront cannot be nominated as a candidate except through his party’s primary.

Cheuvront’s lawyers essentially asked the court on June 16 not to allow a technicality to outweigh the wishes of the people in the Encanto district for justice of the peace.

Attorney Rhonda Barnes sought to convince the court that the two petition forms are essentially identical in appearance and there is no voter confusion because it was clear Cheuvront was running as a Democrat for his party’s nomination by declaring his party affiliation when he talked to petitioners, by handing them literature that stated his party and by following up with a personalized letter that also reflected his party affiliation.

Susan Sain, a Democrat who challenged Cheuvront’s nominating petition on June 10, argued that the potential for voter confusion exists and that even the Maricopa County Elections Office is confused.

“We have to get it on the right form,” said Attorney Scott Williams. “Otherwise it invites voter confusion.”

Asked by Williams how her office would know which ballot Cheuvront’s name should appear, Maricopa County Elections Director Karen Osborne turned to Gama and said, “I’m hoping your honor will tell me.”