Judge delays Westville mayoral ballot challenge to July 29
A challenge to an independent candidate’s Westville mayoral nominating petitions has become mired in procedural delays, pushing a hearing until July 29 — 57 days after petitions were due and nearly seven weeks after the lawsuit was filed – leaving the incumbent uncontested and effectively denying a candidate valuable weeks of campaigning.
Stacey Murphy filed her petitions on June 1, one day before the filing deadline, with 84 signatures. An objection was filed on June 8, and Gloucester County Clerk James Hogan rejected the petitions on June 11, concluding Murphy fell four valid signatures short of the required 76. Murphy, who is representing herself, filed suit the next day challenging that determination.
The delay also came after Superior Court Judge Jean Chetney waited four weeks to hold the first hearing.
Chetney insisted Murphy comply with a court rule requiring proof of service to be filed at least three days before the hearing. Election law cases are typically handled on an expedited basis, and New Jersey courts have repeatedly held that election statutes should be liberally construed to protect ballot access where possible.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/judge-delays-westville-mayoral-ballot-challenge-to-july-29/