Ogonowski Fails To Get Enough Signatures…
by Matt Margolis, June 3rd, 2008 at 12:59pm
*** UPDATED *** SEE BELOW ***
From the campaign this morning:
Despite what you may have read, I am proud to tell you that I will be turning in more than the required 10,000 certified signatures to get on the ballot. I am thankful to the 22,000 people across Massachusetts who signed my nomination papers and for all the hard work of the town clerks who had to go through all the names and certify them.But there is a down side. Through this process, I have seen the underbelly of politics and the win-at-all-costs mentality that has tarnished the American election process. My character and integrity have been called into question. On blogs, you will find accusations and procedural and legal threats to prevent your right to vote and my access to the ballot. You will find an attempt to disenfranchise the voters not through the process, but through intimidation.
The ease of which my opposition has distorted the facts and has created lies and innuendo to attempt to keep me off the ballot just illustrates why most Americans do not trust politicians and why Congress has such a low approval rating.
Ballot access is a fundamental American right and my opposition is trying to deny people the right to choose their nominee. Instead he wants to resort to gutter politics, character assassinations, legal maneuvering and questionable tactics. This is not what this process was intended to accomplish. Our system was created so that any individual could have a chance to represent his community - not as a platform to deny access through false accusations.
I take great offense to these recent attacks on my character and I will not sit idly by. I have always served with honor, and I continue to do so.
This is the politics as usual mentality that I am fighting against in this campaign. We have a Washington that has become too big, too corrupt, and too controlled by special interests. The people are demanding change and I am listening.
I proudly served my country in the military for over 28 years. The Ogonowski family has had more than 20 members serve our country in the military and I have been deeply ingrained with a commitment to public service. I wish to continue my service to America in the United States Senate. I firmly believe that the foundation of democracy is the right to vote and the right for people to participate in Government. I will not allow anyone to take away your right to vote. It is what our forefathers fought and died for and it is what we continue to fight for today.
I will be on the ballot and I will win in November. I want to thank the large majority of communities who have followed the law and worked to enforce the process in the proper way. I thank those in the Secretary of State’s Office who have done the same. Lastly, I want to thank all of you. I look forward to campaigning this summer and hearing all of your ideas for bringing positive change to Massachusetts.
On to November!
Sincerely,
Jim Ogonowski
UPDATE: The campaign subsequently released the following statement:
“Earlier today, the Ogonowski Campaign released a statement signifying that more than 10,000 certified signatures would be submitted on behalf of Jim Ogonowski to the Secretary of State’s Office. That statement was accurate and those signatures were delivered. However, when submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office we were notified that some town clerks had erred and had not properly signed the nomination papers. These papers were corrected by the clerks but were unable to be returned to the Secretary of State’s Office by 5pm. The removal of those certified signatures from our totals, thereby dropped us below the threshold needed to qualify for the ballot. Previously, the campaign had made a conscious decision not to challenge questionable activity at town clerks offices, because it felt it would be unnecessary. This activity included: missing signature sheets, sheets mailed to Jim before being picked up eliminating the possibility of a review, and great disparity between original claims of initial signature counts and actual totals. However, due to today’s developments, the campaign will be reviewing its options on the matter.
We appreciate your patience as we review those options. This will be the only statement from the campaign this evening.”
More as this develops.
UPDATE: The Hill reports.
Massachusetts Republican Senate candidate Jim Ogonowski has failed to qualify for the ballot, likely costing the GOP one of its few takeover opportunities in 2008.
Ogonowski’s campaign said in a statement that it delivered the required 10,000 signatures to the Massachusetts Secretary of State, but that several town clerks “had erred and had not properly signed the nomination papers.”In the end, the campaign was just 30 signatures short.
UPDATE: Jeff Beatty thanks his campaign’s supporters for getting him on the ballot…
Entry Filed under: Senate Race 2008
9 Comments
1. Bob | June 3rd, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I would say this was a LITTLE early!!!
OGO is a NOGO
2. John K | June 3rd, 2008 at 10:41 pm
http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/ogonowski-fails-to-make-ballot-vs.-kerry-2008-06-03.html
Ogonowski fails to make ballot vs. Kerry
By Aaron Blake
Posted: 06/03/08 09:20 PM [ET]
Who is right?
3. Peter Porcupine | June 3rd, 2008 at 11:47 pm
So now - can we discuss the candidate who delivered 17,000 CERTIFIED signatures - and not at 3 pm on the last day?????
Jeff Beatty will DEFEAT JOHN KERRY!
4. Mr. X | June 4th, 2008 at 10:15 am
has anybody asked the R state committe if they helped/ monitored/advised OGO on the signature drive? Their necks sre in the noose as well…Hello Peter? Hello MRSC? Good food around North Station eh?
5. Cape Cod Carl | June 4th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Choke-onowski… The candidate failed his first test (actually second test, as he apparently got his shoes on the correct feet). This is inexcusable lameness. Why would anyone want a Senator who flubbed the figgin’ ballot signature process???
6. Peter Porcupine | June 5th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Actually, Mr. X, Mass GOP was OFFICIALLY NOT involved, as this was a contested primary. Each side had their questions answered, but neither was shepherded or had their hand held. The Chairman and Staff were enjoined from involvement, per the Mass GOP bylaws. Individual SC members WERE involved, and their respective choices profited from their advice.
So how is the neck in the noose, exactly?
7. Phil | June 5th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
so to recap: “some town clerks (democrats) had erred (cheated)”. It’s pretty sad that John Kerry and his moonbat cronies would resort to cheating. But what do you expect from a far left Senator that has accomplished nothing in decades?
8. Towney007 | June 5th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Well, chalk another ‘victory’ up for the state committee. Is that like 6,000 promising candidates they’ve helped guide to career destruction now?
“Actually, Mr. X, Mass GOP was OFFICIALLY NOT involved, as this was a contested primary. Each side had their questions answered, but neither was shepherded or had their hand held. The Chairman and Staff were enjoined from involvement, per the Mass GOP bylaws. Individual SC members WERE involved, and their respective choices profited from their advice.”
…..so the SC WAS involved, just not officially. Well, then. That certainly makes it all better.
And as for ‘profiting from the advice of the state committee’, I’m sure Jim Oginowski would probably disagree with that.
We’ve got a Democratic diddler that just stepped down from the State Senate in disgrace leaving the seat on a silver platter to be taken by Republicans, and we’re STILL talking about Jeff Beatty and Jim Oginowski and running for a US Senate seat neither guy has any shot at winning so the dweebs at the SC can remind us how ‘important’ they are.
9. Mr.X | June 8th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Mr. X was correct as usual,thanks Towney007,just needed a little clarification…reminds me of former GOP Chair John Sears (now there’s a real Yankee!) who said that the problem with the R party in MA is that they consider running for US Senate/Governor as an entry level position. Farm Team? Farm Team? We don’t need no stinkin’ farm team!