City Attorney Tom Carpenter notified the mayor and city board of directors last night that Circuit Judge Jay Moody has ruled that Adam Lansky will be added to the ballot as a candidate for at-large position 8. Moody ruled that Kaitlin Lott, who with Lansky had sought a ruling that the city erred in not certifying their names on the general election ballot, did not qualify. She had filed to run for position 10.
At issue were whether petitions submitted by Lansky and Lott to be candidates for two at-large positions on the board had the minimum number of 50 registered voters to be placed on the ballot. Some who signed the petitions gave addresses that were not the address of record in the Pulaski County clerk’s office, and the city clerk disqualified four names from Lansky’s petitions and three from Lott’s.
Though the addresses weren’t a match with records, the fact that the signers were registered voters brought his count to 50. One of the signers of Lott’s petition did not include an address at all, leaving her with 49 signatures.
The judge has not yet issued an order in the case, but will today, his clerk said. Carpenter said Lott may appeal to the state Supreme Court. Because the ballots are to be printed tomorrow, the appeal would be expedited. Carpenter has not yet recommended to the city whether to appeal the decision on Lansky.
Lansky will face incumbent Dr. Dean Kumpuris and Lynette Bryant for the position 8 seat. The Position 10 is held by Joan Adcock; she will face Robert Webb. Ironically, one of contested signatures was Webb’s; he signed with his correct address, but courthouse records had not been updated and had him registered at his former address.
UPDATE: Here’s the judge’s order.