Gene Rardin's case is STILL not considered settled.

[atommom]

Does anyone remember a case like this? Since a recount has been done and a judge has ruled, I'm not sure why the Republican House Speaker should also have to give his approval.

The matter now goes to House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, an Ingalls Republican who must appoint a committee to study the election challenge and issue a recommendation to the full House on whether Rardin can continue to serve.

Rardin said he was pleased with Tuesday's ruling.

"This is at least the third time now that this has been confirmed," he said.

Kriegshauser, also of Overland Park, led by 27 votes on election night. But when provisional ballots were counted, he fell behind Rardin by four votes. After the re-count, that narrowed to three. Kriegshauser then filed the lawsuit, which Tatum ruled on.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/16529934.htm

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Well at least it isn't being decided by the Jo Co GOP

That's how we got Phill and my new rep, Rev Ronnie.

[atommom]

2. That's true. Though it gave me a bad feeling when I read

that, depending on the recommendation the House leader gave, the Kansas House might vote on it.

[SheilaT]

3. The longer this goes on,

the more likely it is that Gene will stay in the state house. I got the impression -- from something Bill Roy Jr said at the most recent Second Saturday, that the judge was a little slow in announcing his ruling simply to give Gene time to be seated and to keep him in the legislature.

The Republicans could still, in theory, decide to seat Krigshauser rather than Gene, but with each day that passes it becomes more and more unlikely.

And here's a separate thought, that perhaps deserves its own thread, that some entity should have ready to go, as soon as Phill makes his first (next?) major screw-up, a full page add saying These Are the People Who Gave You Phill Kline and list all however many Republican precinct committee chairs by name. Which would perhaps emboldened those who did not vote for Phill as DA, to speak up.

[atommom]

4. The ad is a great idea! Phill has made so many enemies that

I'm sure the price of the ad could be raised pretty easily.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Wow what a great idea, Sheila!

I love it!!

[atommom]

6. Crap.

The Kansas House will review a Democratic member's two-vote victory in the November election.

Gene Rardin of Overland Park has represented the 16th District since the 2007 Legislature convened. But his GOP opponent, John Dennis Kriegshauser, hasn't conceded.

Election officials certified Rardin as the winner after a re-count, and a Johnson County judge confirmed that result.

But Kriegshauser's lawyer says at least three votes cast for Rardin shouldn't have been counted. That would give Kriegshauser a one-vote win out of more than 8,200 cast.

House Speaker Melvin Neufeld appointed a committee of three Republicans and three Democrats to review the evidence and make a recommendation to the House.

http://www.wibw.com/news/headlines/5422341.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Gee that sounds fair

NOT!!

[SheilaT]

8. And now various individual

absentee ballots are being opened and looked at to make sure they're counted correctly.

Yesterday, in my capacity as a notary public, I went with Bill Roy Jr to the house of a voter in Gene's district who'd voted by absentee ballot for her to sign an affidavit saying her ballot could actually be opened and looked at to make sure it was counted correctly. In an earlier affidavit she said she voted for Kriegshauser, but now they could actually open the ballot to make sure. She said that she was now sorry she'd voted for him. From what Bill Roy told me, there have been a number of such challenges and affidavits to open ballots.

Of course, the legislature could still decide to seat one of their own, but if that happens, we need to make sure every single vote Kriegshauser makes is front and center, since he'll side with the most conservative faction.

[atommom]

9. What a mess. I hope Gene isn't unseated.

I really don't want this to be decided by a vote in the Kansas House. :(