This doesn't look good for State Rep. Joe Preston (D-24th District)

From City Paper's Slag Heap

In state House 24, Gainey alleges forgery by campaign of incumbent Preston

by Lauren Daley

Warm weather is finally here ... and so are the season's petition challenges!

In the state House race to represent District 24, the campaign of challenger Ed Gainey this morning trumpeted a legal challenge to the nominating petitions filed by longtime incumbent Joe Preston. Gainey supporters have asked Commonwealth Court to disqualify Preston, and in this morning's statement, the Gainey campaign accuses Preston's camp of forging signatures."

The [petition] objections allege two pages of signatures that are comprised entirely of signatures that are blatant forgeries," the press release states. "Submitting forged signatures displays a blatant disrespect to the voters in the district."

Were signatures forged? The court will have to decide, but you can come to your own conclusions: Here are four pages of contested signatures provided by Gainey's campaign. Judge for yourself.

Visit City Paper's Slag Heap for the full post.

Petition Challenges in Allegheny County - UPDATED

Here is a breakdown of the petition challenges in Allegheny County races. I have spoken out about petition challenges before. I think in general they are undemocratic and are usually based on technicalities of the circulators, notaries, or signers that fill out their address/name incorrectly. It is an insult to those that sign the petitions trying to get candidates on the ballot.

See the whole list here: 2012 Petition Objections

PA Congress:

12th District: The Mark Critz campaign is challenging Jason Altmire's petitions.

PA State House:

2oth District: The petitions of David Schuilenburg (Dem) are being challenged. The challenger's name is Robert Wilson and is the father of 2011 city council candidate Bobby Wilson. It appears to be the work of the Purcell campaign. Purcell has gone after candidates' petitions in the past.

22nd District: The petitions of Stephanie Crossey (Dem) and Shawn Lunny (Dem) are being challenged. Sources tell me that this is the Molchany campaign trying to setup a 1 on 1 race between her and Martin Schmotzer.

24th District: The petitions of Rep. Joe Preston (Dem), William Anderson (Dem), and Todd Koger (Dem) are being challenged. Looks like the Ed Gainey campaign is putting on a full court press.

33rd District: I read the Department of State's petition challenge incorrectly and thought that someone was running in the 33rd District for State House, but it was actually the 33rd District for State Senate. My apologizes to Rep. Frank Dermody for accusing him of challenging someone petitions when he had nothing to do with it.

45th District: The petitions of Maribeth Taylor (Dem) are being challenged by Rep. Nick Kotik. Rep. Kotik has also done this before against the same candidate.