MARIETTA STAYS ON BALLOT

AS DEMOCRAT, JUDGE RULES

COOPERSTOWN – In a decision filed today, Administrative Judge Robert Mulvey ruled that Andrew Marietta’s name will remain on the Democratic line for District 8 county representative in the Nov. 3 elections.

He is running against county Rep. Rick Hulse, R-8.

The judge found Marietta’s petitions, which had been challenged by Lynn Krogh, Republican County Committee secretary and wife of GOP County Chairman Vince Casale, were valid.  Casale did not return a phone call this evening asking if he plans to challenge Mulvey’s opinion.

Arguments were presented last Thursday in Courtroom #1 of the Otsego County Courthouse, with the Republicans represented by attorney Bryon McKim, Balston Spa, and the Democrats by Carol Malz, Oneonta.

CLICK HERE TO REVIEW TEXT OF JUDGE MULVEY’S DECISION

During the hearing, McKim said that the GOP was no longer challenger the signature of Patrick Dewey, Cooperstown, whose cerebral palsy caused him to place his mark — a straight line — affirmed by a rubber stamp of his name.

Instead, arguments focused on the number “13” at the bottom of the Dewey petition, which had been circulated by his fellow CCS ’15 graduate, Christina Noto.  Mulvey concluded the Noto petition, bolstered by an affidavit, was valid.