JERSEY CITY – Denis Wilbeck, candidate for the 31st Assembly District, has filed a show cause claim in Superior Court, asking that incumbent Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell be thrown off the ballot because he allegedly failed to meet the filing criteria.
Superior Court Judge Maurice J. Gallipoli agreed to hear arguments Friday as to whether or not O’Donnell met the state criteria for filing as a candidate.
Wilbeck contends that O’Donnell is required to submit petition signatures in order to qualify to run in the special election. O’Donnell when reached for comment said he had prepared the signatures, but was told by legal counsel that they were not required. This was confirmed by the state elections office which said Democratic Committee members for the 31st district had selected O’Donnell as their candidate, exempting him from needing petition signatures. Republican Joseph Turula, who had also gathered the signatures, was also exempted for the same reason.
Wilbeck contents that the provision does not apply to a special election and that O’Donnell should be dropped from the ballot.
The court could rule not to drop O’Donnell, allowing his candidacy to remain, or it could void his votes, giving the election victory to the second highest vote-getter. Also running in his election is Independent Democrat Robert Mays.