Acevedo off Allentown Council ballot as others face petition challenges
Luis Acevedo’s name will not appear on the Democratic ballot for Allentown City Council for the May 20 primary election, a Lehigh County judge ruled Wednesday.
Judge Douglas G. Reichley ordered Acevedo’s removal because his statement of financial interest was filed with the city past the March 11 deadline.
In addition to collecting valid signatures on nomination petitions, candidates must file a financial interest statement with the governmental body where they are seeking office. They must also attach a copy of the statement to the nomination petition they file with Lehigh County.
Acevedo’s challenge was filed by Allentown resident John Santana, whose evidence was an image showing the financial interest statement was received by the city clerk’s office at 5:39 p.m. on March 12.
“The judge ruled exactly how we expected,” Matthew Mobilo, Santana’s attorney, said in a text message.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, Acevedo said he would “proceed with a write-in campaign” for the Democratic nomination.
Acevedo was among eight Democrats who filed nomination petitions for four open seats on council.
The other candidates still on the ballot include incumbents Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks and Natalie Santos. Jeremy Binder, Christian Pungo, Patrick Palmer and Ben Stemrich are also running. No Republicans filed nomination papers.
Challenging nominating petitions is a longtime campaign strategy that has been used more frequently in recent elections.
Acevedo is among at least 10 candidates who saw their nomination petitions challenged in Lehigh County Court.
They include Solomon Tembo, who is seeking to be on the Republican ballot for Allentown mayor. His nomination petition shows he listed a Salisbury Township address for his residence. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
On Wednesday, Betsey Charles was ordered to be removed from the Republican ballot for Whitehall Township commissioner over a signature on her nomination petition and her financial statement of interest.
A hearing for a challenge to Thomas Slonaker’s bid to be on the Democratic ballot for treasurer/tax collector in Whitehall Township was delayed until Monday. The challenge was filed by incumbent Democrat Tina Jo Koren, who is seeking a second term. She is alleging Slonaker failed to file a financial statement. He did, however, file one on time with Lehigh County on March 4.
Other candidates facing challenges are Parkland School Board candidates Mike Millo and David Caruth, Southern Lehigh School Board candidate James Pica, and South Whitehall commissioner candidate Sharon Fehlinger Ricker. Incumbent Jacob Hammond and candidate Derek Kirsopp have filed challenges against each other for magistrate in district 31-2-02, which covers South and North Whitehall townships.