After a court hearing that lasted nearly eleven hours, independent presidential candidate Peter Sonski is dangerously close to being tossed off the ballot in New Jersey.
Administrative Law Judge Judith Lieberman has rejected approximately 167 signatures from Sonski’s nominating petition, leaving the American Solidarity Party candidate roughly 19 signatures away from being not qualifying for the general election. Subject to a final tally, there are about 88 more signatures left to review.
Independent presidential candidates need 800 valid signatures for ballot access in New Jersey.
Lieberman adjourned the slow but thorough court hearing at 12:16 AM, and will be back at 10 AM.
The Bergen County Young Republicans have filed a contest to Sonski, with political operative Tim Walsh conducting the challenge. Morris Plains attorney Wayne Paulter is representing Sonski. The Solidarity Party candidate for vice president, Lauren Onak, attended the hearing
Lieberman reserved a decision on thirteen petition signatures.
On Monday afternoon, Lieberman also extended the deadline to repair technical deficiencies to the petition, and permitted some petition packets to be accepted without being notarized since the circulator, Lee Evans, an Arkansas-based political consultant, had some of his pages notarized.
A former town selectman and school board member in Connecticut, Sonski supports a Christian democracy and is campaigning as a pro-life, anti-gay marriage candidate. He has qualified to be on the ballot in only Arkansas and Hawaii.