State Rep. Payton withdraws
STATE REP. Tony J. Payton Jr. withdrew from the April 24 Democratic primary Thursday evening, after a two-day Commonwealth Court hearing made clear that he didn't have enough valid signatures on his nominating petitions to stay on the ballot.
Payton submitted 1,854 signatures in his bid for a fourth two-year term representing the 179th District - but a line-by-line examination of those names, with the help of a handwriting analyst, resulted in most being disqualified.
The legal challenge against Payton was filed by Doris Robinson, a Democratic committeewoman in the 23rd Ward.
Payton claimed the challenge was spurred by Robinson's ward leader, former City Councilman Dan Savage, who lost his City Hall post to Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez in 2007 and lost a bid to retake the Council seat from her last year.
more: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20120323_State_Rep__Payton_withdraws.html
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