Reply #15: Blackwell Says AFL-CIO Doesn't Have Enough Signatures

[dzika]

1/24/2005 9:02:15 AM

Blackwell Says AFL-CIO Doesn't Have Enough Signatures

The AFL-CIO is considering its options after Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell said it didn't have enough valid signatures to start a referendum process aimed at overturning Ohio's new campaign finance law.

Blackwell decided Thursday that the labor organization was 57 signatures short of the 100 required to begin the referendum process for the November ballot.

The law passed late last year quadruples contribution limits to $10,000, restricts county parties' campaign funds and bans third-party ads funded by unions and businesses 30 days before elections.

Carlo LoParo, a spokesman for Blackwell, said the AFL-CIO still can submit the 100 signatures. The union then would need 193,740 valid signatures of registered voters by March 30 to delay the new law and put the issue on the Nov. 8 ballot.

"We will not allow the secretary of states office to stop us," said Donald McTigue, the union's attorney.

McTigue, of Columbus, was one of 43 signatures rejected by Blackwell. Officials said his signature didn't match one on his voter-registration card or poll-registration lists.

McTigue argued Blackwell's office incorrectly told the elections board staff to compare signatures to those recorded on Election Day, instead of signatures on original voter registration cards.

LoParo said the union should take up that issue with the county board, not the secretary of state's office.

http://www.wcpo.com/news/2005/local/01/24/afl.html