Bid to scrub Gutknecht from ballot fails

08/23/2006

The Minnesota Supreme Court heard arguments this morning in a case that could result in U.S. Rep. Gil Gutknecht’s name being dropped from the primary ballot.

Associated Press
Last update: August 22, 2006 – 2:48 PM

The state Supreme Court says that Congressman Gil Gutknecht can keep his place on the Republican ballot in the September primary election.

After hearing arguments this morning the high court rejected a challenge to the petitions Gutkneckt used to qualify.

At the hearing this morning a DFL lawyer argued that Gutknecht’s signatures shouldn’t count because some were gathered well before a two-week candidate filing period. Chief Justice Russell Anderson rejected that argument in a one-paragraph decision, but didn’t explain the court’s reasoning.

Candidate Gregory Mikkelson is challenging Gutknecht in the Republican primary. Democratic candidate Tim Walz is unopposed in his party’s primary.