FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :    Thursday, August 28, 2014
CONTACT:  Sara Rabern (605) 773-3215   

 
Federal Court Dismisses Candidate for Public Utilities Commissioner Ballot Challenge

PIERRE, S.D –  Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today that the Federal District Court has ruled that Ryan Gaddy will not be placed on the November general election ballot as a candidate for Public Utilities Commissioner.
 
The Court upheld the South Dakota statute that requires candidates to be members of the party from which they are nominated as constitutional. The Court found that requiring a candidate to switch party affiliation prior to nomination imposed only a minimal burden.  Our United States Supreme Court has recognized state legislatures’ need for such minimal ballot requirements in that “It preserves political parties as viable and identifiable interest groups, enhances parties electioneering and party building efforts and guards against party raiding and ‘sore loser’ candidacies by spurned primary contenders.” 

-30-