Minnesota Congressman Gil Gutknecht, Republican, didn’t follow the rules. He was supposed to have 1000 signatures on a petition before he could have his name placed on the ballot. This wasn’t necessary because the state law allows candidates who have been nominated by a major party to simply pay a $300.00 filing fee instead.
However, to show how frugal he is Gutknect has always turned in petitions instead of paying the fee. The law requires one or the other. But the law also requires that petitions be signed only during the two weeks of the filing period. I got 1,250 signatures singlehandedly in that time. Believe me, if I could have started earlier I would have. I raced to beat the deadline.
Tightwad Gutknecht began having the petitions signed in February, four months prematurely. Even so he only had 1,626 signatures. That’s only 374 more than I had. Apparently he didn’t pay the fee. He met neither criteria for being placed on the ballot. Taken to court to keep his name on the primary ballot (since he didn’t abide by the law) the courts let his name stay on it.
I think the courts should refund me the time (and the money I spent on sunblock) to petition unless, that is, it is only independents who have to follow the rules. .
It just goes to show that if you’re somebody who’s been playing the game, all of the players conspire to keep you in it, and other people out of it. More proof of the insiders making the rules so that they can stay inside.