By Mike Gellatly
For those following at home, it seems Deedee Vaughters and Charles Barton are officially candidates - but you'll have to take their lawyers' word for it.
Tuesday saw another chapter come to a close in the turbulent campaigns of Vaughters, a candidate for S.C. Senate District 26, and Barton, County auditor candidate, as Judge Doyet "Jack" Early told attorneys that their clients' candidacy was legitimate.
Both Vaughters and Barton confirmed they learned from their attorneys that Early threw out the lawsuit aimed at ousting them from the November general election because they had not filed a Statement of Economic Interest at the exact same time they filed.
Early said Monday that he would email the parties on Tuesday morning with his decision; however, there was no order on file with the Clerk's Office at close of business or when Early left the Aiken County Judicial Complex at 4:40 p.m. on Tuesday.
"Justice had been served" was the opinion of Vaughters on Tuesday evening, saying that the decision gave all voters, regardless of party, a choice of candidates.
Vaughters described the lawsuit as an attempt to "kill the election" and proof that the "good old boy system is alive and well."
However, she presumed that this playing out in public has allowed others to see what she experiences on the campaign trail, Vaughters said.
Early is the most recent of several circuit court judges to have ruled that an SEI filed by candidates must, simply, be on file with the appropriate body when a candidate filed.
The plaintiffs, former Aiken County Auditor Jason Goings and S.C. GOP supporter Ronald Binns, seem to agree with a recent S.C. Supreme Court ruling that prospective candidates must resubmit a full, paper SEI at the exact time when a new position is being sought.
"It's a relief," said Matt Moore, executive director of the S.C. Republican Party. "Hopefully, we are nearing the end of these frivolous lawsuits."
Moore described the lawsuits as last-ditch efforts to disrupt the candidate process, specifically against Vaughters. However, he added that it is clear from what's happened that the law should be reviewed and a definitive directive be put in place for filing SEIs.
"All in all, I'm happy with the outcome," Barton said, but added that he did not want to say more before he had a chance to examine the judge's order.
Neither Jason Goings nor his attorney Bob Harte could be reached for comment. Binns' attorney Travis Player did not immediately respond to request for comment on Tuesday.
Staff writer Haley Hughes contributed to this report.![]()
For those following at home, it seems Deedee Vaughters and Charles Barton are officially candidates - but you'll have to take their lawyers' word for it.
Tuesday saw another chapter come to a close in the turbulent campaigns of Vaughters, a candidate for S.C. Senate District 26, and Barton, County auditor candidate, as Judge Doyet "Jack" Early told attorneys that their clients' candidacy was legitimate.
Both Vaughters and Barton confirmed they learned from their attorneys that Early threw out the lawsuit aimed at ousting them from the November general election because they had not filed a Statement of Economic Interest at the exact same time they filed.
Early said Monday that he would email the parties on Tuesday morning with his decision; however, there was no order on file with the Clerk's Office at close of business or when Early left the Aiken County Judicial Complex at 4:40 p.m. on Tuesday.
"Justice had been served" was the opinion of Vaughters on Tuesday evening, saying that the decision gave all voters, regardless of party, a choice of candidates.
Vaughters described the lawsuit as an attempt to "kill the election" and proof that the "good old boy system is alive and well."
However, she presumed that this playing out in public has allowed others to see what she experiences on the campaign trail, Vaughters said.
Early is the most recent of several circuit court judges to have ruled that an SEI filed by candidates must, simply, be on file with the appropriate body when a candidate filed.
The plaintiffs, former Aiken County Auditor Jason Goings and S.C. GOP supporter Ronald Binns, seem to agree with a recent S.C. Supreme Court ruling that prospective candidates must resubmit a full, paper SEI at the exact time when a new position is being sought.
"It's a relief," said Matt Moore, executive director of the S.C. Republican Party. "Hopefully, we are nearing the end of these frivolous lawsuits."
Moore described the lawsuits as last-ditch efforts to disrupt the candidate process, specifically against Vaughters. However, he added that it is clear from what's happened that the law should be reviewed and a definitive directive be put in place for filing SEIs.
"All in all, I'm happy with the outcome," Barton said, but added that he did not want to say more before he had a chance to examine the judge's order.
Neither Jason Goings nor his attorney Bob Harte could be reached for comment. Binns' attorney Travis Player did not immediately respond to request for comment on Tuesday.
Staff writer Haley Hughes contributed to this report.