By Anthony DeMatteo
Staff Writer
With a circuit court judge’s order Wednesday, the field of candidates for City Council grew larger.
Judge Bernard Nachman of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court declared invalid Wednesday a ordinance by the Jacksonville City Council requiring council candidates to obtain signatures of 3 percent of their district’s registered voters.
The ruling came as a result of a suit filed by Dave Baldwin, who had submitted signatures of at least the 1 percent of the voters in District 2 he said state law required him to produce to be placed on the ballot.
“He now qualifies and so do seven others,” said Baldwin’s lead counsel, Leslie Goller.
Baldwin was not available for comment late Wednesday.
Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland said Nachman validated the original intent of legislation his office took to the Council.
“We are pleased that the judged ruled what our original legislation intended,” said Holland.
Holland said though it was Baldwin’s suit, the seven other candidates who met the 1 percent, but not the 3 percent, requirement will be on the ballot.
One of the candidates, who paid a fee to be on the ballot, will get a refund.
“The judge has made a ruling that is very clear,” said Holland. “We will act constitutionally and apply it evenly.”
Goller’s co-counsel, Jimmy Midyette Jr., said he was pleased that Nachman declared the Council’s ordinance “unconstitutional” by state and federal standards.
“We feel really good” said Midyette. “We feel like justice was vindicated and are very pleased with the judge’s ruling.”
Midyette is also running for City Council, in District 9.