Mark Fisher's Day In Court

For John, BLUF:  Subvert the current paradigm.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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It is still an open question as to if the Republicans here in the Commonwealth will have a primary contest for governor this fall.  We know Charlie Baker got enough votes at the State Convention, a couple of weeks ago.  What we don't know is if Mark Fisher got enough votes.

From The Lowell Sun is this State House News Service item from Reporter Andy Metzger, "Fisher ballot-access suit heads to trial June 18".

BOSTON -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Fisher's ballot access lawsuit against his party will go to trial June 18, according to a Wednesday ruling.

Front-running Republican candidate Charlie Baker received a sizable majority of the delegate vote at the GOP's March convention and, according to party officials, securing the party's endorsement and bouncing Fisher from the September ballot.

In the court ruling, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Douglas Wilkins said the facts alleged in Fisher's lawsuit indicate the party did not follow proper procedures when it determined Fisher had not received the 15 percent of the delegate vote necessary to continue in his campaign.

"No case cited by the parties goes so far as to hold that the constitution entitles party officials to deny a candidate ballot access on such facts - by violating an unambiguous party rule (Rule 6.1) and by arbitrarily changing their interpretation of the rules," Wilkins wrote, denying most of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee's move to dismiss the lawsuit.

I am not a lawyer, so maybe I am missing something, but I really liked this part.

"The constitutional rights of association belong to the Party and its delegates - not to party officials who, accepting the allegations of the complaint, acted contrary to unambiguous Party Rules and in an arbitrary and capricious manner."

Ah, to be a teacher of Government.

While it is possible that allowing this case to proceed is an evil plot by Democrat apparatchik, the cleaning value, from the perspective of those of us in the Grass Roots will be tremendous.  If Mark Fisher Republicans and Charlie Baker Republicans can unite after the primary we have a good shot at the corner office.

Regards  —  Cliff