Published: August 01, 2008 11:56 pm      

Navarro, Moore will be on ballot

Both candidates for Clark County’s Circuit Court Judge seat will be on the ballot this November, following a pair of votes by the Indiana Election Commission on Friday.

After an hour-long hearing in Indianapolis, the commission voted 4-0 to throw out a challenge to the candidacy of Republican Abe Navarro, which had been made by Democrats. It then voted 4-0 to allow Democrat candidate Dan Moore on the ballot, despite technical errors.

The Indiana Secretary of State's Election Office last month threw out the Clark County Democratic Party's request to nominate attorney Dan Moore because chairman Rod Pate filed caucus paperwork late.

After Moore’s candidacy was thrown out, he and Pate challenged whether or not Navarro and Republican Party Chairman David Buskill had filed their paperwork properly.

The commission acknowledged that there were technical problems with Moore’s filing, said attorney Mike Gillenwater, who was representing Moore and Pate.

However, he said, they interpreted filing rules in a way that gave voters a choice.

“They wanted to give the voters of Clark County a choice,” Gillenwater said, noting that he was satisfied with the ruling.

“That’s all we ever wanted to do was give the voters a choice.”

Larry Wilder, an attorney representing Navarro and Buskill, called the ruling a vindication for his clients.

Attempts to reach both Moore and Navarro for comment on the ruling were unsuccessful.

Democrats picked Moore as their candidate during a caucus in June. Moore had also ran in the primary election for Superior Court 3, but was beaten by Jerry Jacobi. He also serves as the attorney for the Clark County Commissioners.

Navarro is already on the bench. He was appointed by Gov. Mitch Daniels, a fellow Republican, after the retirement of Judge Daniel Donahue earlier this year.