3RD DISTRICT CANDIDATE ED MARTIN RESPONDS TO TODD LALLY'S POLITICAL PLOY

3rd District Libertarian candidate Ed Martin was served with papers today and has to appear in Court on Monday concerning his petition filing for his candidacy. The charges were brought about by Todd Lally insider, and supporter, David Caldwell. if the rumored info I am getting from multiple sources withn the GOP can be confirmed it appears this was set in motion by certain leaders within the local GOP with full approval from Todd Lally.

As I mentioned here, Louisville News and Politics: 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HEATS UP: REPUBLICAN PARTY ONCE AGAIN GOES AFTER THE LIBERTARIAN CAN...,Lally privately has expressed great concern about Ed Martin being in the race even asking what it would take to get him out of the race so the vote doesn't split. I told Todd personally that I would have no idea what it would take, or if it was possible, but I knew one thing.

He would gain respect by calling Ed Martin like a man and discuss it.

Apparently today he has decided to try and get him out of the race by using David Caldwell, Lally loyalist, to file a suit challenging Martin's candidacy. So much for manning up apparently.

Lally has hinted for months that he wanted Martin out of the race to protect any votes he felt he may get. In June Lally's campaign manager was singing a different tune by stating “At this critical junction in our country’s history, we need people with great ideas and we want to welcome Mr. Martin to the race,” Lally’s campaign manager Jay Hill told cn2 Politics after Martin filed back in June. “Because in the long run this race is about Americas future and we need all the ideas we can get.”

This clearly shows they knew as much as 2 months ago that Martin was in the race so why now? Because as of yesterday NO ONE can be added to the ballot period. By trying to get rid of Martin they can keep others off the ballot and protect from any vote split. No doubt it was purely intentional and was timed that way.

And Lally is not a typical politician? Looks like that high priced consultant he was forced to hire from Washington is trying to earn his money but I digress.

Meanwhile Martin just sent this release:

Ed Martin, Libertarian candidate for Congress, Responds to Lawsuit

On Tuesday, Aug 24, Libertarian candidate for the 3rd District Congressional seat currently held by John Yarmuth, received notice of a motion for an expedited hearing relating to the petition filing for his congressional race. The complaint was vague, but apparently challenges Martin’s place on the upcoming general election ballot.

Martin says he’s not even sure of the basis of the challenge.

“At this point, no cause of action or claim is stated in the complaint,” he said. “I’m at a loss right now as to what their claim is.”

Martin is registered as a Libertarian and filed for the 3rd District race as the Libertarian candidate. The Libertarian Party of Kentucky is not recognized as a “party” but as a political group.

Martin collected more than the required 400 petition signatures to get his name on the November ballot.

A supporter of Republican candidate Todd Lally filed the suit. Recent talk of Martin pulling votes away from Lally in the media apparently spooked the GOP candidate. Martin Campaign Chair Ron Seiter said the move shows the desperation of the Lally campaign, noting that the new Republican strategy apparently consists of suing the competition off the ballot.

“The GOP of this city has sunk to a new low,” Seiter said. “For them to be wasting their time suing my candidate off the ballot is laughable. Shouldn't they be focusing on getting more of their own people to come out to their events and actually campaigning, instead of using underhanded tactics to attack a volunteer grassroots campaign with virtually no budget?”

This from a Lally campaign that initially welcomed Martin to the race.

“At this critical junction in our country’s history, we need people with great ideas and we want to welcome Mr. Martin to the race,” Lally’s campaign manager Jay Hill told cn2 Politics after Martin filed back in June. “Because in the long run this race is about Americas future and we need all the ideas we can get.”

Martin is scheduled to appear in court Monday morning.

“Hopefully, that will put this thing to rest,” Martin said. “I don’t believe it has any merit.”

Related link: http://apps.sos.ky.gov/elections/candidatefilings/statewide/default.aspx?cand=3315

Stay tuned folks. The Repubs did this in 2008 and Martin won his court case but it was too late for the ballot. It appears the plan is the same this time.