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Published: Saturday, 3/8/2014 - Updated: 3 days ago GENERAL ELECTION

BY JIM PROVANCE BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF

COLUMBUS Charlie Earl, the would-be Libertarian candidate for Ohio governor, was removed from the ballot Friday by Secretary of State Jon Husted.

The Republican secretary of state agreed with the findings of his hearing officer, Brad Smith, that petitions submitted by two professional signature gatherers, both independent contractors, were invalid because they did not note on the petitions who paid them, as required by state election law.

Attorney general candidate Steven R. Linnabary, a Columbus civil engineer, also was removed from the ballot. That means no Libertarian qualified for the ballot for any statewide office.

The deadline has already passed for write-in candidates to file with the secretary of states office for both offices, although the Libertarian Party did meet the deadline for write-in candidates for secretary of state and state auditor.

Mr. Husteds announcement came about an hour before the Libertarian Party of Ohio was set to launch its convention at a Worthington hotel, with Mr. Earl scheduled to be the luncheon speaker today.

Party spokesman Aaron Keith Harris said this decision will only fire up the crowd more.

This is a pattern of harassment from a party that is nothing but cowards and bullies, he said. They dont want Ohio voters to have an actual choice on the ballot this November. This will get overturned in federal court.

This is a decision from a [George W.] Bush guy from the [Federal Election Commission] for Husted and is a Republican mafia hit on voting rights in Ohio, Mr. Harris said.

See the article here:

Libertarian candidates off state ballot