Lebanon photographer and mayoral candidate Scott Church announced Thursday, March 20, that his bid for the Republican nomination may be waylaid by a petition challenge.
Church posted in a popular Facebook group Thursday morning and said that a petition challenge for 108 of 181 signatures submitted would likely block him from the ballot.
On Monday, March 17, Long-Brightbill attorney Greer Anderson filed petitions objecting to the petitions of Scott Church and cabinet designer Sharon Zook, another candidate, on behalf of incumbent Sherry Capello.
Church and Zook both told LebTown that they would be representing themselves in hearings scheduled Friday morning at the Lebanon County Courthouse. They, along with cafe owner Damian Vargas, are running against Capello for the GOP slot on this fall’s general election ballot for Lebanon city mayor.
Read More: Lebanon mayor race takes shape: Four to compete in GOP primary, one Dem files
In both cases, Anderson argues in the filings that deficiencies in signatures such as the electors not being registered properly or at all (such as at a different address, under a different party, or outside the city) would bring both Church and Zook below the 100 signature minimum required for city offices if they are invalidated by the court.
Church told LebTown that he was learning the process as he was doing it, and although he plans to attend the hearing and represent himself with whatever argument he possibly can, he may be outmatched by what he described as a “team of specialists” looking for infractions.
Church said also that he feels like it might be better for the city if it’s not a big massive contest over his inclusion on the ballot, and that he would have dropped out of the race at any point if asked to do so by Capello. Church said he thinks the incumbent mayor is a “really, really wonderful person” that’s tried her best, but that he wanted to do something to “jump-start people’s attitudes about this town.”
Whatever the outcome of the hearings, Church said that he hopes he made a positive impact on the race and the city, and pushed forward the idea of having the city say “yes” to a lot more people who want to do something. Church said he’s been given that opportunity many times over the three decades he’s been working in the city, but that he’s the oddball, not the example.
“I feel like if we try our best to make the oddball the example, then we’re going to attract a lot more oddballs and the city will be a lot more fun for everybody,” he said.
Church said he wasn’t complaining about the process, and he thinks it should be difficult as a sort of filtering mechanism for the person who can accomplish a difficult task – a necessary skill to inspire change and do the job well.
Church said that, although running for mayor right off the bat might have been ambitious, his candidacy still has a chance. Even if it is stalled by the petition challenge, he added, he’s going to keep working to get more involved with city government, and he won’t make the same mistakes twice.
“Getting involved in city government means getting involved in city government at any level you can,” he said. “I think I would have been a good mayor but I think I’m going to be a great city councilman.
“If things go my way tomorrow in court, I’m not even done running for mayor yet, but I’m realistic about the situation I’m in.”
Church’s hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday, March 21, in front of President Judge John C. Tylwalk, who will then preside over Zook’s hearing at 9:30 a.m.
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