Representative sues Secretary of State for not taking his Senate application

Rep. Courtney Curtis filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against The Missouri Democratic Party, Stephen Webber, the chairman of Missouri Democratic Party, and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.

Curtis claimed on March 27, he attempted to file his declaration of candidacy as a Democratic candidate for the August 2018 primary for the 14th Senate District. However, court documents state that the improper actions of the Missouri Democratic Party, Webber, and Ashcroft, he was denied the opportunity to file.

Curtis is requesting a writ of mandamus, where the Missouri Democratic Party and the Secretary of State is required to fulfill their officials duties.

Court documents state that when Curtis presented his declaration and filing fees to a Missouri Democratic Party official he was denied her signature because of outstanding fines with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Curtis said the outstanding fines were under appeal and it should not stop him from paying his filing fee and submitting his declaration of candidacy to the Secretary of State.

Curtis’ attorneys said the representative then went to the Secretary of State’s office to present his declaration but he was once again denied his process request.

Curtis said he went back to the Missouri Democratic Party table to make a final plea. During his conversation with one official, another official came out of her office and closed the office door because it was the close of the filing.

The lawsuit claims that the Secretary of State has no authority to judge the qualifications of a candidate beyond the statements made on the candidate’s declaration of filing.

Curtis wants the Court to command the respondents of the lawsuit to accept his declaration of candidacy and his filing fee.