As most Saints fans know, there is a time each season when weaker players are eliminated before the roster is complete. In politics, that time is this week.
Now that qualifying for the fall elections has ended, candidates are being scrutinized by their opponents and election experts to determine if they meet all the qualifications of candidacy.
As part of the qualifying process, every applicant who wants to run must complete a notice of candidacy. The prospective candidate must attest under oath as to their voter registration, legal domicile, political party affiliation (if any), and confirm that their state taxes have been filed timely in each of the last five years – a requirement under state law. Failure to answer any of these questions correctly puts the candidate at risk of a legal challenge in civil district court, the eventual outcome of which could mean elimination from the race.
Court challenges are becoming more popular as the costs of campaigning and the time involved continue to increase. The deadline to file challenges against the current candidates in the October election is Friday, July 18.
