NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) - Sugarcreek’s mayor has lost his chance to get on the November ballot as an incumbent. 

Clayton Weller’s candidate petition was initially rejected by the board of elections back in August for being incomplete, and the 5th District Court of Appeals has upheld that decision in an expedited ruling issued Monday. County Attorney Bob Stephenson says the court’s reasoning lines up with the board of election’s argument.

“Basically, they ruled that that portion of the papers was invalid, that there was no valid nominating petition, no substantial compliance, so he’s lost his bid at getting back on the ballot,” he explains.

Weller declined to comment on the decision. Stephenson says Weller’s appeal argued that his petition was adequate despite the portion left blank.

“He felt it was substantial compliance because largely the information in the declaration of candidacy is repeated in the nominating portion, meaning that the electors that signed the petition knew what the petition was about, that he was running again for mayor of Sugarcreek and they felt that he was well qualified,” he says.

Board of Elections Director Gail Garbrandt says Weller’s rejection means Sugarcreek has only one write-in candidate running for mayor in November.

“If you do not know who the write-in candidate is for the mayor of the Village of Sugarcreek, you can ask the precinct officials at the polling place to let you see the list of write-in candidates,” she says.

Another rejection appeal filed by New Philadelphia school board hopeful Sheila Martin is still being weighed in the 5th district court.  

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