Erin Collier
Congressional candidate Erin Collier will remain on the ballot for the June 26 Democratic congressional primary by just 201 nominating petition signatures, according to the state Board of Elections.
Following a challenge to her nominating petitions, state BOE staff on Monday determined that 1,451 of her signatures were indeed valid. The minimum requirement is 1,250 valid signatures. Collier submitted 2,473 signatures, but Barbara Sales, a town of Gardiner Democratic committeewoman, challenged all but 284.
At a BOE staff review, with both sides represented by attorneys, staff went over Collier’s petitions line by line and found only 1,022 “good objections,” according to a spokesperson. The four-member (bipartisan) board of elections commissioners is expected to confirm staff recommendations on Thursday, May 3. The deadline for a court appeal is May 7.
None of the petitions from the six other Democratic candidates were challenged.
Collier of Cooperstown, the only woman in the seven-person race, said via a press release that she was “thrilled” she will be on the ballot, and “proud to keep a woman in this race and at the table.” She called the challenge “a distraction.” Sales said it was “about getting it right.”
The primary for the Democratic line on November’s ballot will be held June 26.