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REPORTING FOR KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN. I’M JON GRINVALDS, THE NEBRASKA SUPREME COURT HAS RULED DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF MARK MARTINEZ WILL APPEAR ON THE BALLOT THIS ELECTION CYCLE. THAT DECISION COMES JUST DAYS AFTER THE DOUGLAS COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSIONER RULED THAT MARTINEZ DID NOT MEET THE CANDIDACY REQUIREMENTS. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S MADDIE AUGUSTINE IS ON THE LIVE DESK WITH MORE ON THIS OPINION. MADDY. YEAH. JULIE QUANECIA THE QUESTION THAT THIS ENTIRE DECISION IS CENTERED AROUND IS WHETHER SOMEONE WHO HAS AN INACTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER CERTIFICATE STILL MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER STATE LAW TO BE AN ELIGIBLE CANDIDATE FOR COUNTY SHERIFF. WITH THIS DECISION, THE NEBRASKA SUPREME COURT IS SAYING, YES, THEY DO. IN THE SUPREME COURT’S OPINION, JUSTICE WILLIAM CASTLE WRITES IN PART, QUOTE, THE LANGUAGE OF THE STATUTE IS PLAIN. IT DOES NOT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN AN ACTIVE OR INACTIVE CERTIFICATE. IT MERELY REQUIRES THAT THE CANDIDATE POSSESS A CERTIFICATE. THE DOUGLAS COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY CHALLENGED MARTINEZ’S CANDIDACY OVER THAT CERTIFICATE. MARTINEZ’S CAMPAIGN SHARED HIS CERTIFICATION FROM THE NEBRASKA LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER. IT WAS ACTIVE FROM 1984 TO 2009. THE DOUGLAS COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSIONER LATER RULED MARTINEZ WAS NOT ELIGIBLE. BUT AFTER TODAY’S SUPREME COURT RULING, DANIELLE JENSEN WROTE THAT SHE WELCOMED THE HIGH COURT’S ORDER AS SHE FOUND THE LANGUAGE IN THE STATE STATUTE TO BE UNCLEAR. MARTINEZ IS EXPECTED TO SPEAK WITH US TOMORROW MORNING. NEITHER HE NOR REPUBLICAN ERIN HANSON WILL APPEAR ON THE MAY BALLOT. THAT’S BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONLY CANDIDATE FOR THE RESPECTIVE POLITICAL PARTY A
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Nebraska Supreme Court says Mark Martinez can stay on ballot for Douglas County sheriff’s race, citing state statute
A Democratic candidate who was told he did not meet the candidacy requirements to run for Douglas County sheriff by the county election commissioner has now learned he does meet the requirements.Douglas County Election Commissioner Danielle Jensen ruled Mark Martinez did not meet the requirements to run, so Martinez filed a challenge to try to keep himself on the ballot. Previous coverage: Douglas County Election Commissioner says Democratic county sheriff candidate does not meet candidacy requirementsThis case stems from the Douglas County Republican Party, which filed a complaint against Martinez, alleging he did not have an active peace officer certificate.On Wednesday, the Nebraska Supreme Court determined he does meet qualifications to be on the ballot because the “unambiguous statute does not distinguish between an active and inactive certificate.”Since Martinez is the only Democratic candidate who filed for the sheriff’s race, he automatically advances to the general election. “I welcome the Nebraska Supreme Court’s order as I had determined the language in Nebraska Revised Statutes § 23-1701.01(1) was unclear due to questions raised in the objection to Martinez’s candidate filing,” Danielle Jensen, Douglas County Election Commissioner, said in a statement.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
A Democratic candidate who was told he did not meet the candidacy requirements to run for Douglas County sheriff by the county election commissioner has now learned he does meet the requirements.
Douglas County Election Commissioner Danielle Jensen ruled Mark Martinez did not meet the requirements to run, so Martinez filed a challenge to try to keep himself on the ballot.
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Previous coverage: Douglas County Election Commissioner says Democratic county sheriff candidate does not meet candidacy requirements
This case stems from the Douglas County Republican Party, which filed a complaint against Martinez, alleging he did not have an active peace officer certificate.
On Wednesday, the Nebraska Supreme Court determined he does meet qualifications to be on the ballot because the “unambiguous statute does not distinguish between an active and inactive certificate.”
Since Martinez is the only Democratic candidate who filed for the sheriff’s race, he automatically advances to the general election.
“I welcome the Nebraska Supreme Court’s order as I had determined the language in Nebraska Revised Statutes § 23-1701.01(1) was unclear due to questions raised in the objection to Martinez’s candidate filing,” Danielle Jensen, Douglas County Election Commissioner, said in a statement.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
