Lashawn Hawkins announcing her candidacy for Gloversville councilwoman-at-large. (The Leader-Herald/Ashley Onyon)
JOHNSTOWN — The Democratic candidacy of Lashawn Hawkins for Gloversville councilman-at-large was tossed Tuesday by the Fulton County Board of Elections.
Republican Election Commissioner Lee Hollenbeck and Democratic Election Commissioner G. Jeremiah Ryan jointly ruled her Democratic election petition filed March 25 was invalid.
Ryan said Tuesday that the commissioners found that both pages of her election petition — in the witness section at the bottom — incorrectly identified Hawkins’ political party as “Democrat.” He said she is a registered Independent.
The technical issue — brought to the forefront through an official objection by Republican William Rowback Jr. — prevents Hawkins from being on the Nov. 2 general election ballot, at least as a Democrat.