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Watertown Councilman Olney refiles motion to have election challenge reheard

Watertown Councilman Olney refiles motion to have election challenge reheard

Yahoo28-05-2025
May 28—WATERTOWN — City Councilman Cliff G. Olney III is continuing his efforts in court to secure a spot on the ballot as he runs for reelection.
He refiled a motion seeking to have a state Supreme Court judge reconsider a ruling that a legal challenge of a Jefferson County Board of Elections determination that he did not have enough valid signatures on his campaign petitions was not filed in a timely manner.
Olney initially filed suit asking to have his petitions reviewed by the court after it was determined he lacked the required minimum number of signatures to be on the upcoming June 24 City Council ballot.
While Judge James P. McClusky did rule that Olney had enough signatures to be on the ballot, he subsequently dismissed Olney's complaint because it had not been served on the defendants in a timely manner.
Olney, who contended he followed the court's timeline when serving the papers, filed a motion to have the matter reconsidered. Judge McClusky declined the request, ruling that Olney did not abide by state Civil Practice Laws and Rules when filing his motion for reconsideration.
Olney, who is acting as his own attorney in the matter, has now refiled the motion, indicating that he has corrected any procedural error in his filings.
Judge McClusky has scheduled an order to show cause hearing for June 5.
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