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Earl And Linnabary Off The Ballot

Two Libertarian candidates for statewide office in Ohio have been tossed from the May primary ballot by the state elections chief. 

Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted says today that he relied on the recommendations of hearing officer Bradley Smith, a former federal elections commissioner. Ohio Republican Chairman Matthew Borges recently told reporters the party played a role in protests filed against gubernatorial candidate Charlie Earl and attorney general candidate Steven Linnabary. Lawyers challenging Earl told Smith in hearings this week that Democrats helped fund and carry out his signature-gathering effort. Under Ohio law, petition circulators must be neutral or affiliated with a candidates' party. Earl's attorney has called the challenge an extension of Republican efforts to exclude third parties from Ohio's ballot. Earl tells Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler that if he doesn't feel he has recourse, he won't fight the decision. Earl stood to draw votes from Republican Gov. John Kasichas the governor faces a likely challenge from Democrat Ed FitzGerald this fall. 

Mike Foley joined WCBE in February 2000, coming from WUFT in Gainesville, Florida. Foley has worked in various roles, from producing news and feature stories to engineering Live From Studio A sessions. A series of music features Foley started in 2018 called Music Journeys has grown into a podcast and radio show. He also assists in developing other programs in WCBE's Podcast Experience. Foley hosts The Morning Mix, a weekday music show featuring emerging and established musicians, our Columbus-area and Ohio-based talent, and additional artists that inspire him.