By Brent Whiting
West Valley News
A Yuma lawmaker continues to wage a legal war against a West Valley man who is running for the Arizona Legislature as a supposed resident of District 13.
State Rep. Russ Jones, who lost in the Aug. 28 primary election, is hoping to win court orders that will disqualify Darin Mitchell, a Republican rival, and allow Jones to go before voters on Nov. 6 as a write-in candidate.
To do so, Jones also must overcome Arizona’s so-called “sore loser’s” law, a measure that prevents losers in a primary election from waging a write-in campaign in the subsequent general election.
“My primary goal is to make sure that justice is served on behalf of the voters of District 13,” and that voters, in fact, select a candidate who legally resides within the district,” Jones told the View.
The Arizona Court of Appeals is expected to hand down a decision Oct. 25 on whether Mitchell is eligible for office as a District 13 candidate.
The court will hear oral arguments on the issue at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 19.
Jones wants a court order that will block election officials from counting any votes for Mitchell that will be cast by voters in the Nov. 6 election.
