By Taylor Seely | Arizona Republic
A northwest Valley resident who hoped to run for Surprise City Council was booted from the ballot on Thursday for not having enough valid nomination signatures.
Surprise City Hall.
This was the first legal challenge upheld in Maricopa County for the Aug. 2 election. Other challenges involving state and federal candidates have yet to play out.
At least a third of Kawika Henderson’s 265 signatures were invalid, according to a review by the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office. Problems included signees not registered to vote at the address listed or who lived outside of council District 5, where Henderson aimed to run against incumbent Jack Hastings.
Hastings challenged Henderson’s signatures, which prompted the county review that turned up 94 invalid signatures. Henderson needed at least 250 valid signatures.
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