Judge Patey will not be placed back on the ballot
MADISON COUNTY, Tenn. – Madison County Administrator of Elections Lori Lott confirmed on Friday, March 6, that Judge Mark Patey will remain off the ballot for the upcoming primary elections. He will not be able to run as Madison County General Sessions judge as a Republican.
Patey was among three candidates removed from the ballot after the Tennessee Republican Party deemed them to not be “bona fide” Republicans and, as a result, were ineligible to run for office as a Republican in the primary.
The other two candidates removed were Lance Miller (running for District 6 Position 1) and Wesley Doyle (running for District 10 Position 3). Miller was placed back on the ballot this week, according to Lott.
Doyle was not placed back on it.
According to the Tennessee Republican Party bylaws, a “bona fide Republican” is defined as an individual who a) is actively involved in the Tennessee Republican Party, the county Republican Party of the county in which the individual resides, or a TRP-recognized auxiliary organization, b) is registered to vote in the above-noted county; and c) who has voted in at least three (3) of the four (4) most recent statewide Republican primary elections in which he is eligible to vote.” – ARTICLE IX of the Bylaws and Rules of the Tennessee Republican Party
Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden said the candidate had a week to meet the standards of the party in order to be placed back on the ballot following the removal.
Golden said all candidates seeking a Republican nomination in the state were examined to confirm their bona fide status.
“For the first time in the history of the Tennessee Republican Party the State Executive Committee voted to examine the bona fide standards of each of the almost 2,500 local candidates seeking a Republican nomination. Those requirements are voting in Republican primaries, being active with our parties and candidates, and being registered with TNGOP,” said Golden. “If a candidate missed any of those qualifiers, they were given an opportunity to submit additional information and possibly be granted a waiver from the State Executive Members. Persons not receiving a waiver were removed from the May Republican Primary.”
Patey issued a statement last week following notification that he was removed from the ballot that said, in part, “it is an honor to serve Madison County as a Judge. I am grateful to the Republican Caucus and the Madison County Commission for their confidence in appointing me to this position. For 46 years, I have proudly been a Republican – even when it wasn’t popular in Madison County. I have supported our party financially, personally, and publicly. My record speaks for itself.”
If the candidate does not meet the requirements and is not granted a waiver by the party then the candidate will not be placed back on the ballot.
Lott said there was not a date when the county will finalize and certify the ballot. The ballot must be finalized before March 21st.
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