Appeal filed to state Supreme Court over Buchtan蘑菇视频 residency
Three Republican voters challenging Al Buchtan’s candidacy for state Senate over questions about his residency are appealing a Commonwealth Court decision to keep him on the ballot as they ask the state Supreme Court to settle the matter.
Attorneys for the objectors filed their appeal Monday and were given until Tuesday afternoon to state their case, while Buchtan’s attorneys have until 3 p.m. today to respond, which he said will act like a “de facto appeal” for his campaign over his continued assertion that he now lives at a Washington County rental home.
“My stance here is we’re just going to keep fighting,” Buchtan said. “They keep throwing the lawfare at us. We’re going to make sure the Republicans have a choice.”
Questions have been raised about Buchtan’s residency after he moved from his Cumberland Township home near Carmichaels to a rental house in Canonsburg in October. His wife, Melinda, and a stepdaughter still live at the Greene County home, but Buchtan previously said he moved north to “scout” the area before the family eventually moves to Washington County.
Commonwealth Court Judge Stacy Wallace ruled last Thursday that Buchtan can remain on the Republican ballot for the May 19 primary election, but ordered him to list Greene County as his domicile.
Buchtan is challenging three-term incumbent state Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll, for the 46th Senate District, which includes all of Washington and Greene counties, and the southern sliver of Beaver County. Both addresses Buchtan has listed in election filings are within the district.
Wallace’s order states that while Buchtan “believes” he lives in Washington County and sleeps there the “majority of the time,” the judge insisted that his domicile should remain in Greene County. That has been fodder for Bartolotta’s campaign who accused Buchtan of not being truthful to voters about his residency.
“The court’s ruling confirms serious questions about the truthfulness of Mr. Buchtan’s residency filings,” Bartolotta said in a written statement Tuesday. “The judge required him to disclose where he actually lives. Republicans in the 46th District are appealing because they expect candidates to act in good faith, be honest with voters when collecting signatures, and uphold election integrity. I will continue to meet with voters to make clear that I am the true conservative in this race who believes in honesty, transparency, and election integrity.”
Buchtan said that while he appreciated the judge’s decision allowing him to stay on the ballot, he was confused why he is being required to list Greene County as his address since he is adamant that he now lives in Canonsburg.
“We’re going to be filing some appeals to this as well to be designated in Washington County. I’ve been living here for nearly eight months and I’ve done everything needed to be a Washington County resident,” he said. “My thought is I’m here. This is where I’m going to be staying. I’m looking (to buy) another house here.”
Three registered Republicans living in the district – Dave Ball of Peters Township, Steve Bucar of West Brownsville and Jeff Stewart of Franklin Township – filed the challenge objecting to Buchtan’s candidacy due to questions about his residency. The Supreme Court is asking for expedited briefs from both sides in an apparent attempt to make a ruling as quickly as possible to finalize the ballot.