POUGHKEEPSIE – A challenge to a candidate’s nominating petitions will be decided by Dutchess County Supreme Court Judge Christi Acker after a 2:00 pm hearing today. Democratic County Legislator Craig Brendli is challenging petitions submitted by Sakima McClinton, who is seeking to challenge Brendli in the June Democratic primary.
McClinton submitted nominating petitions with 103 signatures. Brendli and another registered Democrat in District 8 challenged the validity of several of the signatures. After Dutchess County Board of Elections (BOE) Commissioners Erik Haight, the Republican, and Hannah Black, the Democrat, reviewed the objections, 44 signatures were invalidated, leaving McClinton with 59 signatures, the required minimum number to keep the candidate on the ballot.
Brendli’s attorney Michael Treybich said that he will present evidence at the hearing alleging that some of the remaining signatures were not signed by the actual voters along with other irregularities.
If any of the remaining signatures are invalidated, McClinton will not be eligible to run against Brendli in the June Democratic primary.
In 2018, McClinton sought to run as a Republican for Congress against Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney but dropped out of the race, paving the way for Orange County Legislator James O’Donnell to get the nomination.
