We've been following the curious case of South Dakota District 1 Republican state house candidate Logan Manhart since Dakota Free Press broke the story with its findings back on May 5.
Our most recent post was Media scrutiny of SD District 1 House Logan Manhart candidate integrity questions continue.
It's not just media scrutiny now.
Just over an hour ago, Elisa Sand reported at the Aberdeen News in June 13 hearing date set in Logan Manhart District 1 residency: lawsuit:
A June hearing date has been set to answer residency questions about a District 1 legislative candidate.
A civil lawsuit filed May 16 in Hughes County is challenging Logan Manhart's residency qualifications as a candidate for South Dakota Legislature. The lawsuit was filed against Manhart, the South Dakota Canvassing Board and Secretary of State Steve Barnett.
Manhart has asked for more time to compile his response. But a response has been filed by Barnett, and a hearing date has been set for 10:30 a.m. June 13 in Pierre before Judge Christina Klinger. . . .
About that response?
A response filed Wednesday by Barnett's attorney, Clifton E. Katz, claims the court lacks jurisdiction and the suit fails to state a claim for relief. The South Dakota Democratic Party also lacks standing, per the response.
A writ of prohibition essentially seeks court action to prohibit something, like disqualifying a candidate for office. Such a request is typically found at the end of the court document, but no such request is included in the lawsuit, according to Barnett's response, so a writ of probation cannot be issued.
The lack of jurisdiction argument is two-fold. First, per the claim, a writ of prohibition is only allowed when there is no other speedy, adequate remedy. And state election statutes provide that remedy, allowing petitions to be challenged within 10 days of being filed.
The response also argues that Manhart, as one of two Republican candidates for District 1, was automatically certified as a candidate and that, according to state law, the South Dakota Supreme Court has exclusive jurisdiction over primary contests for state office.
In this case, none of the District 1 candidates are on the primary ballot. Two Republicans and two Democrats have filed to run, and all are on the general election ballot in November.
Also running in District 1 are Tamara St. John, R-Sisseton, and Jennifer Healy-Keintz, D-Eden, both incumbents. The two top vote getters on Nov. 8 will earn terms in Pierre.
Well then.
Given that Manhart was so invested in "election integrity" that he traveled to Washington DC on January 6 to help stop the certification of the electoral college vote for Joseph Biden, we're a bit entertained by this new nugget in the story:
[Steve] McCleerey claims Manhart's Wisconsin voter registration in 2020 and 2021 and his participation in four elections during that time is a breach of South Dakota's residency requirements for legislative candidates.
State law requires candidates to live in South Dakota for two years prior to running for a state legislative position.
But Manhart also maintained his South Dakota voter registration at his Bath address during that time and has said his move to Wisconsin was to go to school.
So Manhart was registered in two places at once--and as the screenshot at the top of this post indicates, got a job in Wisconsin as well. My my.
Screenshot: After working on President Trump’s Re-Election Campaign in 2020 in Wisconsin (Manhart campaign website), Manhart took a position as a field director in July 2021 with the Republican Party of Wisconsin. It's unclear whether he was hired before or after he finished his six-course certificate in leadership development and management at Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Related posts:
- Dakota Free Press post: Manhart voted in Wisconsin in 2021, thus ineligible to run for South Dakota House in 2022
- Manhart candidate integrity questioned: docs from 32CIV22-92; McCleerey vs Barnett
- In SD District One, GOP candidate & operative doesn't want to talk to press about January 6
- Media scrutiny of SD District 1 House Logan Manhart candidate integrity questions continue
If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.
Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email sally.jo.sorensen@gmail.com as recipient.
I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6
Comments