State: Libertarian Candidate 'Never Called Back' to Clear Up Form Snafu

Libertarian gubernatorial candidate John Wayne Smith's explanation of his dismissal from the November ballot got a different twist from the Division of Elections today.

While Smith blamed the state agency for "losing" his paperwork, Division of Elections spokeswoman Jennifer K. Davis said the office had contacted Smith three times since his June 16 filing in an effort to retrieve the requisite form designating a lieutenant governor running mate.

"We called his lieutenant governor candidate (J.J. McCurry) June 17 to say (the paperwork) was missing. We sent letters to all gubernatorial candidates on Aug. 16" to remind them of the Sept. 2 deadline to name a running mate, Davis recounted.

"We called (Smith) again at 3:45 p.m. Sept. 2," she said.

"He had three months to turn in the required document. He never called back," Davis said.

According to Davis, McCurry had sent in his qualifying papers, "but Smith needed to send in the LG designation.

Smith said he hand-delivered his handwritten LG designation to the Division of Elections office in Tallahassee on June 16, but left without a receipt. He told Sunshine State News over the weekend that he intends to challenge his removal from the ballot and is exploring his legal options.