TEA Party embroiled in lawsuits involving three legislative races

Lawsuits seeking to boot two Florida TEA Party candidates off the Nov. 2 ballot will be heard in circuit court in Tallahassee Wednesday. Rulings are expected from the bench.

John DeVries is alleged to have improperly paid his filing fee in state House District 34, while HD 91 candidate John Perez is alleged to have accepted a campaign contribution over the limit.

TEA officials dispute the charges and have filed motions to dismiss the cases.

Meantime, ousted TEA candidate John Ferentinos filed suit in U.S. District Court challenging state Sen. Mike Haridopolos' candidacy.

Ferentinos, who had filed to run against the Indialantic Republican, was disqualified over allegedly incomplete paperwork. Ferentinos said omissions by Haridopolos should disqualify him, as well.

The suit seeks to remove Haridopolos' name from the ballot or, alternatively, to add Ferentinos' name.