TEA Party Keeps its Ballot Line in State House District 91

Florida TEA Party candidate John Perez was disqualified from the state House District 91 race, but a circuit court judge ruled that TEA could replace him with another name.

Perez's candidacy was challenged on grounds that he allegedly accepted campaign contributions over the prescribed limit. The court did not order Perez's name removed from the ballot, but authorized the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party to name his replacement if he wins Nov. 2.

"TEA picks a replacement and the supervisors of elections have to put notices in every booth and every polling place indicating that a vote for John Perez isa vote for a TEA Party candidate.We get a campaign sign in every booth," TEA consultant Doug Guetzloe said after the ruling.

The District 91 race pits the still-to-be-named TEA candidate against Democrat Barbra Stern and Republican George Moraitis, who eked out a primary victory over David Maymon.

In a news release issued Wednesday evening, TEA officials stated:

"The Republican Party of Florida has announced that it is funding nine individual lawsuits on behalf of unknown individuals who allegedly are electors from the individual districts involved.

"No one attended today's hearing as a plaintiff and the RPOF legal team offered no explanation why the litigant who RPOF purports to have solicited did not appear either by phone or in person.

"Additionally, the RPOF legal team did not produce an sworn affidavit or testimony from the alleged plaintiff. TEA Party founder and attorney Fred O'Neal asked the judge if such a person even existed since there was no evidence presented."

RPOF spokeswoman Katie Gordon Betta declined comment.

Republicans also are angling to remove TEA candidate John DeVries from the House District 34 race. That case will be heard Thursday.