Candidate ends bid for 90th District seat

March 04, 2006|By DON AINES

CHAMBERSBURG, PA.

One of the candidates for the 90th District seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives announced Friday he does not have the signatures needed to get on the Democratic ballot for the May 16 primary and is dropping out of the race.

"The last count I had was about 150," Doug Hodges, 59, of Upton, Pa., said.

State election law requires 300 valid signatures for a House candidate's name to be placed on the ballot.

"I was told you should have 400 or even 600" to safely stave off any challenges to a petition, Hodges said. Petitions for state and national office have to be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State by Tuesday, March 7, according to Deputy Chief Clerk Jean Byers.

"One problem I faced this week was a broken toe and flu-like symptoms which curtailed my ability to collect signatures," Hodges wrote in his withdrawal announcement.

"However, even if I had been in good health, we still would not have had enough signatures," he wrote.

"One lesson learned from this experience is the amount of work and preparation that is necessary for a successful candidacy. I only made a decision to run over New Year's weekend. I should have started recruiting volunteers two-three months earlier," the retired pastor wrote.

Hodges also thanked Republicans and independents who supported his candidacy, although he said Friday those registered voters are not allowed to sign Democratic petitions.

Hodges wrote that he will continue to speak out on issues including a higher minimum wage, civil rights and health care for all Pennsylvanians.

Fleagle, who is running for a 10th term two-year in the House, still faces competition for the Republican nomination. Todd Rock of Mont Alto, Pa., a member of the Waynesboro School Board, is running as is Ron Eberly, a Greencastle, Pa., businessman and former Antrim Township supervisor.

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