Montibello Will Not Appear on State Rep. Ballot, State Rules

File photograph. (Image licensed by Ingram Image.)

(File photograph.)

And then there were two.

One of the three candidates for the Democratic nomination for Third Essex state representative, will not appear on the special election ballot next month because of a technicality. Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin ruled Eva Montibello did not turn in enough signatures by Tuesday’s state deadline. Debra O’Malley, Galvin’s spokesperson, explained why.

“There were a couple of sheets that Eva Montibello filed that were incomplete. The candidate information was incomplete. The courts have ruled that we can’t count any signatures on that sheet where the candidate information has not been completed prior to circulation of those papers,” she said.

While Montibello turned in enough signatures to the Haverhill City Clerk’s office by the Aug. 29 deadline, the state disqualified names on certain pages because of the missing candidate information.

Attempts to reach Montibello by telephone and social media were unsuccessful by deadline.

The disqualification means City Councilor Andy Vargas and School Committeeman Paul A. Magliocchetti will face off in the Democratic primary Tuesday, Oct. 10. The winner of the match will vie against School Committeeman Shaun P. Toohey, a Republican, during the final election Tuesday, Nov. 7.

The state representative seat, entirely within Haverhill, was held by Brian S. Dempsey for 26 years. He announced his resignation in July to take a job with a Boston lobbying firm.

4 thoughts on “Montibello Will Not Appear on State Rep. Ballot, State Rules

  1. This has nothing to do with anything except incompetence! Who, in the name of God, would put their name in to run for office and not fill out the paperwork properly?

  2. eva, thank you for running for public office. the democrats have been in legislative power on beacon hill for over 60 years. they have made I hard to run. they have the money and power in Massachusetts to keep you off the ballot. it is time fo a 2 party system in Massachusetts. support shaun toohey for state representative.

  3. WHO turned in those papers without checking them ? A rookie ? Anyone who knows, knows that they will look for nay little thing to challenge your signatures. Except in Lawrence where fraud is normal and rampant. Too bad she didn’t get twice what she needed which is also the way most campaigns do it to guard against this happening.