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GOP Tries to Replace Bodenweiser's Name on Ballot

Pettyjohn, facebook

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Delaware Republicans are suing to get the name of a write-in candidate for state Senate on the ballot following the arrest of the GOP nominee on child sex charges.

Sussex County Republicans threw their support behind former Georgetown mayor

after tea-party backed Eric Bodenweiser dropped out of the race. Bodenweiser withdrew shortly before being indicted on 139 counts of molesting a boy more than two decades ago.

Elections officials plan to put white stickers over Bodenweiser's name on the ballot but have declined to substitute Pettyjohn's name for Bodenweiser's based on the GOP's assertion that Bodenweiser has been incapacitated.

State elections commissioner Elaine Manlove says Bodenweiser has not been convicted or sentenced and is thus not incapable of serving if elected, leading to the filing of Thursday's lawsuit.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.