Published: September 23, 2006 10:00 pm      

Burns will be on Cass ballot

Ridlen orders permanent injunction.

It may be later than most candidates would like to be added to a ballot, but it is better late than never for a Cass County Democrat.

Logansport attorney Leo Burns will be on the November Cass County ballot after all.

On Friday, Cass Circuit Court Judge Julian Ridlen ruled in favor of his request to override a decision by the Indiana Election Division of the Secretary of State’s Office. Ridlen, a Republican, could have cleared the way for another Republican, Sheryl Pherson, to win the race by default. Other than Pherson, who won a plurality in the GOP May primary, there are no other candidates running for Circuit Court judge.

Jim Austen, who served as co-counsel for Burns along with Courtney Justice, said Saturday night that voters deserve choices in elections and the decision allows them to have one.

“We are naturally very gratified that the voters would get a choice,” he said.

Burns was unavailable for comment Saturday night.

Barring an appeal of the decision by the state, Ridlen’s injunction sets up a race between two political newcomers in what is expected to be one of the premier races on the ballot. Burns’ name was not certified by the state because a notice of the caucus in which he was selected was not filed with the state by Chairman Matt Meagher. Meagher, who is in his first year as chairman, took full responsibility for not filing the paperwork.

Other countywide races of interest are the race for sheriff between incumbent Gene Isaacs and challenger Robb Sweet and the open seat for commissioner between Republican Dave Arnold and Democrat Rex Harris.