Three challenges filed to state legislative candidates signature papers

The Rhode Island Board of Elections will consider objections filed against three Democratic state legislative candidates at its meeting Monday. (Jocelyn Jackson/Rhode Island Current)

Three Democratic candidates for the Rhode Island General Assembly have had their nomination papers called into question, with two of the contests coming from election opponents, according to objections submitted to the Rhode Island Department of State Elections Divisions by the Friday afternoon deadline.

The Rhode Island Board of Elections will take up all three objections, deciding whether they warrant additional review or potentially, ballot removal, in a meeting on Monday.

The objections to Sen. Majority Whip Valarie Lawson, an East Providence Democrat, and Kenneth Atkinson, a Republican vying to oust Cumberland Democratic Rep. Mia Ackerman, come from the candidates’ respective opponents. 

In Lawson’s case, fellow Democrat Brian Gary Coogan contends that a campaign volunteer lied in signing a form indicating he helped collect signatures for Lawson’s reelection campaign. Coogan alleges that Bruce Rogers, who formerly served as both a councilman and the mayor for East Providence, committed perjury in signing a form to indicate he helped collect the five signatures on the paper. 

Neither Lawson nor Coogan immediately responded to inquiries for comment on Friday.

Meanwhile, Atkinson, a five-term representative, flagged 18 signatures on Atkinson’s nomination papers for either not matching up exactly to how their names are written on on town voter registration roll — writing “Jeff” instead of “Jeffrey” for example — or because the handwriting of the signature does not appear to match what’s on town records. Atkinson collected 51 valid signatures for his candidacy — one more than the 50 required — which means if the state election board opts to throw out more than two of the signatures in question, Atkinson will not make the ballot.

Neither Atkinson or Ackerman immediately returned inquiries for comment on Friday.

A third challenge by Rhode Island GOP Chairman Joe Powers may not be considered at all, because Powers filed the objection electronically; state law prohibits sharing of electronic documents in candidate objections.

In the written objection, Powers contested six of the signatures on Democratic legislative candidate Paul Roselli’s nomination papers, as well as alleged counting errors by the state elections panel when it reviewed the signatures. Roselli, who turned in 52 certified signatures, is challenging Republican Minority Whip David Place for the seat representing Burrillville and Glocester.

Powers declined to comment on Friday.

The Rhode Island Board of Elections takes up the objections at its meeting at 2 p.m. Monday, which will also be livestreamed on its YouTube page.

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