Ex-secretary of state candidate says party pushed him out over ballot suit

Former Republican secretary of state candidate Bryan Norris says the Arkansas GOP's executive committee removed him from the Independence County Republican Committee, partly over a lawsuit seeking hand-marked, hand-counted paper ballots. In a news release Friday, Norris said the committee voted to remove him following a July 14 complaint accusing him of covering a candidate's filing fee and of publicly stating that a Libertarian candidate for governor will appear on the November ballot. Two days later, the Arkansas Supreme Court — in a ruling by former state GOP chairman Cody Hiland — struck down the law central to Norris' case as unconstitutional. 'I asked a court whether nine officials could erase an election,' Norris said. 'For that, the party I have belonged to my entire adult life removed me on a record it never allowed me to see.' Norris' lawsuit, filed Feb. 6 in Independence County Circuit Court, seeks to overturn the Quorum Court's repeal of a voter-approved paper ballot ordinance. Norris said the complaint against him lacked signatures required under party rules and that he was never shown the evidence or given a hearing in his home county. Drew Martin, the state party's executive director, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that rule reviews found several members violated party rules and that there would be accountability. He declined to elaborate. Attorney Clint Lancaster, who represented Norris and was himself once removed from the party, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette the decision was 'absolutely ridiculous.' Norris also endorsed Libertarian candidates Colt Shelby for governor, Michael Pakko for secretary of state, and Michael Kalagias for lieutenant governor. Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And don't forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ every weekday morning and afternoon. White River Now updates are also aired on weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and Your FM 99.5. Catch NBC News around the top of every hour on 1340 KBTA.