A Topsham resident has withdrawn a challenge to petitions filed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to get on the Maine ballot.
James Stretch of Topsham initially challenged Kennedy’s petitions on the basis that Kennedy’s team turned in more than 5,000 signatures, the maximum under state law.
He also said Kennedy listed a residence in New York as his home address rather than in California, where he lives. Stretch also said the signer’s municipality was illegible, some printed rather than signed their names and some are duplicates.
Stretch did not cite reasons for withdrawing his challenge in a letter to Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.
Bellows has canceled a hearing that was to be held Wednesday on Stretch’s challenges.
However, a hearing challenging petitions by Cornel West, a former Green Party candidate now running as an independent, is scheduled to take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Augusta.
Anne Gass of Gray, Sandra Marquis of Lewiston and Nathan Berger of Portland filed challenges to West’s petitions.
They allege that paid circulators duped “multiple Mainers” into signing the petition by telling them that it was to “prevent improper financial dealings by members of Congress and address corporate corruption.” They also say that the circulators had them sign on the second page of the petition so they could not see the candidate’s name.
Berger’s complaint states that West also violated Maine law by turning in more than 5,000 signatures, that some are duplicates, others are illegible, and that those circulating the petitions did not follow state law.