Congressional hopeful drops suit against contender
Jun 18, 2012, 2:24 PM
PHOENIX – A Marana man has dropped a lawsuit that sought to have one of
his Republican contenders in the 1st Congressional District race removed from
the ballot.
Jonathan Paton had alleged that more than half of Gaither Martin’s signatures
were fraudulently collected or gathered under a petition that listed the wrong
address.
He withdrew the lawsuit Monday after Martin agreed to throw out 195 signatures
that he did not personally witness.
Martin spokesman Nathan Sproul says the campaign determined those signatures
weren’t necessary to remain in the race. He called the lawsuit filed less than a
week ago frivolous.
Paton and Martin are among four Republicans seeking to represent a large swath
of northern and eastern Arizona.
The primary election is Aug. 28.
