Fistler, a known Republican and Tea Party supporter who was running as a Democrat in the 7th Congressional District in Maricopa County under the name of Cesar Chavez failed to get enough valid signatures get on the ballot.
By H. Nelson Goodson
June 17, 2014
Phoenix, Arizona - On Tuesday, Maricopa County Superior Judge John Rea ruled that Scott Michael Fistler of Phoenix, a Republican who was running as a Democrat in the 7th Congressional District using Cesar Chavez as his name failed to get enough valid signatures to get on the ballot. Fistler who changed his name in November 2013 collected 1,455 signatures, which 711 were considered invalid, according to the Maricopa Election County Office (MECO). MECO confirmed that 48% (711 nomination signatures) were invalid because people who signed Fistler's nomination papers were not registered to vote, lived in the district or were Republicans. Judge Rea agreed with MECO and ordered Fistler's alias name Cesar Chavez ineligible to be place on the ballot for the August 26 Primary Election.
Alejandro Chavez, Cesar Chavez's grandson had filed a lawsuit against Fistler for using the name of the late United Farm Workers leader Cesar Chavez to run for public office. Alejandro claimed, that Fistler had only changed his name to fool voters in a Hispanic Democratic majority district, had used a different size nomination papers and had circulated the nomination papers before registering as a Democrat. Judge Rea dismissed most of Alejandro's claim, but cited with MECO that Fistler had failed to get the required minimum 1,039 signatures and was 295 short to be placed on the ballot. Alejandro had also alleged that Fistler had collected hundreds of invalid signatures. Alejandro confirmed, that he and volunteers had verified hundreds of invalid signatures, which Fistler had collected in wrong size nomination papers.
Fistler told media outlets in Arizona that he plans to appeal. He has until June 29 to file an appeal. Fistler represented himself in court and at times during testimony had cried, the Arizona Republic reported.
Fistler ran as a Republican in 2012 for the State Senate seat in District 24, but dropped out before the Primary Election and then ran unsuccessfully as a write in candidate.
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