(CNN) – Former U.S. Rep. and convicted felon James Traficant’s improbable bid to return to Congress appears to have ended before it began.
The Ohio Democrat, who spent seven years in prison on a bribery and racketeering conviction, fell about 100 names short of the necessary number of signatures to appear on the ballot as an independent candidate in Ohio’s 17th congressional district, according to Trumbull County Board of Elections official Jodi Dibble.
Traficant had submitted 4,000 signatures before the May 3 deadline, but an analysis by three election boards in the congressional district determined only 2,092 were valid. Traficant needed 2,199 valid signatures to secure a spot on the ballot.
Traficant’s only option now is to appeal the board’s decision, most likely by the end of the month, Dibble said. If that occurs, a full hearing will be held where Traficant may argue why certain signatures should have been counted that the board deemed invalid.
The former eight-term congressman, who represented Youngstown and its surrounding suburbs, told CNN in March he intended to run as an independent because “I see the Democrats are completely controlled by foreign interests and big lobbying money - The republicans are too, but the democrats more so.”
The 17th district, the seat Traficant formally held, is currently represented by Rep. Tim Ryan - a 36 year-old former aide to Traficant who is considered to be a rising star in the Democratic Party.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Good !!
He might stand a chance if he used Romney's beautician – ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Agree with you GI Joe–that hair. Sheesh.
Now, go and get you a JOB.
Sounds like one right out of the Obama playbook of ol' Chicago days. If you can't stop 'em, use the law against them. This is exactly what he did to his opponents. Guess this trick works every time. Traficant, you should have known better when you got the call from AxleRod to *NOT* run!
Al Franken could probably show him how to come up with some more signatures to make it legal ,if he'd asked.
Why not? What is one more crook in congress?
It might help if he took that roadkill off his head.
I don't care for this guy, but it would be the right thing to do to at least let him know there's a family of possums nesting on his head.
Thank God! We don't need him. He's an embarassment to Ohio.
Holy god! Somebody tell that man there's a squirrel on his head!
...Huh! Who? What? ...'Nuff Said!
Something about this guy and how he upsets congress makes me like him!
Some felons can't vote, yet some can run? Ridiculous! That law needs to be changed! Sitting in the Congress is not a right! and supposed to be honorable!
What a crook! Considering the corruption of his home area (Youngstown, OH), he would represent the political machine of eastern Ohio but not the people.
Thank God! And what is that thing on his head?? Looks like a rabbit pelt!
This scumbag is nuts.
Worst. Rug. Ever.
Put his sorry behind back in jail.Law abiding folks have better choices,no cons. We have many in government who should join him.
This america for the people,you know,the ones who obey the law and
resist organized crime. Time to get rid of this whole administration
and all they support.
"Thats just the way it should be."
democrat??? felon?? isn't that redundant??
I know they don't allow that or any other hairpiece in any prison. How does he style that thing, with an eggbeater?
While it is true that many smart [R]s are switching to [D], this guy proves that many dumb [D]s are switching to [R].....just as it should be.
"The 17th district, the seat Traficant formally held, is currently represented by Rep. Tim Ryan . . . ." Did Traficant hold the seat formally or informally? Did he wear a tux?