Two petitions filed Tuesday in Dauphin County Common Pleas Court seek to have Alan Kennedy-Shaffer’s name removed from the ballot in the upcoming Democratic primary vote for Harrisburg City Council.
The petitions were filed by city residents Jan Prosseda and David L. Smith Sr.
Kennedy-Shaffer says he has “no idea” who they are. He’s seeking a four-year term on the council.
Prosseda is represented by Timothy Brennan, a lawyer based in Allentown, according to one petition (click here to read). Smith is represented by attorney Scott Caulfield, according to the second petition (click here to read).
In each petition, the two argue it was illegal for Kennedy-Shaffer to notarize the signatures of people who circulated nominating petitions on his behalf.
“The Pennsylvania Notary Public Law provides that ‘no notary public may act as such in any transaction in which he is a party directly or pecuniarily interested,'” the Prosseda lawsuit states.
Kennedy-Shaffer pointed out he did not notarize his own signature under a separate section titled “Candidate’s Affidavit.” He said notaries public cannot notarize their own signatures, and that he did not do that.
In a telephone interview Shaffer said he hasn’t received copies of the lawsuits.
He asked, “Why would anyone want to take away the community’s right to vote?”
A hearing on the issue hasn’t been scheduled.
