Candidate put back on ballot

After failing to file his financial report with the lieutenant governor's office by the Oct. 28 deadline, Mike Stoddard, Libertarian candidate for Utah state auditor, is back on the ballot.

Friday, Stoddard appealed the state's policy of striking candidates from ballots for missing a filing deadline. Rob Latham, Stoddard's attorney, said the judge granted the appeal because Stoddard had filed his reports before Nov. 4.

"Having Mike struck from the ballot is a serious consequence," Latham said. "He wasn't running an active campaign, and he wasn't raising or spending any money."

Latham said it was critical that Stoddard be on the ballot for the Libertarian Party in Utah. For the party to reregister as a political party in the state, at least one representative must receive 2 percent of the overall votes cast in its individual race.

However, Joe Demma, chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, said he was frustrated with the judge's decision to re-list Stoddard on the ballot.

"This decision was disappointing on a couple of levels," Demma said. "These deadlines exist for a reason. The public has a right to know who is donating to these campaigns, and candidates sign a form saying they will comply with the deadlines."

Demma said that he will be meeting with Herbert today and that he expects the office will appeal the decision.