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Could Richmond see two mayoral candidates on the ballot?

Posted at 6:58 PM, Sep 05, 2012
and last updated 2012-09-05 18:58:00-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR)--The race is back on for Michael Ryan, Junior.

Our cameras are there as the 46-year-old pounds the pavement to verify some registered voters.

Ryan is under a three-day deadline to prove that 23 of the 500 plus required signatures he obtained that were thrown out by Richmond's registrar, were actually valid.

"It's just a question of what the Registrar accepts and what she does not accept with the information we provided,” said Ryan.

Wednesday, Judge Theodore Markow ordered a temporary injunction preventing the City Registrar from printing the November ballots until Ryan be given a formal review.

"People deserve a right to have a review,” said Ryan.

According to Judge Markow, denying Ryan his due process would cause irreparable harm not only to him but to the voters who have no other choice in the city’s mayor election.
 
"It's a great victory for the little guy,” said Joe Morrissey, Ryan’s Attorney.

In court, attorneys for the City Registrar and the State Board of Election argued that State law has a “no appeals process” for any candidate running for public office.

"She has no agenda here.  She's more than happy to do an appeal if that's what the law requires,” said William Tunner, Attorney for City Registrar.

It’s a law Ryan wants changed, but said the current law won't keep him out of the race. "We'll get it done.  But it's going to be close,” he said.

Ryan has until 5 p.m. Friday to get those 23 signatures to the City Registrar.  Kirk Showalter will then determine whether or not Ryan has enough information to qualify him for the November election.

CBS 6 will continue to follow this developing story.