Lawyers for mayoral candidate Bob Brady petitioned the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Friday to take jurisdiction away from a lower court and decide the status of Brady's candidacy.
A local judge decided last week that Brady would be allowed to stay on the May 15 primary ballot after his candidacy was challenged for allegedly filling out campaign finance-disclosure forms incorrectly.
Supporters for fellow mayoral candidate Tom Knox immediately filed an appeal to the decision, and the case currently sits in Commonwealth Court.
But, according to the petition, oral arguments are currently set for April 10, and a decision likely will not be handed down until at least mid-April.
"We don't think Mr. Knox should get away with holding the voters hostage while he drags this thing out to Mr. Brady's detriment," Brady's lawyer, Stephen Cozen, told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Knox's supporters have claimed that Brady is receiving special treatment by being allowed to continue his campaign because Brady, the Democratic City Chairman, has mounted similar legal challenges to other city candidates in the past.
They contend that Brady should be ruled ineligible because he failed to list pensions from both the city and the carpenters union.
If the courts rule against Brady, he will be kicked off the May ballot, leaving four Democrats with a legitimate chance at the nomination: Knox, U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, state Rep. Dwight Evans and former Councilman Michael Nutter.
Knox's lawyers have until Wednesday to file a brief in response to Brady's petition.
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