By Jim Heath Friday February 28, 2014 5:13 PM UPDATED: Friday February 28, 2014 5:54 PM COLUMBUS, Ohio -

The petitions of Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Charlie Earl and his running mate Sherry Clark are being challenged in two separate protests. The results of a pending hearing Tuesday could have a big impact on the race for governor between Republican governor John Kasich and his likely Democratic opponent Ed FitzGerald.

One lawsuit by Gregory A. Felsoci, from Rocky River, contends that Earl's petitions were "filed on part-petitions that are invalid as a matter of law."

The lawsuit states that once Husted excludes the petitions, Earl will lack the required 500 valid signatures from members of the Libertarian Party to qualify for the ballot.

The lawsuit also contends that some of the petition circulators did not disclose they were paid, and that one circulator generated nearly 45 percent of Earl's total signatures but their "credibility is open to question.

A second lawsuit filed by Tyler King of Columbus accuses the Ohio Democratic Party of organizing efforts to obtain the signatures necessary to assure that the Libertarian candidates were certified to the ballot.

King charges that Libertarian petition circulators were supervised, managed or otherwise organized by James Winnett, the LGBT Outreach Director of the Ohio Democratic Party, and Ian James, a long-time and well-respected leader of the Democratic Party in Ohio.

"The two key, serious legal allegations are whether Ian James and the Democratic Party were involved with a registered sex offender to get these signatures to put Charlie on the ballot," said Republican strategist Terry Casey. "The other is if the laws of Ohio were fully and faithfully followed by the Libertarian Party."

Ohio Democratic strategists have told 10TV that they believe Earl could capture up to 5 percent of the statewide vote this November, much of it coming from Kasich.

Kasich opponents dismiss the lawsuits, claiming it is just an effort to eliminate challengers on the ballot.

See the original post:

Petition Challenge Could Leave Libertarians Without Candidate For Ohio Governor