When a lawsuit was filed in the name of a former candidate for Ballwin alderman, it was to protect election integrity, according to Ballwin's city attorney.
“We were authorized to do that,” said Robert E. Jones. “It’s a friendly suit and the Board of Election Commissioners is always going to agree to that because it's important to protect the integrity of the ballot. You don't want candidates on the ballot, you cannot qualify.”
Jones, who also serves on the Missouri Bar Board of Governors while working as Ballwin's attorney, filed the perfunctory lawsuit against the St. Louis County Board of Elections in order to remove Brennan Redinger who was set to run against incumbent alderman Michael Finley after having only lived in Ballwin for just six months.
"I find it difficult to believe that [Brennan Redinger] was unaware of the residency requirement," Jones told the St. Louis Record. "It's in the state statutes for all fourth-class cities in the state of Missouri."
As previously reported in the St. Louis Record, qualifications for Ballwin aldermen include being at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, an inhabitant and resident of the city for one year next preceding election, and a ward resident at the time of filing.
“Mr. Redinger was aware that he could not qualify even if he was elected, and he met with the city administrator to hand him a withdrawal of candidacy,” Jones said. “The city administrator then explained to him that it was too late for that to happen without a court order.”
The complaint to obtain a court order was subsequently filed by Jones and his associate Katherine E. Henry on Feb. 2 and Redinger was properly removed from the ballot two days later, leaving Finley to run unopposed in April’s election.
"Someone who has just moved in recently may not be aware of the particular needs of the ward so that's why it's important to have some familiarity with the constituent's ward," Jones added.
Redinger accused the attorneys, who both work at the Curtis, Heinz, Garrett, and O’Keefe law firm, of illegally obtaining his social security number in filing the lawsuit. Steven W. Garrett and Andrew R. Bramman, who are St. Louis County Board of Elections attorneys, also work at the Curtis, Heinz, Garrett, and O’Keefe law firm.
But Jones denies any wrongdoing.
“[Redinger]’s social security number was on his declaration when he filed for candidacy, which is a public document,” he said. “It goes into an electronic database called Casenet, which can only be seen by the attorneys of record.”
The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported that alderman Kevin Roach filed a complaint with Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office, which baffles Jones because he considers Roach a friend.
“I don't think he has anything against me,” he said. “I never saw the complaint since no action was taken on it. It was never sent to me. There is no investigation and apparently, the Attorney General, Ashcroft's office, as well as the prosecuting attorney all received the complaint and none of them chose to act upon it."