Election board rejects candidate for nickname

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — A candidate seeking to run for county commissioner in northeast Indiana has had his name removed from the ballot because he included the nickname “Legalize Marijuana” in his name when he filed.

Allen County Director of Elections Beth Dlug tells The News-Sentinel it is too late for Dave Road to file again because the candidate-filing deadline has passed. Dlug says the board acted in response to a Republican challenge to Roach’s nickname.

County GOP Party Chairman Steve Shine says he considered Roach’s unusual ballot identification to be a political statement, not a true nickname.

The decision leaves retired firefighter Gordon Anthony as the only Democrat on the ballot for the May 8 primary.