Candidates on ballot after filing snafu

WAVY TV

Updated: Jul 16, 2012 11:30 PM

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Elizabeth Psimas and Paul Smith are going to be certified as candidates for the Portsmouth City Council election in November after a filing deadline mix-up.

Both Psimas and Smith filed before June 12, the day state and local officials claimed was the actual deadline, but a city charter change last year made the date one week earlier.

"One of the things that the Virginia Constitution provides is you cannot make special rules with regards to elections for different cities," Psimas told WAVY.com. "A rule is a rule is a rule, and you cannot deny someone the right to run for office or the right to vote."

Bryan Meals, the attorney for both Psimas and Smith told WAVY.com there was a scheduled hearing in Portsmouth Circuit Court Monday asking that the section in question of the City of Portsmouth's charter be declared invalid and unenforceable. According to Meals, Chief Circuit Judge Kenneth Melvin agreed, and a permanent injunction on the charter was placed.

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