Petitions spark controversy in 7th District race

More controversy over signature gathering has stirred up the race for the 7th Congressional seat in Delaware County. The Republican in the race says a conservative spoiler got some help from Democrats.

More controversy over signature gathering has stirred up the race for the 7th Congressional seat in Delaware County. The Republican in the race says a conservative spoiler got some help from Democrats.

Republican candidate Pat Meehan says campaign workers for his Democratic rival, Bryan Lentz, helped gather more than 45-hundred signatures for his right-of-center center conservative challenger.

James Schneller declared his candidacy back in November. But he recently filed petitions to appear on the ballot as a member of the American Congress Party.

Bryan Kendro is the campaign manager for Republican Pat Meehan. Kendro says several volunteers for the Lentz campaign helped gather signatures.

“I think its pretty apparent that Bryan Lentz is engaging in cynical political games,” he said. “It’s just an effort to manipulate the ballot. It just shows that he’s a typical politician that will do anything to get elected.”

Bryan Lentz had previously charged Meehan volunteers with forgeries on dozens of petitions. Lentz also used petition challenges to knock off the ballot two of his party rivals prior to the May primary election.

A spokesman for the Lentz campaign would not comment. But instead, repeatedly referred questions about the petitions to Schneller himself. Schneller could not be reached for comment.