Salem Council Candidates In Court: What To Look For

SALEM, MA —The next installment of the drama surrounding the Ward 6 Salem City Council election will play out Thursday, when a lawsuit filed by the losing candidate is scheduled for a hearing in Lawrence District Court. Jerry Ryan filed the lawsuit earlier this month, saying at least one voter was turned away from the polls on election night without being able to cast a vote. Ryan is also challenging 10 other ballots in his loss to Megan Riccardi.

Ryan wants an injunction that would block Riccardi from being sworn in until the court issues a ruling. He also wants the city to hold a new election for the Ward 6 city council seat. His lawsuit claims an English-speaking voter who had been waiting in line behind the Spanish-speaking voter was allowed to cast a ballot.

In a note on its Website Sunday, the League of Women Voters-Salem, said the voter Ryan mentioned in his lawsuit met with City Councilor Domingo Dominguez and the city clerk last month and left the meeting "satisfied that nothing 'inappropriate' had occurred."

"It is quite possible that Ward 6 will have to have a new election, given the one-vote margin of victory," Judith Reilly, Voter Services & Civic Engagement Chair for the League, wrote. "If the Court agrees with Mr. Ryan on just one of the ballots he has complained about, that would render the 5 November election defective."