Miami-Dade House Candidate Appeals in Qualifying Dispute

By News Service of Florida

A Miami-Dade County House candidate kept off the November ballot because of problems with a qualifying check has taken her case to the 1st District Court of Appeal. Republican Laura Rivero Levey, who is seeking to challenge state Rep. David Richardson, D-Miami Beach, in House District 113, contended that a bank erroneously placed a hold on her qualifying check, which led to her being prevented from qualifying for the race. That also ensured re-election for Richardson, who did not draw other opponents. Levey filed a lawsuit in Leon County circuit court, but Chief Judge Charles Francis ruled against her. Francis acknowledged that it was a "harsh decision" but indicated that a state law dealing with qualifying requirements did not allow flexibility. Levey filed an appeal Friday in the Tallahassee-based appeals court, according to an online docket.