Attorneys file suit against campaign manager for State Attorney Angela Corey, write-in candidate

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two attorneys have filed a lawsuit against the campaign manager for State Attorney Angela Corey and write-in candidate Kenny Leigh.

The lawsuit, discussed Tuesday in court, claims that a local attorney and Corey’s campaign manager rigged the election so only Republicans can vote in the state attorney's race.

Multiple people close to Corey are named in the lawsuit. Corey is not named in the lawsuit.

Write-in candidate Kenneth Leigh, who admitted to a judge that he contributed money to Corey’s campaign, argued that his motivation for running shouldn’t matter.

Discussion in the courtroom became heated as Leigh told a judge that he is a legitimate candidate. But opponents said he is playing games with voters.

“We are here today to say let our people vote,” said Tony Hill.

Hill, a Democrat, believes that he isn’t being represented in this year’s election for state attorney.  Hill said that with the addition of a write-in candidate, the Aug. 30 election will be open only to Republicans in the state attorney's race.

The lawsuit alleges that Leigh became a write-in candidate as a ploy to get  Corey re-elected in November.

“Obviously I gave money to Ms. Corey. That’s a fact,” Leigh said.

Leigh admitted in court that he supported Corey’s campaign. But because Leigh entered the race as a nonpartisan candidate, Florida law sees him as election opposition to Corey, which closes the primary to non-Republicans. That means more than 400,000 people won’t be able to vote in the August primary.

State Sen. Audrey Gibson said she won't stand for it. “However, in this particular situation, the write-ins are Republicans too, and that is technically opposition for November," Gibson said. "Therefore, in our opinion, the primaries should be open.”

Leigh argued in court that people who want to vote in the primary can still switch parties.

The attorney on the plaintiffs' side, Samuel Jacobson, said Leigh is trying to rig the election.

“If it's hands off, as far as elections are concerned, the courts will be rendered impotent to prevent serious wrong (and) also the duty of the court to see to it that it's not happening,” Jacobson said.

The judge said Tuesday that he couldn’t make a decision on the bench because he has to review the arguments. He said he will issue a decision soon.

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