(Continued from page 22)

• Rep. Brian Gosch, R-Rapid City, who is speaker pro tem in the House, was the only candidate among the 42 who notarized his own nominating petition, Khoroosi said.
• Gosch, a lawyer, said he doesn't believe he violated any law because he only notarized the signature of another person who was the official circulator of the nominating petition.
• "I'm not notarizing my own signature," Gosch said.
• Barnett noted that if he had ruled Mitchell violated South Dakota law by notarizing his own petition, it could raise questions about the legality of petitions sub

mitted by other candidates.
• "I can easily envision candidates who think they are behind in an election viewing a legal challenge as an easy way out the door," the judge said.
• Khoroosi said he was not challenging the petitions of other candidates and only submitted the 42 other petitions as a defense against Gant's notarization argument.
• After the judge ruled that Mitchell's failure to list his political party would not be enough to keep him off the ballot, Gant dropped his argument regarding Mitchell's notarization.
• Gant said state law allows someone to file a challenge against a nominating petition with his office only within five days of the time the petition is filed, so the time for such a challenge has expired.
• "After that, any case has to go to court," Gant said.
• Mitchell will join another Democrat in seeking the two House seats in District 20. They will run against incumbent Reps. Tona Rozum and Lance Carson, both from Mitchell.

(Continued on page 24)