Federal judge puts Teton County sheriff back on the ballot

Saying it “strained sound logic”, United States Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale reversed a decision by Teton County Clerk Mary Lou Hansen and ruled Tuesday that Teton County Sheriff Tony Liford should be allowed to change his party affiliation prior to the May 17 Idaho Primary Election.

The Judge ruled that Hansen unlawfully invalidated Liford’s change of party affiliation and declaration of candidacy filed on March 10. Originally elected as a Democrat, Liford wanted to switch to the Republican party this year.

Liford opted to change his party affiliation after Lindsey Moss, an investigator for democratic Teton County Prosecutor Kathy Spitzer, filed to oppose Liford on the democratic ticket.

Liford and the Teton County Republican Central Committee challenged Hansen’s decision, which would have removed Liford from both the republican and democratic ballots.

Liford was pleased with the decision. “The bigger thing, for me, is here you have a couple of elected officials trying to decide who should be sheriff and take that right away from the people.”

Liford will appear as a republican candidate for Sheriff on May 17.