Hearing scheduled for challenge to Albert Joy nomination petitions for Knox County Sheriff
AUGUSTA — A hearing regarding a written challenge to the nomination petitions filed by Albert J. Joy as a non-party candidate for Knox County Sheriff will be held on Thursday, June 11.
The hearing will be held in Room 220 of the Burton Cross Office Building (111 Sewall Street, Augusta) and will begin at 9 a.m. Chief Deputy Secretary Katherine McBrien will serve as the Presiding Officer at the hearing, and Assistant Attorney General Jon Bolton will assist as legal counsel.
According to The Secretary of State’s Office, in a news release, the Office received the written challenge from Daniel Landers alleging:
"Mr. Joy is not currently certified as a law enforcement officer and met the basic law enforcement training standards under Title 25, section 2804-C nor was he previously certified as a law enforcement officer and agreed to meet the basic law enforcement training standards under Title 25, section 2804-C within one year of taking office; and, Mr. Joy does not possess a minimum of two years of supervisory employment experience in law enforcement or corrections or a combination of both."
According to the Secretary of State's Office, the challenger has the burden of providing sufficient evidence to invalidate the petition.
At the hearing there will be an opportunity for the challengers and the candidate to present oral testimony of witnesses as well as additional documentary evidence, and to make oral arguments. Written affidavits from witnesses will not be accepted as evidence unless those witnesses are available for cross-examination. Witnesses will be permitted to appear by video conference if they are not otherwise available to attend the hearing.
Following Maine election law, a decision on the validity of the challenges will be made within five (5) business days of the completion of the hearing. A challenger or a candidate may appeal the decision to the Superior Court, whose decision may in turn be appealed to the Law Court.
The hearing will be livestreamed on the Department’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@mesecofstate.
