City Council candidate Reshell Ray has been removed from the upcoming primary ballot because she failed to file required paperwork.
Lancaster County Election Commissioner David Shively announced Thursday he removed the District 4 candidate from the April 9 primary ballot.
Ray didn't file a statement of financial interests with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, commonly referred to as form C-1, by Tuesday.
Ray said she confused the financial document with the fundraising reports and thought she had more time.
But "the law is the law and the rules are the rules," she said.
Though she can't run for the council seat this year, Ray says she will be more active in the community because of what she has learned as a candidate meeting residents and talking with civic and professional groups.Ìý Â
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"I will definitely remain engaged in the process of improving our city for families and young people," she said in a telephone interview Thursday.
Ray said she will be looking for ways to serve the city and be a part of that process.
Another council candidate said that the paperwork required to run for office is complicated.
"I know from experience that running for office requires juggling a lot more than one might believe at first glance. To file for office, I had to drive to two different offices at two different levels of government (city and county) and correspond over phone and email with yet another level (the state NADC)," said Cassey Lottman, a candidate for the District 4 seat.ÌýÂ
Lottman said she is disappointed "voters will have one less choice about what they'd like Lincoln's future to look like."
Shively said Ray filed the form on Wednesday, a day late. He said candidates are informed when they file to run that the form needs to be filed and are given the deadline.
Shively said he consulted with the Lancaster County Attorney’s office, the commission and the Secretary of State’s Elections Division before determining Ray could no longer remain on the ballot.