Judge throws out suit over GOP committee OAKLAND

An Alameda County judge has thrown out a lawsuit contesting the election to the county's Republican Central Committee of a handful of supporters of libertarian Ron Paul, a former presidential candidate.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch rejected a lawsuit by committee Chairman Paul Cummings of Oakland seeking to overturn the election to the committee of a group of Paul supporters and Minutemen. The opposition group won 12 of the committee's 30 elected seats in the June 3 election, and Cummings alleged that seven of them did not meet the party membership requirements for candidates.

Rather than rule on the eligibility claim, Roesch in his decision dated Monday declared the lawsuit invalid, saying it was filed after the deadline for contesting the election.

Cummings said Wednesday that the judge "got the law wrong" and that Roesch's "bizarre interpretation of what an election is certainly surprised me and has our counsel dumbfounded."

Asked if he plans to appeal, Cummings said he and his attorney are reviewing the case.

The lawsuit was the result of an attempt to win control of the committee by passionate supporters of Paul, the libertarian Republican congressman from Texas who sought the party's presidential nomination this year and who urges major reductions in government and overseas spending as well as a strict interpretation of the Constitution.

Celebrating the judge's decision was Walter Stanley III of Livermore, one of the seven defendants.

"We're looking forward to getting involved with the Republican Party and helping the party to stay on track," Stanley said.