Two candidates in the running for Baltimore City Council District 12 are going up against the election board and want another candidate off the ballot for allegedly breaking the law.

Green Party candidate Ian Schlakman and Frank Richardson, an unaffiliated candidate, filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the Maryland State Board of Elections.

The lawsuit claims the board allowed Attorney Dan Sparaco on the ballot after failing to register by the Feb. 1 deadline. The candidate's attorney, Susan Burke, claims Sparaco tried to avoid running up against an incumbent and even drew up a lawsuit to test the constitutionality of Maryland Election Law Title 5.

"He didn't follow through," Burke said. "Instead, after some sort of behind the scenes deal with the election board, he voluntarily dismissed it."

Schlakman hopes the lawsuit will put a spotlight on unacceptable practices in the election board.

"We have an individual running in my race, city council district 12, who thinks he's above the law," Schlakman said. "This is the kind of behavior that gets us in trouble in Baltimore city and it needs to end."

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