“To tell me that I’ve got to go to the very people who have stacked this against me is to tell me there’s no room for the little guy,” said McCollum, who served as Richmond’s mayor from 2001 to 2004, just before the city’s switch to the strong-mayor form of government.

Goldman called the party’s stance “completely illogical.”

“The people that made the decision have got to challenge it?” said Goldman, who reminded Dempsey that he used to be party chairman and said he helped write the party plan.

Goldman proceeded to tell Dempsey that McCollum’s only option was to take the matter to federal court.

The appeals section of the party rules on nominating committees states that “any member of a nominating committee may appeal any decision, action or failure to act” by the committee.

“The party is not pocketing this money,” Dempsey said. “It’s going to pay for these expensive caucuses.”

Filing fees are meant to discourage frivolous candidacies and help cover the costs of elections, but they have also been challenged as potential impediments to the democratic process.