Opinion ID: 2458204
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Strict Compliance versus Strict Construction

Text: The majority chooses to focus on Howell's filing two applications instead of looking at Howell's withdrawal. Election Code § 145.001 governs the method of withdrawal of a candidate. Subsection (d) states that the time of withdrawal is the time that an effective withdrawal request is filed. An effective withdrawal must: (1) be in writing and be signed and acknowledged by the candidate; and (2) be timely filed with the appropriate authority as provided in the Code. It is undisputed that the withdrawal request was in writing, properly signed and acknowledged, and timely filed with the proper authority. Howell met all the requirements for an effective withdrawal. This court, then, should hold that the time of withdrawal was when the request was filed. The court fails to cite any authority which prohibits simultaneous withdrawal and application. The court's interpretation implies that simultaneous withdrawal and refiling is different than withdrawing from one race and then filing in another race a second later. The majority does not explain why there should be such a technical distinction. The central focus should be on the effect of the withdrawal in connection with the simultaneous application for a place on the ballot. Howell's withdrawal states in part: Expressly conditioned upon the acceptance and approval of the contemporaneous application ... [for Place 3] and only to become effective if and when I have qualified to have my name appear on the primary ballot for said Place 3, I hereby conditionally withdraw as a candidate for... [Place 1] and upon the conditions aforesaid, request conditionally that my name be omitted from the ballot as a candidate for said Place 1. The form of the withdrawal insures that Howell could only be a candidate for one office at any one time. The instant he qualified as a candidate for Place 3, his withdrawal became effective and Howell ceased being a candidate for the Place 1 race. Howell was merely attempting to preserve his eligibility for one of the two races. The majority states that we have on many occasions, strictly construed [election code requirements] to ensure compliance by candidates. The cases cited by the majority are distinguishable. In Burroughs v. Lyles, 142 Tex. 704, 181 S.W.2d 570 (1944), this court held that candidates could not be placed on the ballot when their applications were not received by the specified filing deadline. In Brown v. Walker, 377 S.W.2d 630 (Tex.1964) the candidate attempted, after the specified deadline, to pay his assessments by regular mail instead of by registered or certified mail. Both of the above cases deal with strict compliance with the statute's definite requisites, not with strict construction or interpretation of how a statutory provision applies to an unspecified situation. The most recent Texas Supreme Court case relied upon by the court is Painter v. Shaner, 667 S.W.2d 123 (Tex.1984) where the candidate attempted to file his application on the last day for filing. Article 13.12(c) of the Election Code specified that a candidate file his application with the county chairman by six o'clock p.m. on that date. The county chairman's office was closed, the candidate then drove approximately 170 miles to meet the chairman at eight o'clock p.m. that evening. He tendered the application and filing fee which was received. Subsequently, the application was rejected because of its late filing. Indisputably, the candidate in Painter did not meet the requirements of the Election Code. While I agree with the majority that the candidate was not at fault in any way, still he did not timely file. Dispite the candidate's failure, this court ordered that his name be placed on the ballot. This court looked beyond the technical requirements of the Election Code and, applying an equitable rather than rigid construction, allowed the candidate a late filing. The same equitable principles are clearly applicable in the present action. The majority fails to explain why these equitable principles do not apply in this case, particularly when the Election Code does not address simultaneous filing and withdrawal. The other authorities cited by the majority are equally distinguishableall address strict compliance. See Leach v. Fischer, 669 S.W.2d 844 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 1984) (orig. proceeding) (filing fee check written to wrong party); Sparks v. Busby, 639 S.W.2d 713 (Tex.App.-Tyler 1982, writ dism'd) (failure to have adequate number of qualified voters on petition); Shields v. Upham, 597 S.W.2d 502 (Tex.Civ.App.-El Paso 1980) (orig. proceeding) (failure to show street address and county of registration certificate in petition); Gray v. Vance, 567 S.W.2d 16 (Tex.Civ.App.-Fort Worth 1978) (orig. proceeding) (inadequate information on petition); Geiger v. DeBusk, 534 S.W.2d 437 (Tex.Civ.App.-Dallas 1976) (orig. proceeding) (failure to attach affidavit in lieu of filing fee); Newsom v. Adams, 451 S.W.2d 948 (Tex.Civ.App.-Beaumont 1970, no writ) (failure to file with the proper official); Bryant v. Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee, 451 S.W.2d 803 (Tex.Civ.App.-Dallas 1970) (orig. proceeding) (payment of filing fee with check returned for insufficient funds). The linchpin of these cases is that candidates are not free to disregard the Election Code's mandatory provisions. These authorities do not involve statutory construction; no interpretation is necessary.