Harrisburg City Council candidate Lamont Jones spoke to supporters outside the Dauphin County Courthouse following his hearing on Tuesday
A Harrisburg City Council candidate will remain on the November general election ballot, as a lawsuit that attempted to kick him off failed.
Lamont Jones will have his shot in November at earning a seat on council, ruled Judge Jeffrey Engle during a Tuesday hearing in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas.
A lawsuit was filed in July by plaintiffs Katherine Knapp and Sherron Roy to attempt to remove Jones, a Democratic candidate, from the ballot, based on his past criminal convictions dating back over 20 years. The lawsuit also listed the Dauphin County Board of Elections as a defendant.
However, in front of a courtroom packed with Jones’ supporters, Engle sustained the defendant’s preliminary objections to the lawsuit and stated that “the defendant should remain on the November election ballot.”
“I feel encouraged,” Jones said, surrounded by supporters cheering outside the courthouse, following the hearing. “This is a huge day today. We can go into November and remain on the ballot.”
During the hearing, Marco Attisano, the attorney representing the plaintiffs in the case, argued that Jones had misrepresented his eligibility for office and said that his prior convictions should be considered “infamous crimes,” offenses that could disqualify someone from assuming office. If Jones were elected and later found to be ineligible for office, city council would choose a replacement, which would take away the voters’ power to select their representative, Attisano argued.
The plaintiffs were not present at the hearing.
Jones’ attorney, John Bravacos, countered that the challenge to Jones’ nomination petition fell outside the statutory filing period of seven days after the petition filing deadline. Bravacos also argued that state election code law does not allow the court to force a candidate to withdraw his name from the ballot.
Kelly Summerford, elections chair for the Dauphin County Democratic Committee, testified during the hearing, stating that Jones was upfront with the committee about his criminal convictions during the committee’s interview process.
Jones was unanimously endorsed by the committee before the May primary election.
“He has redeemed himself,” Summerford stated. “I can’t think of a better candidate. I was amazed and disturbed that this even happened.”
Bravacos also spoke to the fact that Jones has applied for a pardon from the commonwealth and received support from the Dauphin County district attorney and a former secretary of corrections.
In 2022, Jones applied for a pardon and was denied, based on outstanding fines, according to Brandon Flood, former secretary of the state Board of Pardons and founder of The Lazarus Firm, which provides re-entry-based services. However, Jones has since reapplied and, in July, received support from a board majority during a merit review hearing. Flood is providing council to Jones on the clemency process.
Jones is seeking pardon for his past criminal convictions, including a misdemeanor in 1997 for false reports to law enforcement, and two felonies, once in 2004 and 2005, for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
Jones is scheduled to go before the Board of Pardons in November for a public hearing. Ultimately, Gov. Josh Shapiro will have the final vote on whether or not Jones receives a pardon.
Based on his experience, Flood is confident Jones will be successful.
“It is safe to say Mr. Jones has checked all the boxes off, so to speak,” Flood said. “If I was a betting man, I would say Mr. Jones has a very high probability of receiving support from the board.”
Flood also noted that the pardon process may be expedited and a decision on the pardon could possibly be made before the Nov. 2 election.
Prior to the court hearing, both the Democratic committee and the Pennsylvania Working Families Party released statements in support of Jones.
Community members and Lamont Jones supporters gathered outside the Dauphin County Courthouse following Tuesday’s hearing
Harrisburg voter Bradley Wainwright joined several dozen other community members on Tuesday to support Jones.
“He’s a symbol that anyone who makes mistakes can go and better their lives,” Wainwright said. “Lamont has already been doing what an elected official should do, and he’s been in the community.”
Jones has spoken publicly about his past convictions and uses his platform, as the founder of Jones Resources, to assist people re-entering society after prison.
Jones and those involved in his campaign said that they hope this case has shown the need for legislative change when it comes to people with criminal histories being allowed to hold office. They also hope it encourages people who have turned their lives around after prison and want to run for public office.
“This shows we have to continue to make changes to the law,” said Ana White, a member of Jones’ campaign team.
Jones responded to the absence of the plaintiffs at the hearing, saying that it “speaks volumes.” Jones and members of his campaign team have shared that they believe long-time Harrisburg political actors are behind the lawsuit.
While speaking to the crowd outside the courthouse, following the hearing, Jones brought Autumn Fair onto the steps with him to speak. Fair filed a petition to run for magisterial district judge for District 12-1-02, serving Midtown and Uptown, but her name was taken off the primary ballot due to a lawsuit challenging her petition signatures.
Jones and Fair suggested that the same political actors may be behind both of their court cases.
“We know who is in the way and this is how we can beat them,” Jones said.
Jones’ name will appear as one of three Democratic candidates for city council, alongside incumbent council President Danielle Bowers and Crystal Davis, for three, four-year seats.
“This was about you guys having a voice and you made a conscious decision, knowing exactly what my background was and I really appreciate you guys believing in me,” Jones said to his supporters.
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