Mar 4, 2016 2 min read

Joseph DiSarro teaches political science, so he said he found his trip to Commonwealth Court in Harrisburg a learning experience.

But that’s about the only positive sentiment he attributed to his attempt to salvage his candidacy as a delegate hopeful for the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this summer.

DiSarro, a Carnegie resident, wanted his name on the ballot in the 18th Congressional District in the April 26 primary, but when his petitions arrived in Harrisburg last month on the Feb. 16 filing deadline, they were lacking notarized affidavits.

Although his name was listed on a Pennsylvania Department of State candidate database, DiSarro’s petitions were classified as rejected.

He offered to either fax or drive the affidavits to Harrisburg, but he said he was told to take the matter to a judge. His attorney filed a court case in an attempt to remedy the status, but Senior Judge Keith B. Quigley found the affidavit issue a fatal flaw and denied DiSarro’s request.

DiSarro, head of the Washington & Jefferson College political science department, said Wednesday he and others were researching whether to appeal to the state Supreme Court.

“They have allowed other exceptions,” DiSarri said.

“In my case, I just got the wrong judge. I think an exception to the law is always problematic. If you start making exceptions,where do you draw the line?”