Hearing is Friday for ballot lawsuit

SEATTLE – A judge has set a hearing for Friday in the state Democratic Party’s lawsuit over the way Republican candidate for governor Dino Rossi listed his party preference on the November ballot.

The Democrats sued Secretary of State Sam Reed on Tuesday, saying Rossi should be listed as a Republican. They argue that he’s trying to obscure his affiliation by putting himself down as “prefers GOP party.”

King County Superior Court Judge Richard Eadie set a hearing for Friday morning on the Democratic Party’s motion for a temporary restraining order that would prevent ballots from being printed until the court makes a decision. The secretary of state’s office says state law makes it clear that designation of a party preference is the candidate’s decision.