Columbia man files lawsuit against Secretary of State for allegedly blocking initiative petition

COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft alleging he illegally blocked an initiative petition.

In the Cole County lawsuit, Harry "Chip" Cooper says he submitted two initiative petitions with enough signatures. The lawsuit alleges Ashcroft's office rejected the petitions after the deadline and did not provide a reason.

The petitions aimed to create term limits for state lawmakers and block the Missouri legislature from making increasing the threshold to pass initiative petitions.

“Apparently Jay Ashcroft doesn’t care about law and order,” said Cooper said in a news release. “He’s a former state legislator and is blatantly ignoring the law. Jay Ashcroft thinks he can make laws but not follow them.” 

JoDonn Chaney, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State's office, said they received the lawsuit and are currently reviewing the information.