Legal memo says Daniel J. Sullivan appears eligible for U.S. Senate ballot

A Legislative Legal Services memo, posted by East Anchorage State Sen. Forrest Dunbar, says Daniel J. Sullivan appears eligible to run for U.S. Senate, despite Alaska elections officials listing his filing as denied.

The June 17 memo says the U.S. Constitution sets the only Senate qualifications: age, citizenship and inhabitancy. It says requiring Sullivan to have filed “in good faith” would add an improper ballot test.

The memo also says the lieutenant governor does not appear to have authority to investigate Sullivan’s motives for running or compel him to answer questions under oath before allowing his name on the ballot.

Its conclusion is sharper than the first page alone: Legislative Counsel Andrew Dunmire wrote that the lieutenant governor was “likely not legally justified” in rejecting Sullivan’s declaration of candidacy.

The Division of Elections candidate list still shows incumbent Dan S. Sullivan as certified and Daniel J. Sullivan as denied.

This is, and continues to be, a developing story.