OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An independent candidate for Oklahoma governor has been removed from the ballot after the state's election board determined a guilty plea to a felony crime more than a decade ago disqualified him from running.
The three-member Oklahoma Election Board voted unanimously Monday to remove Joe Sills' name from the ballot. Sills' candidacy was challenged by Democratic gubernatorial candidate state Rep. Joe Dorman.
The 34-year-old Sills acknowledged his failure to disclose a guilty plea in 2000 to a felony crime of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He said he thought the question only applied to embezzlement-related crimes.
The board also voted to remove a Republican state Senate candidate from Lawton from the ballot after receiving evidence of a guilty plea to crimes in Kansas.