Pure Pierre Politics

The lawyer representing state Rep. Brian Gosch, R-Rapid City, filed a motion tonight asking that Stephanie Strong of Rapid City be ordered to pay attorney fees and expenses to Gosch. Attorney Sara Frankenstein of Rapid City argues in the motion that Strong’s attempt to force Secretary of State Jason Gant to remove Gosch from the 2012 general election ballot was malicious and frivolous. Circuit Judge Kathleen Trandahl threw out the lawsuit a week ago. The motion also alleges that Strong illegally made a tape recording of that proceeding, which was conducted by telephone at her original request, and that Strong e-mailed the recording to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader newspaper. Indeed, the Argus had a recording of the proceeding posted for a time on its Political Smokeout blog but the recording later was taken down (and an explanation about the general reasons was posted instead, although Strong wasn’t identified in the explanation as the source of the recording). Frankenstein argues in the motion that Strong was more interested in making political statements than in presenting legal arguments against the validity of Gosch’s petition. Strong, who wasn’t represented by a lawyer at any of the court proceedings, alleged that Gosch’s nominating petition should have been thrown out by Gant because Gosch notarized the signature of a person who was circulating the petition for signatures. Strong didn’t make her allegation until long after the June primary was over. Frankenstein argues that Strong was trying to derail Gosch politically; Gosch already was in line to be the next speaker of the House, and now he will be for the 2013 session that opens Tuesday. Frankenstein notes in her motion that Strong could be sanctioned by the court for the recording violation, too. Earlier Friday,  Frankenstein had scheduled a motions hearing for Jan. 25 at the Hughes County Courthouse. Now we know why.