sigh

He hosted white nationalists on his Kentucky farm. Now he’s seeking public office.https://t.co/RsXdGfWQ3j pic.twitter.com/iwgfqWRjbJ

— Bluegrass Politics (@BGPolitics) February 25, 2018

Whitesburg

A man who hosted a group of white nationalists on his property in Eastern Kentucky last year is now running for county-wide public office, sparking a lawsuit that claims he is not legally eligible for the position.

Ellis Keyes, who told the Herald-Leader he and the white nationalists have “common ground” in their political beliefs, filed to run for Letcher County Commonwealth’s Attorney, whose duties include prosecuting felonies and presenting evidence to grand juries.

His bid, though, faces a legal challenge. Incumbent Edison Banks has filed a motion in Letcher County Circuit Court to remove Keyes’ name from the ballot, saying Keyes is not legally eligible because he is not an attorney.

Banks cited Section 100 of the Kentucky Constitution, which says a person must have been a licensed practicing lawyer for four years to be eligible to serve as Commonwealth’s Attorney.

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the fun part:

Keyes told the Herald-Leader he is qualified and legally eligible for the office, citing his belief that all men are created equal, and that elections must be free and fair.

Keyes also said state bar associations are “not the proper authority to license the practice of law” because, he claims, the bar associations are unions and do not represent the interests of the public.

His bid for Commonwealth’s Attorney is the third time Keyes has run for office in Letcher County.

He ran for sheriff four years ago, and for judge-executive eight years ago, losing both times.

Keyes also ran for mayor of San Francisco in 1995 with an unusual platform, saying in a C-SPAN interview: “My philosophy is that life is a party, and you are the Party of Life.”