The Alabama Ethics Commission ruled this week that persons who were removed from the ballot of the March 5 primary cannot be their party’s nominee in the general election.

That ruling means the Jefferson County Democratic Party cannot nominate incumbent Eyrika Parker or challenger Mara Ruffin Allen to be the party’s candidate for Jefferson County treasurer.

Parker and Allen both filed to run in the treasurer’s race, but they both were removed from the March ballot for failing to file their statements of economic interest.

“The Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee cannot select them as our candidate,” said Wayne Rogers, chairman of the Jefferson County Democratic Party.

The ruling leaves the party to name a new person as the Democratic nominee for the treasurer’s seat. Rogers said the committee is to meet Feb. 17 to select a candidate.

“That should be plenty of time,” Rogers said. “We’re only required to give five days’ notice. We actually gave 10 days’ notice.”

Because no Republican candidates qualified to run in the treasurer’s race in the November general election, the party’s nominee is likely to become treasurer, barring a strong write-in or independent campaign.

Rogers said there are five requirements of prospective nominees. They must:

• Sign a declaration of candidacy, which includes a loyalty oath.
• Pay a filing fee.
• Submit proof that they’ve filed the statement of economic interest with the Ethics Commission.
• Submit proof that they’ve created a principal campaign committee with the Secretary of State.
• Be a resident of Jefferson County.

Parker and Allen were not the only candidates whose campaigns were derailed this year by the lack of statements of economic interest. The secretary of state last month ruled that dozens of candidates, Republicans and Democrats, from across the state were disqualified for the same reason.