The Independent Party released a statement Friday morning saying that 1st Congressional District candidate Joel Haugen (R-Scappoose) should not have to give up his Republican nomination to take up the Independent nomination, and that both parties should be listed on the ballot next to his name.

“We believe that both ‘Republican’ and ‘Independent’ should follow his name. This is what the 1995 law requires. It's also good policy because it provides more accurate information to the voter,” the Independent Party said in an e-mail.

This is contrary to the Secretary of State’s office public position on the issue. But the Independent Party says a 1995 law changed the statute that requires that only the candidate and his political party can be listed on the ballot. This change made it possible for the candidate and all the parties he has been nominated by to appear on the ballot.

The Independent Party says they have asked Secretary of State Bill Bradbury for final clarification on this issue.