Cesar Chavez’s|Grandson Is Outraged

PHOENIX (CN) - Cesar Chavez's grandson sued an Arizona congressional candidate, claiming the man changed his name to Cesar Chavez in an attempt to confuse voters.

Alejandro Chavez sued Cesar Chavez - fka Scott Michael Fistler, in Maricopa County Court. He also sued the Arizona secretary of state, the Maricopa County records, and the members of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

He wants Fistler/Chavez's name stricken from the Aug. 26 Democratic primary ballot.

According to the complaint, Fistler legally changed his name to Cesar Chavez in November 2013 and switched from the Republican to the Democratic Party in April.

"Fistler's changing his name to Cesar Chavez and running for election in the Democratic primary intends to induce supporters of one of the legitimate candidates for Congressional District 7 to refrain from voting for that candidate and to instead vote for Fistler, confusing him with the civil rights leader Cesar Chavez or one of the leader's descendants," the lawsuit states.

Although Chavez received a sufficient number of signatures to place his name on the ballot, a large number were obtained before he officially registered as a Democrat, according to the complaint.

Alejandro Chavez also claims that a number of the signatures were gathered on non-conforming petitions, and belonged to people not registered to vote.

The seat Fistler/Chavez seeks in Congressional District 7 belongs to Ed Pastor, a Democrat and Latino who is retiring after almost 40 years in office. The district, which covers Phoenix and Glendale, is 56 percent Hispanic.

Alejandro Chavez is represented by James Barton II of Torres Law Group in Tempe.

Running as a Republican, Fistler/Chavez lost a 2012 write-in campaign against Pastor, and lost a 2013 bid for a seat on the Phoenix City Council, according to the Arizona Capitol Times.

Follow @jamierossCNS

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