According to the Secretary of State’s Web site, state Rep. Juanita Head Walton was removed yesterday as a candidate for the state Senate in District 13.

Her removal apparently has nothing to do with a lawsuit that the U.S. attorney’s office filed last fall against Walton, husband Elbert Walton and others for unpaid federal taxes of $41,035 for the 2002-2005 tax years.

Instead, she was removed from the ballot after the state Department of Revenue determined that Juanita Head Walton had been among the officers of a now-defunct corporation, El-Juan Group Inc., which ran a fee office in Charlack for about 15 months in 1993-94.

The state had won a judgement of almost $40,000 against the firm in 1997, but it was never paid, a Revenue spokesman said. Walton says it was paid.

Then-Gov. Mel Carnahan closed down the office, for alleged poor service and missing receipts. At the time, the Waltons denied any wrongdoing.

In separate interviews today, both Waltons said they expected to get Juanita Walton’s name back on the ballot. She’s seeking to oust state Sen. Tim Green, D-Spanish Lake, in the Aug. 5 primary.

Green filed the formal complaint that led to the Revenue Department’s findings, which then led to Secretary of State Robin Carnahan’s action.  A Carnahan spokesman said the removal is required, under a 2007 state law mandating a candidate’s ouster if they haven’t paid their state taxes.

Green said he filed the complaint because, “I work, I pay my taxes and I run for office. Why should people who abide by the law be treated differently from people who don’t?”

Elbert Walton is acting as his wife’s lawyer. The two expect to be in federal court today; she filed a suit Monday challenging the state law mandating removal of candidates for delinquent taxes.

Originally, the suit was filed in state court. Elbert Walton said they moved the suit to federal court because “we feel we’ll get fairer treatment” than in state court.

Walton accused Green and the state Democratic Party of being in cahoots, and asserted that racism was involved. Green and a state party spokesman denied any collusion, and rejected any accusations of racism.

Here’s how the situation stands on the Secretary of State’s site: