POLL: Should Highfill Have Disclosed Lawsuit During Primary Election?

Elections aren't unknown for their controversy. And Johnston isn't immune to a contentious race.

Earlier today, Johnston Patch reported that Republican House District 39 candidate Jake Highfill is a defendant in a lawsuit filed in October 2011.

The lawsuit alleges that during a house party in Iowa City on Oct. 16, 2010,  struck his roommate, Carson Kness, in the left cheek with a glass bottle. The dispute began when Highfill appeared downstairs among guests carrying a shotgun, court papers said, which Kness asked him to put away.

Words were exchanged and ultimately Kness was struck by the bottle, leaving a permanent and disfiguring scar, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed about three months prior to Highfill announcing his candidacy for House District 39 seat, challenging incumbent Erik Helland. On June 5, Helland for a spot on the ballot come November.

Commenters on Johnston Patch and Huffington Post, which featured the story on its political page, have been discussing whether Highfill should have disclosed the fact he was involved in a lawsuit when campaigning for the Republican primary.

Patch user Greg Hauenstein said Highfill needed to explain the situation. When asked in the comments if Highfill should have disclosed the lawsuit, he replied "absolutely."

"If elected, he'll be missing work to attend this trial," Hauenstein posted. "It's a cliche line in American politics but what else is Jake hiding."

On the Huffington Post, one commenter questioned Highfill's judgment.

"His guilty or innocence aside, I don't see him denying that he brought a shotgun to a college party. How's that for good judgment?," SouthJewishWman wrote.

So what do you think? Should Highfill have keyed voters into the pending lawsuit?