Former pro wrestler disqualified for using illegal name

<p>Former professional wrestler Rick Steiner was disqualified this week as a Republican candidate for the Cherokee County Board for not using his legal name.</p><p>The wrestler, whose real name is Robert Rechsteiner, was half of the Steiner Brothers tag-team wrestling tandem in various pro wrestling leagues in the late 1980s and early '90s.</p><p>Cherokee County supervisor of elections Janet Munda couldn't find Steiner's name among the registered voters during a routine search of qualified candidates, then called and told Steiner he couldn't fill the job.</p><p>Even though Steiner was appointed to fill out a school board term in November last year and was the only person to qualify for the board seat last week didn't matter. Only people who qualify under their legal names may seek public office.</p><p>On Friday, Steiner apologized through a letter to Munda. He holds his real estate license in that name, he said, and is only known as Rick Steiner "to everyone I know."</p><p>Steiner, 45, won't be able to get his real name on the ballot for the July primary, Munda said. But the former wrestler would be able to qualify and be on the ballot for the general election in November, she said.</p><p>Steiner, who had gone by his ring name for 20 years, plans to return under his legal name.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x1cd9fa4)</p>