|
|
| Thursday, September 2, 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
Marketplace
|
|
Sections
|
|
Service Center
|
|
 |
|
West gets okay to run
Published June 23, 2008
Charles West can continue in his bid for the District 4 seat on the Jackson County Commission.
A subcommittee of the Jackson County Democratic Executive Committee decided Thursday night at the Jackson County Courthouse that a complaint filed by District 4 resident Anthony Putman questioning West's residency did not meet the requirements necessary to constitute a formal contest.
Calling Putman's complaint a "letter of inquiry," JCDEC attorney Parker Edmiston, in an interview with The Daily Sentinel, said it, "doesn't meet the technical definition of a contest and I don't think it was meant to be by Mr. Putman."
Putman had said that West, who is facing Horace Clemmons in a runoff for the seat, lives in District 3.
"I still haven't gotten my question answered," Putman said after the meeting. "All I wanted was the question answered. Where does he live?"
Bob French, Jr., a Fort Payne attorney who represented West, said without going into much detail that Putman's letter to JCDEC Chairman Steven Rouse did not constitute a formal contest of the election or his client's residency. He noted that he had earlier sent a letter to the JCDEC outlining his position and a Motion to Dismiss based on Alabama Law.
"The inquiry doesn't rise to the point of a contest," French said. "I would ask that you allow Mr. West to go forward by beginning campaigning for public office tomorrow."
Alabama Law requires that contests must be filed within 24 hours "after the result has been canvassed and the nomination declared by the county executive committee of the party holding the primary." The contest must be filed with the chairman, in this case Rouse, and must be accompanied by $50 in cash to be used to cover the expenses of the contest.
Putman apparently did not call his letter a contest nor pay the required $50. The election was canvassed (certified by Rouse and Abernathy) on June 10. Putman's letter was apparently dated June 9 and was received on that date or June 10 by Rouse.
The entire proceeding before the five-person subcommittee took less than 20 minutes. It was held before a packed house of approximately 100 people in Court Room 1 after being scheduled to be held in the Jackson County Commission Boardroom. The group, appointed by Rouse, consisted of Mary Abernathy, Ken Higginbotham, Billy Neely, Dana Robbins and Hugh Whisenant.
In testifying before the committee Putman noted that he is a registered District 4 voter and that he voted in the primary election. He said his purpose in filing, "is to clarify where Mr. West lives."
"It's your decision," Putman told the board. "I simply asked where he lives."
"I thank the committee for making a decision tonight," West, who had not publicly commented on the situation prior to the meeting, said. "I'm proud it's over."
He also thanked those in attendance and everyone who supported him and showed their support. "Now we'll work hard and try to win the race for Jackson County Commission."
Clemmons, who was sitting on the second row during the proceedings, said, "Now is the time to move forward. " He had earlier asked that West be allowed to remain in the race.
"We should take a thorough look at where each candidate stands on the issues that will most affect Jackson County over the next four years," Clemmons told The Daily Sentinel Friday.
Clemmons suggested that he and West should enter into a debate and proposed issues to be discussed including; limited home rule, the so-called junk ordinance, how to attract jobs and to answer if the youth of Jackson County are being prepared to compete in a global economy.
"I challenge Mr. West to a debate on the issues in a public forum, even if that is at a Jackson County Patriots meeting. I requested that you be able to stay in the race, now honor my request for a debate," Clemmons said.
Edmiston said the big question to be answered is, "where are the voting districts. We know of no existing written boundaries for the county. The next inquiry (should go) to the County Commission to tell the people where the lines are."
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print |
Comment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|