Marty Turner is back in the race for Lowndes County District 5 supervisor.
Lowndes County Democratic Executive Committee Chairperson Cindy Lawrence told The Dispatch this morning the committee met Monday and voted to certify Turner’s candidacy. That reversed the DEC’s March 17 decision to exclude Turner from the Democratic primary ballot due to questions about his residency.
Eight-term incumbent Leroy Brooks petitioned the DEC not to certify Turner, claiming Turner lived with his girlfriend and campaign manager in District 4 rather than in District 5.
Lawrence said this morning that Brooks had withdrawn his complaint, which led to Turner’s certification. His name will be on the August ballot.
Turner, who serves as Columbus councilman for Ward 4, had appealed the DEC’s decision in Lowndes County Circuit Court.
At the time, Turner called Brooks’ complaint a “distraction” and said Brooks withdrew it because “he knew he was going to lose” during the appeals process. Now that his name will be on the ballot, Turner said nothing has changed.
“I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing,” Turner said. “I knew it was a distraction the whole time, so I kept on campaigning. What I’m trying to do is make sure what happened to me never happens to another candidate. Black, white, rich, poor — it shouldn’t matter. Everybody should get due process. If the system won’t work for me, it won’t work for anybody.”
Brooks, when contacted this morning, did not elaborate on his reasons for withdrawing his complaint. He said he looks forward to the campaign.
“I’m ready to press on with the election and let it be what it’s going to be.”
Criminal complaint against Brooks remains
Turner said he does not intend to withdraw a criminal complaint he filed against Brooks on March 19. In the complaint, which The Dispatch has obtained, Turner claims Brooks has told people he has taken “photographs of Mr. Turner’s home as well as his person.”
“Mr. Turner stated that Mr. Brooks within the month of January 2015 had threatened to strike his person with an open hand and told him, ‘I’m’a kill you boy,'” the complaint states.
The complaint states that Turner says Brooks has never physically struck him.
Turner told The Dispatch he filed the report because Brooks had threatened him numerous times, both in public and private. No arrest warrant had been issued at press time from the complaint.
“I’m not going to withdraw that complaint,” Turner said. “I can’t have people threatening me.”
Brooks has said if a warrant is issued for his arrest, he intends to turn himself in and let the legal process take its course.
Former West Lowndes boys’ basketball coach Ricky Hill Sr. is also running as a Democrat in the District 5 race.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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