Would-be District 5 supervisor candidate Marty Turner is appealing the Lowndes County Democratic Executive Committee’s decision to exclude him from the Aug. 4 primary ballot.
Turner filed his appeal with Lowndes County Circuit Court on Wednesday. Circuit Clerk Haley Salazar said her office would notify the chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court of the appeal, and he would assign a circuit judge to hear the case.
The DEC ruled during executive session not to certify Turner — who now serves as Ward 4 Columbus city councilman — for the ballot, following a hearing Tuesday where Turner had to defend his residency. District 5 eight-term incumbent supervisor Leroy Brooks filed a complaint March 5 claiming that Turner does not actually live at his “address of record” of 1504 23rd St. N. but has moved to District 4 to live with his girlfriend and campaign manager.
Turner showed the DEC utility bill receipts in his name and mail he received at his legal address, as well as a copy of his voter registration card. Brooks pointed out, however, that Turner deeded the 1504 23rd St. N. home to his mother in 2013, which both Turner and the Lowndes County chancery clerk’s office confirmed for The Dispatch, and that Turner had often failed to pay utility bills and property taxes on the property.
In Turner’s appeal petition, he called the DEC’s decision “bogus,” and he maintains that he is not required to stay at his legal residency “continuously” in order to run for public office there.
Brooks serves on the DEC but has taken a leave of absence from the committee while he seeks re-election. Turner told The Dispatch on Wednesday, though, that he could see Brooks’ influence over the committee during a meeting he thought was poorly conducted. Specifically, he said DEC chairperson Cindy Lawrence took Brooks’ direction on procedure during the meeting.
“The Lowndes County Democratic Executive Committee is handpicked by my opponent,” Turner said. “Most of them will do whatever he says, and whatever he said, (Lawrence) did. If she’s going to be the chair, she needs to run the meetings, or she needs to step down.”
Lawrence did not return calls or messages for comment on Wednesday. She and Brooks both told The Dispatch after Tuesday’s hearing they would not comment further on the matter in case it went to circuit court.
Turner said he also intends to file an open meetings complaint with the Mississippi Ethics Commission because the DEC voted in executive session and adjourned the meeting before notifying Turner of its decision.
Ethics Commission Chair Tom Hood said Wednesday that he had not yet received Turner’s complaint. Hood would not comment on whether the commission would consider the DEC a “public body” that is subject to the open meetings act.
Turner said he just wants a fair election.
“That’s why I’m doing this,” he said. “Because the corruption in politics needs to go. I will not stop fighting and this is not over with. It’s never going to be over with. Because I’m for the people.”
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 31 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 31 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
