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Ballots certified, results in
Published Thursday, June 26, 2008
WOODVILLE — The long and often contentious road to the Wilkinson County Democratic primary is finally over.
Wednesday afternoon, 29 of the 54 members of the Wilkinson County Democratic Executive Committee — all but one of those present — voted to certify the results of the specially called election.
The certified votes showed 2,282 votes for incumbent Sheriff Reginald Jackson to challenger Jesse Stewart’s 2,219. Jackson will now face independent Calvin Gaines in the general election July 22.
With 1,970 votes, incumbent Circuit Clerk Mon Cree Allen received fewer than challenger Lynn Tolliver Delaney, whose votes totaled 2,476. Independent Donna Smith will challenge Delaney in the general election.
District 2 Supervisor Richard Hollins will stay in office, receiving 552 votes to challenger Kirk Smith’s 523 votes.
The initial vote counting for the election lasted well into the morning hours Wednesday, and many members at the 2 p.m. certification said they had not slept or had only slept for one or two hours.
And though there has been significant tension between committee members in the past, often divided along racial lines, members spoke of the fairness of Tuesday’s election.
“I don’t think there was a hitch,” Wilkinson County Democratic Executive Committee co-chair Ann Greer said. “What we had to do last night went off smoothly. I think the certification was accurate.”
Committee member Bettye Plitt agreed.
“I thought we worked well together with no disagreements that were not easily settled,” Plitt said.
At Tuesday night’s vote counting, several observers asked why more black committee members were not chosen to participate in the vote counting, but Greer said she and co-chair Elmo Ross, who is black, chose those who worked in Tuesday’s election together.
“Not all committee members were allowed to participate, but all were observant and aware of what went on (Tuesday),” Greer said.
There was no reason for the committee not to unify, member Eugene Tolliver said.
“We might as well come together,” Tolliver said. “There’s no reason a county this small should be taking until 5 a.m. to count ballots.”
But at least one committee member was unhappy with how things went, and when Greer asked the committee to vote to certify the elections to comply with the court order that called the election, committee member William Johnson voiced his dissatisfaction.
“I am not voting for a thing,” Johnson said. “If the shoe was on the other foot, (the other faction) would be for burning (the election) down. I am for burning (it) down.”
Judge Jim Persons, who was appointed by the Mississippi Supreme Court to hear a contest filed by Allen, Hollins and Jackson, called for the election in late February.
The three incumbents were the declared winners of the election, originally held in August 2007, until a then one-person majority of the committee voted to toss out all absentee, affidavit and curbside ballots from the election because of allegations of voter buying and fraud.
That decision reversed the winners to Delaney, Smith and Stewart.
Persons called the new election after the court could not determine who had access to the paper ballots in the time between the initial election and the time the contest went to court in November.
Persons ordered that, when the general election votes are certified, the winner should immediately be sworn into office.
Comments
Posted by GodsChild (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 12:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's about time. Now we can finally move on. I hope we don't have to go through this mess again next month. Maybe they will send the observers again and everything will run smoothly...
Posted by SICKANDTIRED (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 1:02 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by techpro (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wilkinson Co. has gone to hell in a handbag!!!!
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nothing is forever. We've been with it this long and proven we are strong enough to ride the storm. GodsChild, now is the time to pray a little harder. I'm not happy about it. I believe this is just a sign of government getting worse . Next election November. I just hope & pray this one turns out better even though I don't expect it to. It's the big one and will affect a whole lot more people in a really big way . How about we all vote with our heads this time ?
Posted by techpro (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sickandtired? ...Of what? Getting away thus far with all the illegal tactics that are acceptable to Jackson, Allen, and Hollins!!??? OF COURSE NOT!!!! Yeah, they won this time, but I tell you who isn't going to be winning, is all them that have been indicted for their illegal actions in the past elections!! The good and decent voters of Wilk. Co., will get the final satification!! I can't wait to see justice served to those crooks. All that fainting and falling out that was done when they indictments were handed out!! ha! Faint on baby,..all the way to jail. Proven FEDERAL OFFENSES, evidence abundant,...no denying it. Thats it! By the way,..the name calling, I'm certain of the hooping and hollering that would take place if someone called Hollins or one of them a name. ON MY GOD!!!....whatever.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Techpro ,If what you say is correct , it sure would go a long way with me and my feelings on our judicial system . If we can find one that's fair & impartial
Posted by marydonotweep (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
TechPro how would you have information about indictments that the grand jury has not made public yet? Always remember that indictments does not mean that you are GUILTY. The only thing these indictments would do is allow the whole truth to come out on everybody. Allen, Jackson and Hollins have been crucified in the media but very soon the truth will come out on Stewart, Delaney and Smith. Get ready...you will not be able to stand it when it happens. Peace out!
Posted by techpro (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thats right southernbelle. Fair and impartial. I could really spend all day on this subject. I just want to know what happened to ppl doing whats right! What has happened to the "powers that be" that should have stopped this the last couple of elections. I know exactly, but I'll keep that to myself,..for now. Rest of the world knows too, cheating and dishonesty. Anyway,..this is what the world has come to, and its sick.
Posted by GodsChild (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 7:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A Fair Election....... You wouldn't say this election was?
As far as November, I see History in the making!!!!
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Godschild, I'm afraid I do also
Posted by 18wheeler (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 8:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BREAKING NEWS...........BREAKING NEWS... at 5:00 p.m. jessie stewart & kirk smith filed papers on the election...what happen to the story above stating this was a FAIR election... THE FBI, CIA, STATE OFFICALS, JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, MBI, AND SOME MORE WAS AT EVERY POLLING PLACE--LOOKING AND WATCHING FROM 7-7..AT THE COURTHOUSE TIL 4A.M. MORE WHITES AT THE TABLES THAN BLACKS..NOTHING WAS SAID...
WHEN IS IT GOING TO END?????????????????
they LLLLLLLLLLLLOST....CERTIFIED..
Posted by GodsChild (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 10:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
18wheeler.....
I know you are not surprise!
That is Wilkinson County.... Anything is liable to happen there. That is only place that I am aware of in the U.S. that has (2) Democratic Committees because a Judge would not follow the law and decide on which one was the lawful one.
Posted by SICKANDTIRED (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 11:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All of these election contest are getting on my nerves. Jackson, Hollins, and Delaney won fair and square. How could the eletion be contested??????
I smell something fishy.
Why does Jesse Stewart want this position so bad.....
Jackson Hollins and i hate to say this name Delaney are the winners of the June 2008 primary election and nothing can be done about it.
Jesse just mad cause he can't get his gold.
Kirk just having fun before he go to jail for burning his house dow
LOL.
Peace 2 U
So he can sell and buy twice of what he got the first time....
A HOUSE, GASTATION, PROPERTY, AND A WRECKER SERVICE
Jesse Stewart best know as the little black leprechaun loss he just gotta face the facts. I bet you want sell out this time.
Gale Stewart, keep those smart comments to yourself, techpro. All you how to work is a caculator. Stick to it.
Kirk Smith, you have proven yourself guilty of burning your house down.
Posted by SICKANDTIRED (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 11:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All of these election contest are getting on my nerves. Jackson, Hollins, and Delaney won fair and square. How could the eletion be contested??????
I smell something fishy.
Why does Jesse Stewart want this position so bad.....
So he can sell and buy twice of what he got the first time....
A HOUSE, GASTATION, PROPERTY, AND A WRECKER SERVICE
Jesse Stewart best know as the little black leprechaun loss he just gotta face the facts. I bet you want sell out this time.
Gale Stewart, keep those smart comments to yourself, techpro. All you how to work is a caculator. Stick to it.
Kirk Smith, you have proven yourself guilty of burning your house down.
Jackson Hollins and i hate to say this name Delaney are the winners of the June 2008 primary election and nothing can be done about it.
Jesse just mad cause he can't get his gold.
Kirk just having fun before he go to jail for burning his house dow
LOL.
Peace 2 U
Posted by GodsChild (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 2:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Remember that there is a God who sets high and looks low. You don't have to cheat to win. Winners never cheat and cheaters never win. Remember That...
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