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Tensions run high as election nears
Published Tuesday, July 22, 2008
WOODVILLE — Voters will head to the polls in Wilkinson County today for the special general election to choose between challenger Calvin Gaines and incumbent Sheriff Reginald “Pip” Jackson.
But as recently as Monday, the results of the primary were contested — and reversed in the case of Kirk Smith v. Richard Hollins.
Smith, a supervisor candidate, and Circuit Clerk Mon Cree Allen both filed contests against the certified primary results. Though in no ways political allies — Smith’s contest petition even alleges a conspiracy involving Allen — both Allen and Smith alleged improper voting practices and fraud happened during the election.
Smith lost the election by 29 votes to Supervisor Richard Hollins, and Allen lost the election by 506 votes to challenger Lynn Tolliver Delaney.
Old inter-committee rivalries within the Wilkinson County Democratic Executive Committee dominated the proceedings for the entire day, and played out right to the end of court. For months, the committee was split along two lines, those who acknowledged Ann Greer as chair and those who acknowledged Easter Prater as chair. After a court order, Greer was appointed co-chair of the committee, and the Prater faction is now essentially headed by co-chair Elmo Ross.
After hearing Smith’s arguments, those who essentially make up the so-called Greer faction voted to reverse the election. Those who essentially make up the so-called Prater faction refused to vote on the action, sources from the courthouse said.
Those who make up the Greer faction also voted to deny to hear Allen’s contest and voted to adjourn, while those who make up the Prater faction stayed in the courtroom and voted to simply adjourn without taking action, sources said.
The hearings first started at approximately 10 a.m. and ran until after 8 p.m.
The hearing did not begin well.
When one of the committee’s co-secretaries began a roll call, a number of the committee members — aligned with the so-called “Prater faction” — refused to answer because the other co-secretary was not involved in the roll taking.
Those same members also refused to be seated.
After heated disagreement about whether or not Greer should be allowed to conduct the meeting, Greer suggested someone else be appointed moderator for the meeting.
It was suggested members Joe Rollins and Henrietta Carr be appointed the co-moderators for the meeting, a suggestion Carr declined because she felt it would be outside the court ruling earlier this year that forcefully united the two factions of the committee.
When the issue came to a vote, members were asked to stand, a problem compounded by the fact that other members of the committee were never seated. While the secretary attempted to count those standing, some members of the committee yelled out random numbers. All totaled, the motion received 34 votes for and no votes against because those opposed to the motion abstained from voting.
Rollins attempted to conduct the meeting, but was unable to do so because of the yelling in the courtroom, which at one point resulted in a member of the committee yelling out about their hatred of members of another race.
Eventually, at the request of attorney Carroll Rhodes, those involved called Johnson, who told them to abide by the court order that Greer and Ross co-chair.
At that point, member Suzy Daughdrill made a motion that the attorneys involved in the contest be limited in how long their presentations could be, a motion that was eventually withdrawn when Rhodes said he needed to make a motion before the committee that could possibly disqualify some of them.
Rhodes agued that because 17 of the members of the committee were represented by attorney Mike Allred in past — and, he contended, pending — litigation, and because Allred represented Smith until the court deemed it a conflict of interest, those 17 members should recuse themselves from the hearing.
“Because Allred represented Kirk Smith and the Wilkinson County Democratic Executive Committee, it is clear those 17 people cannot be fair and impartial,” Rhodes said. “Their lawyer is saying the election was not fair and impartial. If (they) participate, there is the inference the committee has not been fair and impartial.”
Rhodes asked those 17 members to recuse themselves only from the Smith matter.
At that point, Allred tried to address those present, but was shouted down.
None of the 17 members recused themselves from the hearing.
Comments
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why can't peolpe in Woodville act civilized? Sounds like they are living in the jungle.
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Woodville is the town once voted by Harvard University to be the town most like the old south in the US.
It worked just fine (sic) as long as slavery was legal, then as long as blacks could be treated like they did not exist, except for working purposes and for buying local goods.
These are growing pains, and Woodville stands as the perfect example of how when a few laws are passed and black folks are given a way out it still can take generations to enfranchise them.
I'm not blaming anyone, that is just the way it is. It takes a long time to fix social injustice.
Posted by jack (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
jackson will win and nothing will change here
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It doesn't sound like anyone is trying to fix social injustice down there YH. Sounds to me like they are trying to perpetuate it. It also sounds to me like there are two factions in the Democratic Party, each accusing the other of voter fraud.
Posted by blessed_momma (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
EVERYONE in Woodville needs to grow up! Look at the example that they are setting for the youth. So Sad! They are acting like a bunch of animals. PRAY, growup and let God have HIS way!
Posted by GodsChild (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen, bless_momma
It's time for Wilkinson County to grow up. I noticed a lot of people say WC will never change because of the Sheriff down there. He is only one man and there are many other elected officials there that run that county together.
Sheriff is a good man!!!! Just because he does not bow down to a particular group of people, that does not make him a bad person.
WC citizens claim to be Christians; I wish they would start acting like it.
Posted by sherm4067 (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
what is wrong with people in wilkinson county they cannot even conduct themselves as well as kindergardeners can maybe that is the answer let the children run the county how much worse could it get !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by DrunkenMonkey (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yelling out random numbers while the secretary tried to count votes? What is this, the third grade?
Posted by sherm4067 (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
no i think that this is pre school .
at some point the leadersof wilkinson county have to be examples for the rest of the county and state they have to step up and be true men and women and stop this childless fighting the way they are . weather you (the piblic ), likes who is in office, once it is all said and done you have to live with the results or move it is your choice but in the mean time someone has to fix this problem in wilkinson county. it has to start with the highly elected officials from the Sheriff to the board of supervisors
Posted by sherm4067 (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
(THE PUBLIC).. Sorry.. typo...
Posted by countythoughts (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How can so much hatred and tension live in such a wonderful town? Wilkinson County is made up of some of the most generous and loving people and yet we are allowing a handful of people make us look like we are the most backwards place in America. We must give this race to God and pray that whoever is in office will do their best to make this a better place for those that live here today and those that are to follow. This town doesn’t need race issues, it needs race reconciliation. We all need each other working together. I pray that whatever comes from this election today that all the elected officials will examine themselves and ask one question. Am I doing this for me or am I doing this for the people of Wilkinson County? I ask God’s blessing on each official as he does his best to do what he thinks is right for our county.
Posted by michele2401 (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Rollins attempted to conduct the meeting, but was unable to do so because of the yelling in the courtroom, which at one point resulted in a member of the committee yelling out about their hatred of members of another race.".... This is exactly whats wrong with Wilkinson County, if that had been a person of the caucasion race they would have been put under the jail!!! where is the justice here, racism and hatred will get this county no where but there is so much of it here that it seems that this town will never move forward out of this hatred....
Posted by hossfly (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Whoa!!! Nelly!!!!
Posted by sherm4067 (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ok wilkinson county here you go. it is getting close to the time when it hits the fan. lets all see how the children comduct themselvs tonight are they going to be leaders or just a bunck of pre schoolers
Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by GodsChild (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"WC citizens claim to be Christians; I wish they would start acting like it."
Are you a Christian God'sChild?
Posted by sherm4067 (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
bunch another typo sorry
Posted by GodsChild (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes I am...
I have made a lot of mistakes in my life but I have turned my life around and given it to Jesus.
No I am not perfect, but I am striving to make Heaven my HOME.
I can't see how the people in WC think they will make it to Heaven if they can't live together here on earth!
Posted by HottChocolate (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's hope Gians will take away our (Pains)
Posted by bearlover (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 8:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Go Calvin ! You are the best man for the job!
Posted by james (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 11:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yea calvin maybe then you can get the NDNP to update the courthouse public records ?
Posted by danyellewescott (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 11:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why can't Sheriff Jackson "just bury the hachet" like he said years ago? Just because most of Wilkinson County residents are behaving poorly, it does not mean that everyone are behaving that way. Personally I don't care who wins, nothing is going to change. I hope that Calvin Gaines win..I hope Jackson finally bury the hachet.
Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on July 23, 2008 at 2:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Posted by GodsChild (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes I am...
I have made a lot of mistakes in my life but I have turned my life around and given it to Jesus.
No I am not perfect, but I am striving to make Heaven my HOME."
That's good. When were you born again?
Posted by NJM (anonymous) on July 23, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
godschild...what do you mean "he wont bow down to a particular group of people"? no one is asking him to bow down!!!!
Posted by GodsChild (anonymous) on July 23, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Swapmeet 4 years ago.
NJM that was a figure of speech... What I mean is he does not do whatever anyone just tells him to do. He follows the law. Not like others (Chief Law Enforcers) who make their own laws and do whatever they want to do.
No disrespect to anyone, I didn't comment on this article to start a discussion; only to make a comment on the article.
God Bless...
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