No problems expected at precinct
Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 5, 1999
Despite rumors, officials don1t think citizens will have any problems voting at the United Steelworkers1 Local 303L union hall Tuesday.The union hall, located on Gayosa Avenue, is the location of three precincts in this year1s primary election. These include Concord, Concord Sub-A and Concord Sub-B.The union has been involved in a labor dispute with Titan Tire since September 1998. This has caused some to wonder if Titan employees will be able to vote at the union hall precinct without being harassed.Circuit Court Clerk, Fred Ferguson, said it is against the law to harass voters.”They can1t interfere with the voting,” he said.Adams&160;County has used the union hall as a voting precinct for years, Ferguson said.And it is impossible to move the precinct elsewhere without Justice Department approval, Ferguson said.Union President Leo “T-Bone” Bradley said it was silly to think that there would be a problem on election day at the union hall.”(There) is no problem with people voting there,” Bradley said. “We’ve had it there for years and there is no problem.”Bradley said the precinct is always run legally and that he does not expect any conflicts.The union leases the building for $150 to Adams County on election day.Because of this, Bob Barrett, Adams County Election Commission chairman, does not expect any problems Tuesday.”We lease the building and that makes us the lease holder for the day,” Barrett said. “The building is our building for that day.”On Tuesday, the precinct bailiff is responsible for making sure the voting takes place legally. The bailiff can have anyone arrested, inside or outside the building, that is bothering the voters, Barrett said.Natchez Police Chief Willie Huff also does not expect any problems at the union hall.But because of the election, police will increase patrols in all precinct areas, Huff said.”We just like being visible in all those places,” Huff said.