VIDALIA, La. – For the second time in less than five months, a Seventh Judicial District Court judge has said James Skipper cannot run for political office because of a previous felony conviction.

Skipper pleaded guilty in July 1994 to possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He was sentenced to 150 months in prison and, under Louisiana law, cannot run for office until 15 years after serving his time.

&uot;I’m just very, very glad this is over,&uot;&160;said Ferriday Councilwoman Dorothy Johnson, who sued Skipper Friday, challenging his qualifications for the council seat she currently holds.

Skipper said he will not appeal Judge Kathy Johnson’s decision, which was handed down Monday after a one-hour hearing on Johnson’s suit.

In September Concordia Police Juror Carey Cook filed suit against Skipper, who was then running against Cook, on the same grounds. Seventh Judicial District Judge Leo Boothe and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals found in Cook’s favor, and the Louisiana Supreme Court refused to hear the case.

Both Johnson and Skipper represented themselves during Monday’s hearing.

&uot;This is not a personal issue — this is business,&uot;&160;Johnson said on the stand after being called as a witness by Skipper. &uot;If you were qualified to run, I’d have no problem with you running. But the law says you can’t run.&uot;

Hearings will be held this morning in Seventh Judicial District Court on lawsuits challenging the qualifications of Ferriday mayoral candidates Gene Allen and Hubert Lee McGlothin and Ferriday alderman candidate Elijah Banks.

Concordia Parish resident Arthur Johnson filed suit because McGlothin, former Concordia sheriff and an ex-mayor of Ferriday, was convicted of fraud in November 1990.

Glen McGlothin Jr. and Justin Conner, also candidates for Ferriday mayor, both filed suit against fellow candidate and Police Juror Allen, saying he is not qualified to run because he does not meet the residency requirement to run.

And District D Alderman Sammy Davis Jr. sued challenger Banks, saying Banks does not live in District D and therefore cannot run for alderman for that district.

Retired Judge Alfred A. Mansour of Alexandria, La., will preside over today’s hearings because Boothe is presiding over criminal court in Catahoula Parish today.