aquababie’s world

i forgot to tell yall that the cowboy’s federal trial ended in a mistrial. they’re working up a second trial as i type. in terms of his mayoral ambitions for a second term, there might be trouble!
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Judge halts printing of Jackson absentee ballots

A circuit court judge ordered today that no absentee ballots should be printed until a ruling is made about whether Mayor Frank Melton can seek re-election.

The decision by Judge Billy Joe Landrum of Jones County settles a dispute between the Hinds County Election Commission and the Jackson Democratic Municipal Executive Committee.

The election commission ordered 2,500 absentee ballots this week for Jackson’s mayoral election with Melton’s name. The commission changed the order today and removed the mayor’s name after being challenged by the Democratic Executive Committee.

The committee unanimously agreed Tuesday to strike Melton from the May 5 Democratic primary ballot, saying he did not meet the city’s residency requirements.

The issue stems from the fact that Melton files for homestead exemption on his property taxes in Texas, not Jackson.

Melton has filed a lawsuit challenging the decision. A hearing is set for Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in Hinds County Circuit Court.

John Reeves, Melton’s attorney, said he contacted the court today after learning that Melton’s name had been removed from the ballot order.

“It’s another in a long line of farcical, ridiculous decisions that the (Democratic Executive) Committee is making that have no basis in reason,” Reeves said. “The court acted reasonably.”

Connie Cochran, a Hinds County Election commissioner, said she originally ordered absentee ballots this week that included Melton’s name.

She said it would be too expensive to reprint ballots if the court rules that Melton can seek re-election. If he is not reinstated, Cochran said Melton’s name would be removed manually.

Claude McInnis, chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee, challenged that decision in a letter dated March 19 to the election commission.

“The truth of the matter is Mayor Frank Melton’s name is not on the ballot at the present time,” the letter says. “The Democratic Municipal Executive Committee did not certify him. Thus, this name can not be on the ballot.”

Cochran said she called the company that is printing the 2,500 absentee ballots today. Melton’s name was pulled from the order. The ballots were due at the Jackson city clerk’s office next week. The order will likely now be delayed.

“Whatever happens will happen, and we will have to deal with it,” she said.

The runoff from the Democratic primary is May 19. The general election is June 2.