The Dec. 2 special election between Andrew Powell and Norman Smith for the Ward 5 seat on the Greenwood City Council will proceed despite Smith’s death on Wednesday.
City Clerk Nick Joseph said the ballots have been printed and no more candidates can be added.
“Right now, we’re going ahead as planned unless we hear something different” from the state Attorney General’s Office or Secretary of State’s Office, Joseph said.
Jackson attorney James Bell, who represented Powell in a successful challenge against fellow Democratic candidate Dot Glenn, said he conferred with the state Attorney General’s Office on Thursday and was told that the special election would proceed.
Powell established in court that Glenn was not a legal resident of Ward 5 at the time of her election to the seat. The initial ruling in June 2013 that voided Glenn’s election was affirmed by the state Supreme Court last month.
Glenn, who obtained a stay of the original ruling in July 2013, served on the council from that time until the beginning of this month.
Bell said he regretted that Smith, who had testified in Powell’s case against Glenn, did not live to see the special election through.
“He was a fine gentleman,” Bell said.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
