Dot Glenn, who has represented Ward 5 on the Greenwood City Council for 16 months, is now officially out of office, according to the Mississippi Supreme Court.
On Thursday, the court issued a mandate that its Oct. 23 ruling — which determined that Glenn was not a resident of the ward and therefore could not serve on the council — would go into effect immediately.
Fellow Democratic candidate Andrew Powell had challenged Glenn’s residency after she won the May 2013 Democratic primary.
“It’s a dead deal,” said Jackson attorney James Bell, who represented Powell. “The case is over.”
In a special election Dec. 2, Powell will face Norman Smith, who finished third in the primary. The seat will remain vacant until then, City Attorney Don Brock said.
Because City Clerk Nick Joseph set the special election date quickly, Ward 5 residents will go without representation for only one council meeting, Brock said.
Specially appointed Judge Henry Lackey and a judicial tribunal including Greenwood Election Commissioners Tish Goodman and Vallrie Dorsey determined in June 2013 that Glenn did not live in Ward 5.
Lackey ordered that Glenn vacate the office immediately and ordered a special election between Powell and Smith.
In July 2013, the state Supreme Court issued a stay, allowing Glenn to take the Ward 5 seat.
In a 7-2 ruling Oct. 23 of this year, the state’s high court backed Lackey’s original ruling except for the part ordering a special election. The court said Gov. Phil Bryant would have to issue that order, and he has done so.
Mayor Carolyn McAdams said Glenn, who frequently criticized the mayor while on the council, is welcome to attend Tuesday’s council meeting as a private citizen and sit in the gallery.
Bell said the court ordered Glenn to pay the cost of appeal, which amounts to about $100. He said Glenn previously had spent an estimated $1,000 to $1,500 for a transcript of the hearing before Lackey as part of her appeal.
Bell said Thursday’s order does not cover Powell’s attorney fees.
