The Mississippi Supreme Court today granted Dorothy “Dot” Glenn’s request to stay a special tribunal’s ruling that she was not qualified to run for the Greenwood City Council’s Ward 5 seat.
Glenn arrived at City Hall with a copy of the Supreme Court's order as today's City Council meeting was ending. Glenn and her atorney, Willie Perkins Sr., said the order means Glenn will be allowed to serve on the council.
The stay blocks the special Democratic primary runoff that the tribunal ordered to be held in Ward 5 on July 16 until the state's highest court can rule on the case.
Last Friday, the three-member tribunal led by specially appointed Judge Henry Lackey upheld Andrew Powell’s challenge of Glenn’s victory in the May 7 Democratic primary. The tribunal invalidated Glenn’s victory, ruling that she did not live in Ward 5 when she qualified to run for the seat or afterward. It ordered a runoff between Powell and Norman Smith, who finished second and third, respectively, in the primary.
Glenn filed an appeal on Monday, asking that the Supreme Court block the tribunal’s ruling.
Glenn’s appeal says the tribunal of Lackey and Greenwood Election Commissioners Vallrie Dorsey and Tish Goodman lacked jurisdiction to hear the dispute.
It also maintains that the tribunal had no authority to order a special election between Powell and Smith, saying that if the results of the primary were thrown out, the governor would have to call a special election in which more than just the two losing candidates could qualify.
In the May 7 Democratic primary, Glenn received 56 percent of the vote, Powell 40 percent and Smith 4 percent. Glenn faced no opponent in the June 4 general election.
Tennill Cannon, who represented Ward 5 for two terms, did not run for a third.
For complete coverage, see Wednesday's Commonwealth.
• Contact Charles Corder at 581-7241 or cscorder@gwcommonwealth.com.
