Leflore County Supervisor Preston Ratliff is challenging the results of his 89-vote loss in the District 3 Democratic primary to Anjuan Brown.
Ratliff filed an election contest Monday, the deadline to do so.
Brown said he was served notice at about 6:30 p.m.
“He’s just exercising his rights. That’s fine,” Brown said. “We’ll see that right prevails when it all turns out.”
Ratliff declined comment this morning, referring calls to his attorney, Willie Perkins of Greenwood.
Brown is represented by attorney Sam Begley of Jackson.
The two candidates engaged in a bitter campaign that was watched by political observers throughout the county because of its implications for the balance of power on the Board of Supervisors.
Ratliff has been in near-constant conflict with County Administrator Sam Abraham and the board’s three-member voting majority since taking office in 2008.
Abraham has said he served as an adviser to Brown during his run and believed Brown was the best candidate for the office.
Ratliff led after Election Day by 41 votes, but Brown made up ground with absentee ballots, ultimately winning 607-518. He’s set to face independent Charles McCain Jr. in the Nov. 8 general election.
Both candidates inspected ballot boxes following certification of the results, but Ratliff’s specific allegations about problems with the election aren’t known yet. Copies of the challenge weren’t available this morning.
Documents hadn’t been filed with the circuit clerk’s office, and Jesse Ross, temporary election chair for the Leflore County Democratic Executive Committee, said to get a copy from Perkins. Perkins could not be reached at his office this morning.
The Democratic Executive Committee will hold a hearing, which requires at least five days’ notice, and rule on who is the winner. The loser has the option of appealing.
• Contact Charlie Smith at csmith@gwcommonwealth.com.
