The Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice appoints a judge to hear arguments over whether Frank Melton can legally run as a democrat in the upcoming Jackson mayoral election. He appointed Judge Billy Joe Landrum. Landrum is from the 18th Circuit Court District in Jones County.
A hearing has been set for Wednesday, March 25 at 1:30 p.m. in one of the Hinds County Circuit Courtrooms.
Mayor Frank Melton filed a lawsuit against the Democratic Executive Committee to force them to certify him as a candidate in the May primary. The Executive Committee voted unanimously not to certify Melton. They claim he is not a legal resident of Jackson. That's a requirement to run for a city office. They say the issue is Homestead Status which he hasn't filed for in Hinds County.
The controversy is causing problems for the Hinds County Election Commission. Absentee ballots for municipal races are due in the city clerk's office by 8 a.m. Monday. The ballots for Jackson will be late because it took the Democratic Executive Committee so long to certify its candidates. The Election Commission has decided to keep Frank Melton's name on the ballot until the controversy is settled. If the court rules in favor of the executive committee and the mayor can't run, election commissioners will have to literally draw a line through his name on every single ballot. Although the ballots won't be ready by Monday's deadline, election commissioners say they will be ready later this week.
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