[quote]Judge rules that the 28 affidavit ballots in Ward 4 election not properly counted[/quote]
By Vernon Sikes
Yazoo Herald Correspondent
Brent
BELZONI – It’s back to the drawing board today to determine who will occupy Yazoo City’sWard 4 city council seat. Following the May 31 special election, Aubry Brent Jr., who lost by asingle vote to Hattie Williams, challenged the election results.
At the conclusion of Monday’s 90-minute hearing in the Humphreys County Courthouse, CircuitJudge Jannie Lewis ruled that 28 affidavit ballots in the special election were not properlycounted. Additionally, Lewis suspended the election’s certification.
Williams
“I’m going to order that the (municipal election) commissioners do what they are legally obligated to do, and that is to verify and check the affidavit ballots…,” Lewis said. “i’m also going to order that the plaintiff (Aubry Brent Jr.) continue as alder-person from Ward 4….”
She ordered that the municipal election commissioners verify and count the affidavit ballots beginning at 10 a.m. today. Their work will take place in the office of Yazoo County Circuit Clerk Susie Bradshaw which is located in the Yazoo County Courthouse.
Lewis said that after the affidavit ballots have been counted, she will announce a date for a hearing on the petition to contest the election. The hearing will be in Yazoo County.
During Monday’s hearing, the court heard from four witnesses.
Shirley Knight, Yazoo City’s city clerk, said her role in the election was to assist the municipal election commissioners. She testified that of the 30 affidavit ballots, only two were counted.
“I asked the election commissioners what they wanted me to do with them (the other 28 affidavit ballots),” Knight said. “No one said anything. Mrs. Williams said they don’t count but the election commissioners did not ever respond to anything.”
“Mrs. Williams the candidate said what?” said Brent’s attorney, John Reeves.
Knight
“They don’t count,” Knight responded.
“She just blurted that out? She just said, ‘They don’t count,’ Nobody from the election commission said anything.”
Knight agreed that the election commission’s action was not the correct way to do business.
Sir Jonathan White testified that he was present during the June 1 examination of the ballots. Whtie told the court that he was a supporter of Williams.
He described the election commissioners as “involved in the process” and said he didn’t hear Williams indicate that the 28 affidavit ballots shouldn’t be counted.
Diane Delaware, who described herself as a friend” of williams, said she, too, observed the examination of the ballots. Delaware said she didn’t hear Williams tell the commissioners that the 28 affidavit ballots don’t count.
Bradshaw
“At any point during the process, did you hear Mrs. Williams tell the commissioner that these ballots don’t count?” asked Bryant D. Guy, attorney for Williams.
“I personally did not,” Delaware responded. She also noted that Brent conceded the election and shook Williams’ hand that day.
Reeves also called Yazoo County Circuit Clerk and Registrar Susie Bradshaw to testify during Monday’s hearing. With 23 1/2 years as Yazoo county’s circuit clerk, Bradshaw was declared an Expert witness. She described the process in the casting and handling of affidavit ballots.
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