Local News
Sloan challenges Bland's voting record
By Jennifer Jacob Brown
jjacob@themeridianstar.com
Democratic candidate for mayor Casandra Sloan and the Rev. Sam Thompson have accused Percy Bland, who is also running as a Democrat for mayor, of being ineligible to vote in city elections when voting on the 2007 school bond issue.
City and county election officials said they did not know of any problems with Bland's voter registration status.
"I voted where I was registered to vote," Bland said. He said he has had two residences, one in Meridian and one in Marion, for about seven years.
Sloan said Monday that Bland used his business address, rather than his home address, to register to vote. She told The Meridian Star Thursday that she believed Bland's Meridian home was let out at the time of the school bond vote.
"He had just changed his homestead exemption (at the time of the school bond vote)," Sloan said. "He didn't have a residence in the city, he had a business in the city."
Thompson brought to The Meridian Star Thursday a written statement claiming that Bland had filed for homestead exemption in the Town of Marion in 2007 and 2008. Thompson said his information came from local attorney Bill Ready. Ready confirmed that he had someone gather public record information on Bland which he later gave to Thompson.
According to City Clerk Ed Skipper, filing homestead exemption outside of the city does not make one ineligible to vote in city elections.
A clerk in the Lauderdale County Tax Assessor's office said Bland filed homestead on property in Marion in 2007, and on a piece of property on Poplar Springs in 2004 and 2009. The clerk did not provide any records for other years.
Skipper said homestead exemption is one of several factors used to determine voter eligibility, and that if a voter meets other criteria, such as owning a home or working inside the city, they can be eligible to vote in city elections regardless of homestead exemption status.
Skipper said Bland's voter eligibility was not called into question at the time of the school bond issue vote. Skipper's assistant said she could not access documentation showing whether or not Bland voted on the school bond issue, but Bland has publicly said that he did.
The Lauderdale County Circuit Clerk said she did not see any problems with Bland's voter registration. The clerk said and provided documentation showing that Bland briefly changed his address from Poplar Springs Drive in Meridian to Forrest Drive in Marion, and then back to the same Poplar Springs Drive address.
"I just think it's a desperate attempt of a candidate to get people off of the issues that we need to deal with," Bland said, adding, "I've paid taxes on these properties and I've been involved and engaged with the community."
"You take such pride in saying that (you co-chaired the school bond), but you broke the law when you voted for it," Sloan said. "He didn't live in (the Meridian home). That's not his residence. And I have called the justice department... I want to know if that's legal or not."
Sloan, Bland, Joe Norwood, and William Bond Compton, Jr. will face off in the Democratic municipal primary Tuesday. If there is a run-off, it will take place May 19. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Cheri Barry in the June 2 general election, with the new mayor taking office July 1.
- Local News
-
-
Honing Skills
The men and women who make up Lauderdale County's volunteer fire departments all have one thing in common – the desire to protect and serve their community.
Of course these volunteers don't get paid for their service, and although some are retired, there are many, like Bo Land from the Martin community, who work full-time and have a family.
That means volunteer fire department members must train nights and weekends. -
MPD probing weekend incidents
Detectives with the Meridian Police Department are investigating two incidents that reportedly occurred Sunday, one of which was an alleged armed robbery and the other a shooting.
-
Deadly accident claims two lives
Meridian police are investigating a single-vehicle traffic accident that killed two people and sent two others to a local hospital on Monday.
-
Partnership formed to promote fire safety
Last year, Key Chapter of the American Red Cross responded to 116 single family fires in its seven-county service area – 48 of which were in Lauderdale County.
"That's fires with total or major destruction," said Susan Wehr, executive director of the Key Chapter. -
Happy Birthday Meridian
Sesquicentennial is a big word, but what it means is simple — A sesquicentennial is a 150th anniversary.
2010 is Meridian's sesquicentennial, and the celebrations here will begin this week and go on for the rest of the year. -
Navy League accepting scholarship applications
Each year, the Meridian Area Navy League awards two $500 scholarships to deserving students to help with costs of higher education. This year, however, the organization upped the ante and will bestow two $750 scholarships. -
Arbor Day program set for Tuesday
The Lauderdale County Welcome Center celebrates Mississippi's Arbor Day this week.
-
Fans show team spirit at Temple viewing of Super Bowl XLIV
The smell of hot nachos and cold beer is all around you. You can see beads of sweat falling from Peyton Manning's brow as he hurls the ball. The voice of the announcer booms on the loudspeakers.
-
Star of The Week: Megan Mowdy
Meridian Community College Sophomore Megan Mowdy lives to sing, and she loves to share her passion for music.
20-year-old Megan is a Kemper County resident, and her love of music helped her to become the first member of her family to attend college. -
4-H leader is driving force behind community service
MISSISSIPPI STATE – Newton’s business and civic leaders have always expected a visit from Johnnie Mae Walker on behalf of the annual 4-H bike-a-thon for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, but they grew worried when other people appeared in her place.
- More Local News Headlines
-
