(12-20-2017 09:59 PM)mptnstr@44 Wrote:  First place I'd look for monkey business is the college campuses to see if non-residents voted in Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Hattiesburg, etc.

it was a Yuge deal how the incumbent won 4 years ago....it was beyond corrupt how that one played out....

this past election wasn't even close in relative terms.....some of the ol' boys had simply had enough....and the overall turnout was supposedly 'lower'.....

local politics is about as dirty as it gets at times....

http://www.wdam.com/story/24316508/2nd-b...troversies

Quote:After the June fourth mayoral elections, Mayor Johnny DuPree beat opponent Dave Ware by 37 votes, but before the mayor was announced "winner," there had been controversy surrounding the legitimacy of certain ballots, the front door and vault to city hall containing ballots had been left unlocked, and concern was raised about who was eligible to vote in certain areas.

That did not stop DuPree from being declared as winner.

On June 24, Dave Ware filed an election challenge, asking the courts to declare him as the winner.

On June 27, specially appointed Judge William Coleman was appointed to hear the election challenge trial, set for July 23. The ultimate decision as to who got the most votes would be decided by a jury.

The trial was concentrated on Ware's argument that more than 300 absentee ballots cast in the June fourth election were not properly signed. When the Ware team thought they proved their case, the DuPree team got their go, saying their case was solid.

After a weeklong trial, a photographer with The Hattiesburg American captured the verdict on camera that declared Ware the winner. When Judge Coleman polled the jurors, the vote was 8-4. After the jurors were again polled, numbers did not add up. That's when Coleman declared a mistrial.

The city was in limbo for two months before the judge ordered a special election. The ruling wasn't what DuPree or Ware hoped for; both hit the campaign trail. Two election commissioners resigned in the midst of this, sparking new controversy. DuPree wanted to appoint new members to oversee the special election, but his council members wanted to nominate who they saw fit.

from the 2017 election....

http://www.wdam.com/story/35606670/barke...l-election

Quote:HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) -
With only 35 percent voter turnout, residents in the city of Hattiesburg elected a new mayor, District 102 State Representative, Toby Barker.

Barker, who ran as an independent, defeated four-time incumbent, Mayor Johnny DuPree in the general election on Tuesday.

“Well we’re overwhelmed, we’re excited…this city has been our home for a long time and we know how much potential Hattiesburg has,” said Barker. “It’s an incredibly humbling feeling, for all these people and supporters to put their trust in me for the next four years.”

With a vote tally of 5,681 to 3,797, Barker defeated DuPree, who called him to concede the race around 10 p.m. as roughly 12 of 14 precincts had reported.

“The mayors given so much to this community, and his legacy will be a positive one, I believe that, and to have him extend his congratulations meant a lot, because he has been a pillar of the community,” Barker said.

the last statement was simply pure class.....and he was lying his arse off

the bottom line is the ol' boys straightened out what was an obvious problem with who and where 'folks' were voting.....what took them so long is beyond me....

the dippos have no ethics nor morals when it comes to maintaining a grip onto ill-gained power.....

it's truly sad how our road and sewer system has been neglected over the last couple of decades......if you're driving in the city limits, it's truly become an obstacle course with a depressed housing center that is 40% rentals now.....

I could go on and on.....but I'm certain most get the gist and how the 'burg is hardly the lone product of misspending funds and how the feds have dispensed such for horseshite projects that don't mean dick......

yeah.....I'm a pissed off sumbiatch when it comes to funding bike trails and other stupid shite instead of paying attention to the infrastructure that actually matters.....

/rant....

thank you DJT for taking a stab at righting decades of bullshite......