Hearing Slated for Wednesday in Pine Bluff Mayor's Race Lawsuit
By: Marci Manley, KARK 4 News
Updated: October 2, 2012
Current Pine Bluff Mayor Carl Redus, Jr., filed a lawsuit, requesting that the mayor's election be delayed until 2014, citing a law from 1965.
The law states cities with populations below 50,000 should hold mayoral elections in the mid-term elections, instead of general elections.
After the 2010 Census, Pine Bluff's population fell below the 50,000 mark. Therefore, Redus is requesting that Judge Jay Moody restrict the Jefferson County Election Commission from counting votes in the mayor's race and order the Commission to not certify the election.
Nine candidates, including Redus, have been certified and placed on the ballot in the mayor's race.
Judge Moody was appointed by the Arkansas Supreme Court to preside over the case after all the judges in Jefferson County recused themselves.
The hearing is set for 1 p.m. in the Second Division Circuit courtroom at the Jefferson County Courthouse.
The law states cities with populations below 50,000 should hold mayoral elections in the mid-term elections, instead of general elections.
After the 2010 Census, Pine Bluff's population fell below the 50,000 mark. Therefore, Redus is requesting that Judge Jay Moody restrict the Jefferson County Election Commission from counting votes in the mayor's race and order the Commission to not certify the election.
Nine candidates, including Redus, have been certified and placed on the ballot in the mayor's race.
Judge Moody was appointed by the Arkansas Supreme Court to preside over the case after all the judges in Jefferson County recused themselves.
The hearing is set for 1 p.m. in the Second Division Circuit courtroom at the Jefferson County Courthouse.
