Tag Archives: election

General Legal, Opinion

Vote Early (and vote often…)

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There is a run-off on June 24, 2014.   Up for election are Senators Cochran (U.S.) and McDaniel (State), both vying for the Republican nod for this fall’s U.S. Senate seat and locally, Ronny Lott vs. David Overby for the Madison County Chancery Clerk position.

This election takes place during the Mississippi Bar Convention, which is an annual Lawyer’s meeting.  Mississippi lawyers bone up on recent changes in the law and earn their Continuing Legal Education (CLE) hours and ethics requirements to keep a valid, current law license.

So, if you are going to the bar convention be sure to vote absentee ballot between now and Saturday at noon.  You can vote at your local circuit clerk’s office, M-F 8-5 and Saturday 8-12 noon.  After that you’re out of luck.

Vote early, and as the saying goes…vote often.

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Family Law attorney and is voting in the forthcoming election.

Follow the blog:#BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm  You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

 

Opinion

“Indecent things with Animals…” Cochran vs. McDaniel, Round 13

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You can witness, firsthand, political hay being made!

The Clarion Ledger has the video on its website of Cochran’s now infamous reference to animals.

The link above is the video of Senator Cochran’s speech at Forrest General hospital.  Senator Cochran’s campaign has new vigor and he is making the rounds, glad-handing the people and being folksy… campaigning, finally.

In an attempt to relate to residents of the Mississippi Pine Belt, Cochran recalled spending holidays in rural parts of the area visiting relatives, picking pecans and doing “all kinds of indecent things with animals.”  It got laughs and Cochran, himself, smiled as he tied his memories into why the locals should support him.

Now the McDaniel campaign is claiming this to be a Freudian slip; proof that the septuagenarian Senator is losing it or worse, some horrific admission to harming small woodland and/or farm creatures.

Watch for yourself and make your own conclusions.

Catch up on the Campaign; Picture-gate, Update, Open Letter.  For mesmerizing coverage for all things campaign related hop on over to Jackson Jambalaya.

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Family Law attorney and encourages you to stay tuned for the upcoming blog on animal indecency and grounds for divorce in Mississippi.  Interesting stuff…

Follow the blog:#BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm  You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

 

General Legal, Opinion

Madison Chancery Clerk Race Heating Up

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On June 3 Madison Countians will elect a new Chancery Clerk.

Vote June 3

 

 

 

 

The Chancery Clerk acts as the county auditor, treasurer and assists the Board of Supervisors. The Chancery Clerk’s duties also include Clerk of the Chancery Court and Custodian of Public Land Records.  The Clerk is ultimately responsible for the filing of Court pleadings and land records and it is a big job.  It also includes testifying in Court on occasion and being financially accountable to the County, litigants and the Court.

The scuttlebutt is that someone in the clerk’s office ran a number of background checks on Ronny Lott.  This is newsworthy because candidate Irby Ford is currently employed by Madison County and works in the assessors office.  Ford denied being responsible or knowing about the searches, which was apparently true.  No searches were conducted regarding Ford or Overby.

Three candidates are vying for the position.

David Overby

  • Currently serves as a committee member on the Metropolitan Planning Organization
  • Member of the Government Finance Officers Association
  • Served 12 years as the City Clerk in Ridgeland
  • Served as County Administrator in Madison
  • Recently appointed Finance Manager at the City of Canton
  • Worked in public accounting for 20 years auditing business and governments and providing financial and business management consulting

Ronny Lott

  • Led the fight that reduced property taxes.
  • Driving force behind settlement of wasteful $6 million dollar MDOT lawsuit.
  • Opposed all proposals to increase property taxes.
  • 100% voting record in support of education and law enforcement.
  • Helped create business-friendly environment for creation of new jobs.
  • Opposed unnecessary third landfill.
  • Perfect attendance at meetings of the Board of Supervisors regularly scheduled.

Irby Ford

  • 28 years as a Deputy Tax Assessor and Department Head over the Mapping Division with the Madison County Tax Assessors Office.
  • State Certified Appraiser (Mississippi State University).
  • Missisippi Assessment Evaluator, MAE (State Bureau of revenue).
  • Associate of Applied Science Degree (Holmes Community College).
  • Certificate of Educational Recognition. (International Association of Assessing Officers).
  • Cadastral Mapping Specialist (IAAO) Note: One of only two in the state of Missisippi to receive this international professional designation.

Click on the candidates names for their websites and bios.  Be informed, educate yourself and vote.  This vote matters.

Follow the blog:#BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm  You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce, General Legal, Grandparent Visitation, Irreconcilable differences, Marriage, Modifications, Opinion, Property Division, Visitation

Judge’s Race Just Got Interesting- 11th District Chancery Election is Now Contested

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Previously we blogged about “We the People” getting to pick our Judges.  This year is an election year for most Judgeships in Mississippi and only a few were contested.

img_6390Now, the Sub District One Seat for Madison, Leake, Holmes and Yazoo counties is contested. (See the full candidate list here, current as of April 16, 2014.)  This Court hears matters involving wills and estates, support and custody of minor children, divorces and alimony, and lunacy or commitment hearings.  The Judges also handle other matters, such as petitions to incorporate or enlarge a city, the establishment and management of drainage districts, children’s welfare funds, and other projects.

Attorneys Robert Clark, III, of Lexington, and Barbara Ann Bluntson, of Ridgeland, have both qualified to run for the seat currently held by the retiring Judge Janace Harvey-Goree.  The prevailing candidate will serve as Chancellor over all matters filed in Chancery Court in Holmes and Yazoo Counties and approximately 1/4 of the matters filed in Madison County, if past practice holds true.

Attorney Clark has served as a Youth Court Judge and Municipal Court Judge in Lexington/Holmes County and private practitioner.

Attorney Bluntson has served as the City Prosecutor for Jackson, handling criminal matters, violation of city ordinances and matters pertaining to Domestic Violence.

The qualifying deadline is May 9, so stay tuned to see if any other hats are thrown in the ring.  The election will be November 4, 2014.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi, practices frequently in the district at issue above, and is very interested in watching this election and learning more about each candidate. Stay tuned!

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm  You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

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General Legal

You Can’t Pick Your Judge (…or Can You?) 2014 MS Judicial Elections

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Normally you do not get to pick your Judge.  In fact, “judge shopping” wherein a suit is filed, you see who it’s assigned to, then dismiss and refile hoping to get a different Judge is unethical and illegal.  However, November 4, 2014, is the date that you DO have a say in which Judge will hear your case.  This is election day for the Judges that are required to run for their positions.

Most Judges in Mississippi take the bench via  election.  Judges run in a non-partisan capacity, meaning they are not required to pick a political party, though they can be endorsed by parties, individuals and entities.  Judge qualifications differ depending on the seat sought, with age, residency requirements and most positions requiring a law degree and practice experience, but not all.

May 9, is the qualifying deadline for non-partisan Judicial elections.  Registration is with the Secretary of State’s Office and a recent list of the those that have qualified thus far has been released.

Most Judges are running unopposed, at least for now, but a few races will be interesting.

  • On the Coast, Chancellor Neil Harris, who’s been in the news, has an opponent in local Jackson County Board Attorney, Paula Yancey.
  • The 13th Chancery District will have a contested election.  Current Chancellor, Joe Dale Walker has some controversy surrounding a recent ruling, as noted here, and faces at least 2 opponents if he chooses to seek re-election. Gerald Martin and Deborah Kennedy have both qualified to run for this seat.   The 13th District serves Covington, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Simpson and Smith counties.
  • Close to home, current Chancellor Janace Harvey-Goree has not yet qualified to run, though attorney Robert G. Clark, III, of Lexington, MS has.   Judge Goree sits over Holmes, Yazoo, Madison and Leake counties.
  • Also, as of current, no Chancellors in Rankin or Hinds counties have opponents.

2014 Candidate Qualifying List

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney, with a statewide practice, reminding you that your vote counts.

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm  You may also contact Matthew with your family law case or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

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