James Island town incorporation in question as election draws nearBy David Slade (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Sunday, July 6, 2008
More than three months after closing statements in Charleston's lawsuit challenging the incorporation of the town of James Island, a court ruling is still awaited and the town's future remains uncertain. Whichever way Circuit Judge Cordell Maddox Jr. rules, his decision will be appealed by the losing side to the S.C. Supreme Court. Maddox had said he hoped to rule by June 1, and that if he did not rule by then, he might get busy with other cases, which could cause a delay. "We haven't heard anything, so I assume he's taking his time and thinking about it and reflecting on everything," said Trent Kernodle, attorney for the town. The town of James Island was incorporated for the third time in 2006. Two previous incorporations were struck down by the courts, following challenges from the city. As the court considers the legality of the incorporation, the town is coming up on a municipal election Aug. 5, where the mayor and all four members of Town Council are seeking re-election. Read more in tomorrow's editions of The Post and Courier. |
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Comments
This article has 2 comment(s)
Posted by STREETLAW on July 6, 2008 at 8 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Too bad there is not a law requiring a candidate to get at least 25% of votes available before an election is declared valid.
If that were the case there would be no Town of James Island, nor would any of the current officer holders be sworn (I mean sworn to office, not sworn at.)
The problem of bad government falls right to the feet of voter apathy. Every registered voter, no, make that everyone eligible to vote should be required to pay a $300 poll tax.
If you don't vote, you forfeit it. If you show up and vote, you get your money back plus a percentage of any amount left by those who don't vote.
Now that would be a change that would work for me.
Posted by Henry_Horres_Jr on July 6, 2008 at 10:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is my intention to run for Mayor of the Town of James Island as a write-in candidate as soon as I can file the required Ethics Commission forms. Those are the ones many candidates ignore or lie on when running for office.
It would be extremely difficult for me to actually be Mayor, but excepting an act of God, it is not going to happen. So I'm not all that worried.
There are several reasons for this.
First the voter apathy that has manifested itself in every iteration of the Town's elections since it was shot down the first time.
Secondly, the timing of the election during the middle of summer. Last year voters stayed away in droves because the area was under a hurricane alert. Even without that most people have a lot of other things to do getting ready for the school year.
And finally, while a few hundred nice people did vote for me last election, there are not enough other voters in the town who either care, or are smart enough to spelled a name like HENRY HORRES JR, or figure out how to write it in at the polls on August 5th. Certainly not the 2,000 votes it would take to put me in office.
But you never know what is going to happen. I recall years ago a man who was a shoo-in to get elected and he dropped dead the day of the vote. I certainly would not wish that on anyone, but people can certainly suddenly drop out for health or personal reasons. If that should happen, I know I'll have at least one vote. Maybe two if I can get my wife to the polls.
The current officers at Town Hall are the biggest bunch of I ever saw. I do not so much offer change as choice. And I'm about as choice as you can find.
Go ahead James Islanders. Ruin my day. Make me out to be a liar. Come to the polls in dribbles and scribble me in as your Mayor on August 5th.