If you think your vote does not matter or that local municipal politics are not as intense as the big time, take a look at what has been going on in Atlantic Beach, SC.
In November of 2007 Retha Pierce appeared to defeat Irene Armstrong by the vote of 71-70. However, the Atlantic Beach Municipal Election Commission found that four voters had been wrongly denied to the right to vote in the election. The courts found that constituted a new election.
There is where things got interesting. The South Carolina Supreme Court clearly stated in its opinion in Armstrong-Pierce v. Altantic Beach Municipal Election Commission that the new election should only be between Armstrong and Pierce. The circuit court had called for a new election, but the Supreme Court cited a case from Atlantic Beach that set the precedent that the courts could not consider information for new elections that was not presented to the election commission in question.
Nevertheless, an election was held on December 2nd between now “suspended” Mayor Armstrong and Retha Pierce. The election results were Pierce 37, Armstrong 2 and write-in candidate Charlene Taylor 25. The Atlantic Beach election commission set up a runoff between Pierce and Taylor. Before that runoff could occur, the South Carolina Supreme Court intervened to re-state that the election was not in line with its previous ruling. Taylor and two other residents seem ready to challenge that.
A new election between Pierce and Armstrong only has been set for January 13th. Between now and then, expect some legal maneuvers by all involved. Passions often run high and hot in local races. However, having read the SC Supreme Court’s decision on the matter, the court is on firm ground. Perhaps the good people of Atlantic Beach should let the January 13th election decide their mayor and move on. If the fight goes on, Atlantic Beach will continue to be the town with no legitimate mayor.
Whatever happens, the Atlantic Beach situation shows that local politics matters. After all, those local government officials decide your local ordinances, your local property taxes, and represent your town to the world in economic development. And, every now and then, local leaders end up setting election law precedents. Atlantic Beach reminds us all to pay attention to local politics.
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Who care what Atlantic Beach does? I stopped going there years ago for vacation. It is nasty.
ReplyDeleteCrooks like you had better be shaking in your boots at this council. They will bring you and that guy from the lowcountry what was his name, Earl something, who helped Bill McAbee steal from Anderson to justice. Wait and see. We know the county paid you for this post. We will prove it and if we don't it will be because people in power chose to protect you. Just who are you?
ReplyDeleteTaxpayer Dan, lay off the booze of the weed, whatever you are on. You had better try being sober enough to post to the right article for people to take you seriously.
ReplyDeleteThere is always AA, Dan.