Mississippi: Democratic Executive Committee Denies Certification to Dale(8 term Ins Comm)

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- Insurance Commissioner George Dale has run as a Democrat eight times in his political career. But this year, to his frustration, he won't be allowed to do so.

The Mississippi Democratic Executive Committee denied certification to Dale Saturday because they "questioned his loyalty to the Democratic Party," Terry Cassreino, a party spokesman, told The Associated Press after the two-hour meeting concluded.

Dale publicly supported President Bush's re-election in 2004. He said from his home in Clinton Saturday that he hasn't thought about future plans and doesn't know what status he will run under, likely independent or Republican.

"I have been a freethinker for a long time," said Dale, who noted that he was "not really" surprised to hear the news.

Longtime House member Mary Ann Stevens, of West, was also denied based on party loyalty. A call to her home went unanswered.

In January, the attorney general's office issued a legal opinion that political parties could not refuse to certify candidates based on "generally perceived party disloyalty." An attorney general's opinion does not carry the weight of law but is designed to provide public entities a level of protection in a court of law.

Bruce Short's certification for agriculture commissioner was rejected because he lacked qualifications, Cassreino said.

The committee also ruled that Shawn O'Hara could run for only one of the 12 statewide offices he was seeking. Overall, he was seeking 21 offices, including nine county posts. O'Hara will be on the party primary ballot for state treasurer only, but he says otherwise.

"Through court, I will get the right to run for all 21 races," said O'Hara, who will file a federal lawsuit concerning the matter on March 26.

Monday the Forrest County Democrat Association ousted O'Hara in all county offices he was seeking.

He said the association and the Democratic Executive Committee did not give him 48 hours notice prior to the meetings that the law requires.

"I'm a model citizen," said O'Hara, who has ran for governor five times. "I will be victorious (in court)."

O'Hara of Hattiesburg said he has paid nearly $2,300 to qualify for all the races. Because O'Hara was not a lawyer or a farmer, the committee refused to certify him for the office of attorney general and agriculture commissioner.

The committee ruled that since he misrepresented himself in those two offices, he would be certified for only state treasurer.

Officials in the attorney general's office say there's nothing in Mississippi law to prohibit a candidate from running for more than one office at a time.

Eleven candidates were granted certification, including State Rep. Jeff Smith of Columbus, a conservative Democrat who often votes with Republicans on issues such as limiting lawsuits.

To: WileyPink; jmax; Islander7; 2ndDivisionVet; somniferum; flying Elvis; MagnoliaMS; MississippiMan; ..

Thank you Mississippi dims ping

2 posted on 03/18/2007 7:20:20 AM PDT by WKB (It's hard to tell who's more afraid of Fred Thompson; The Dims or the rudibots.)

3 posted on 03/18/2007 7:21:06 AM PDT by WKB (It's hard to tell who's more afraid of Fred Thompson; The Dims or the rudibots.)

Shawn O'Hara is from my hometown, but I've been away 31 years, so I don't recognize the name. My brother, sister in law, or cousins will likely know him. I'll have to ask them about him. We are all of an age that we have contemporaries in various 'seats of power' in town now. Frightening, that! ;o)

This move is going to have major blowback for the MS Democratic Party.

5 posted on 03/18/2007 11:50:16 AM PDT by bourbon (Islam hates the West, and the West hates itself. How will we survive?)

This seems to me to be the perfect opportunity to invite Mr. Dale and the other "disloyal" Democrats to join the MS Republicans. Perhaps a personal phone call from Gov Barbour would be in order. Hmmmm?

6 posted on 03/18/2007 12:25:31 PM PDT by WileyPink ("...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6a)

You vill support the party or else!!

Dale will win anyway..

Dale will win anyway..

Hey we have our very own Joe Lieberman now.

8 posted on 03/18/2007 12:48:56 PM PDT by WKB (It's hard to tell who's more afraid of Fred Thompson; The Dims or the rudibots.)

but I've been away 31 years,.

That was about the time Dale was elected the first time.
and Shawn has run for "something" as long as I can remember
and that's a long time.

9 posted on 03/18/2007 12:51:23 PM PDT by WKB (It's hard to tell who's more afraid of Fred Thompson; The Dims or the rudibots.)

This move is going to have major blowback for the MS Democratic Party.

A blowback for a bunch of blowhards.

10 posted on 03/18/2007 12:53:26 PM PDT by WKB (It's hard to tell who's more afraid of Fred Thompson; The Dims or the rudibots.)

Lots of nice things are happening in Miss. and they are going under the radar.

11 posted on 03/19/2007 5:05:09 AM PDT by jmaroneps37 (google the "Verses of the Sword" to understand our Islamist enemies.)

Lots of nice things are happening in Miss. and they are going under the radar.

Shhhhhhhhhhhh We don't want the yankees to know
how good we have it down here. :>)

12 posted on 03/19/2007 5:18:28 AM PDT by WKB (It's hard to tell who's more afraid of Fred Thompson; The Dims or the rudibots.)

13 posted on 03/20/2007 9:22:52 AM PDT by bourbon (Islam hates the West, and the West hates itself. How will we survive?)

That's a great cartoon.

14 posted on 03/25/2007 3:31:35 PM PDT by RKB-AFG (We welcome that debate on our side. We'll clean your clock!)

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