Posted on 03/18/2007 7:19:06 AM PDT by WKB
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.
"I have a clue why they did this" he said.
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.
Mississippi's party primaries are Aug. 7. The general election is Nov. 6.
Thank you Mississippi dims ping
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.
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?
You vill support the party or else!!
Dale will win anyway..
Dale will win anyway..
Hey we have our very own Joe Lieberman now.
Lots of nice things are happening in Miss. and they are going under the radar.
That's a great cartoon.
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