New vote ordered in police chief, alderman races

DailyAmerican Republic

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Voters in the city of Piedmont will get another opportunity to decide the hotly contested races for police chief and Ward 1 alderman.

Wayne County Circuit Judge William Seay set aside the April 5 election results after hearing testimony Tuesday and ordered a new election for the two positions on May 24.

Richard Sanders, who served two two-year terms as police chief in the 1980s, defeated acting police chief Cory Thompson 334-332 in the April 5 election. Thompson has been acting police chief since the former police chief, Chris Gravely, resigned in September 2004 to return to the U.S. Air Force.

Victor Thompson defeated Richard Carter 168-166 in the contest for Ward 1 alderman. The previous Ward 1 alderman, Fred Handy, had resigned when he moved from Piedmont.

The two losing candidates then filed petitions in Wayne County Circuit Court at Greenville for a recount of the ballots.

They were represented by attorney Rebecca Burns of Poplar Bluff. Sanders and Victor Thompson were represented by attorney Joy Ferguson of Piedmont.

Petition for new election

County Clerk Alan Lutes filed a petition for a new election after he was informed that some voters who lived outside the city limits of Piedmont were improperly allowed to vote in the April 5 election.

Testifying during Tuesday's hearing, Lutes said there were five ballots cast in Ward 1 by people who do not live in Ward 1. Two live outside the city limits and three live in Ward 2. He also said four ballots were cast in Ward 2 by residents who live outside the city limits. The problem was due to the rural residents having city street addresses. Lutes has corrected the Piedmont voter registration list.

Sanders and Victor Thompson were sworn in on April 12, but the two positions will now remain vacant until after the special election on May 24.

Mayor Gaylon Watson has twice attempted to appoint a Ward 1 alderman to replace Handy, but both appointees were defeated on 2-1 votes by the other City Council members. The two council members opposed to the mayor's appointees want Victor Thompson appointed, but the mayor has refused to appoint him.