Just a reminder to our gold star readers that the Delegate Ken Reed versus Howard Stone election case is still pending.
That’s where now-Delegate Ken Reed, the Eastern Panhandle Republican, is trying to collect legal fees, etc. from where Stone challenged Reed’s residency as they ran for the House seat.
Although Cabell Countians think they own the current market on county commission residency confusion, I really seldom get as excited as some think I should since little — if anything — comes of living at the wrong place.
I’ve been watching candidates argue residency for 50 years. It’s generally a loser.
Governor Jim Justice doesn’t live in the Mansion. Who knows where Reed lives? There are a couple of handfuls of others whose nightly abode is questionable.
So what will eventually happen with the Cabell Commission seat? Little if anything is the answer.
Confusion caused by a since-deceased County Clerk and County Commissioner will be sacrificed for the “clerical errors” it caused resulting in a few “mistakes.” No intent; no felonies. Life will go on.
Meanwhile, the wannabees at Real Huntington will continue wanting to be but demonstrating their weakness on a regular basis. Is there a limit to how poorly one can run for a specified number of times and still be a government and election “expert” on the verge of taking over top management?
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If it turns out Commission President Jim Morgan was speaking truth when he said two commissioners served from the same magisterial district at the same time, what’s to be done about it?
Who has jurisdiction to remove one of the members? And, if found, which one gets removed?
Are votes conducted with an improper member now null and void?
And the current vote to redistrict was 2-1. One of the two prevailing voters is now deceased. So is the cut from five to three magisterial districts legal at this point? Or are we back to five districts?
Does this all make John Mandt Jr. eligible to be elected in 2022, regardless? Does it make him the winner without the necessity for a cumbersome election? Who’s on first? No, Who’s on second; Morgan’s on first. Wait a minute … What’s on third?
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I know I should be like the Bible-toting holy man and try to convince one and all that civilization’s entire future hangs in the balance as far as residency is determined.
If the issue of who served from what magisterial district is not soon resolved, Cabell County as we know it may cease to exist. Could I sell that like Jim Bakker sells hairspray?
Oh poppycock!
There’s an election coming up soon. The voters — oh yeah, the voters, will have their way.
They’ll fill Cartmill’s unexpired term; they’ll either re-elect the lone Democrat, Morgan, or they’ll give us someone new. It won’t matter who filled what seat. Important decisions will be made; the public will be served — well or poorly.
Although the residency issue always inspires debate and sells newspapers, it’s really much ado about not much.
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We all gotta live somewhere. Right?