Barbour claiming right to set vote date

The Clarion-Ledger, 12/21/7

Claiming executive authority under the U.S. and Mississippi constitutions, Gov. Haley Barbour stood firm Thursday that a special election to fill a vacancy created by U.S. Sen. Trent Lott will be held Nov. 4.

But Attorney General Jim Hood, who disputes the election’s timing, says he’ll turn to the courts as soon as next week to resolve the issue if the governor doesn’t reconsider soon.

On Nov. 26, Lott announced his plans to resign by the end of the year. When the Senate session closed late Tuesday, he made it official.

According to the U.S. Constitution, “when a vacancy happens in the representation of any State (in the U.S. Senate) the executive authority… shall issue a writ of election to fill such a vacancy,” Barbour said in a statement.