Mayor DuPree responds to Atty. General’s verbal opinion
Last Tuesday, Hattiesburg City Council president Kim Bradley received a phone call from Attorney General Jim Hood’s office. Bradley told us that the attorney general’s office gave a verbal opinion urging Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree to name three new election commissioners to replace three holdovers for mayor.
Bradley received a verbal opinion from the attorney general’s office, but that opinion is still not in writing from Attorney General Jim Hood. Earlier today, Mayor DuPree proclaimed the week of August 12- August 16, 2013 as the 2013 USTA mixed doubles championship tennis week at Tatum Park. When the proclamation ceremony ended, 7 on Your Side asked him to state his remarks about the verbal opinion from the attorney general’s office about who should oversee the upcoming special election for mayor.
“Even the plaintiff (election challenger and mayoral candidate, Dave Ware) released the election commission from the court battle, because they did nothing wrong. They’re volunteers, they come out, they love Hattiesburg, and want to make sure they have a clear, fair and transparent election,” DuPree said.
He added that the majority of the Hattiesburg City Council did not vote for holdovers to oversee the upcoming election.
The mayor has yet to see Attorney General Hood’s new opinion on paper.
“I have not received anything. I haven’t even received a copy of anything from the attorney general,” DuPree said.
Mayor DuPree acknowledged the long road leading up to the September 24 special election.
WDAM
9/5/13
Magnolia Tribune
