How Jim Hood rewrites law for the good ole boys
A recent Attorney General opinion makes it harder to hold public officials accountable when they tried to avoid the confirmation process. One problem in Mississippi government is the use of interim appointments. Mayors have repeatedly abused this practice when they fear a crony can’t get confirmed. Checks and balances are ignored while city councils and boards of aldermen have little remedy save going to court. However, a law was passed earlier this year to put a stop to this good ole boy practice.
The usual example happens when a Mayor wants to appoint a friend to a plum job but knows he probably can’t get the appointment confirmed by the city council. Many times the interim appointments are not qualified to serve in their appointed positions (See Willie Bell). The Mayor will then attempt to make an end run around the entire confirmation process and call him an “interim” appointment but then never submits his nomination for confirmation. It makes a mockery out of the entire concept of checks and balances. Mayors Johnny Dupree, Chokwe Lumumba, Les Fillingane, and Harvey Johnson all thought they were above the law as they loved to use interim appointments, checks and balances be damned.
The same shenanigans also take place with boards and commissions. Members are allowed to serve long after their terms expired. Millions of dollars are spent, hirings and firings take place, and votes are all made by members who should have no vote but hey, it’s Mississippi.
Kingfish
10/4/16
Magnolia Tribune
