JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
A new Ward 3 election date is set to be announced within a week in Jackson.
After a jury declared a victory for Ward 3 candidate Joyce Jackson in court, the judge over the case ordered a new election to be held.
Last week the Jackson City Council tabled the issue, but it will be brought up again next week.
The only matter pending in the courts is Larita Cooper-Stokes request for a new trial, clearing the way for the Jackson city council to set an election date for the Ward 3 runoff.
City Attorney Peter Teeuwissen says, "Next week before the city council we will present the item as directed by the judge to set a new date for the special election. The judge said it needed to be between 21-30 days from the date of the meeting the meeting will be held next
Tuesday June 26th."
That puts the election between July 17th and 27th. But not according to Cooper Stokes, who says her motion supercedes everything.
Larita Cooper-Stokes says, "The city council must wait till all matters in court are decided."
Judge Richard McKenzie hasn't made a ruling on the motion, but then again, it's only been one day since it was filed.
Joyce Jackson and her attorney's say they just want a fair contest.
John Reeves says, "It's not that big a deal, if we get this motion resolved, go ahead and get the election set, that's all we want."
The Secretary of State's office says they will provide poll monitors, to oversee workers this time around.
Peter Teeuwissen says, "We want to make sure the citizens of the city of Jackson have confidence in the electoral system here and we want to follow everything the judge says and I think the governing authorities want to do so as well.
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