JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
A new battle is brewing in the race for the Jackson ward 3 council seat. Ward 3 councilwoman Larita Cooper-Stokes says city officials have unfairly targeted her campaign.
Larita Cooper-Stokes and her husband supervisor Kenneth Stokes say they've lost thousands of dollars worth of campaign signs in the last few days.
They claim the majority of them have been ripped down by city code enforcement employees.
The city doesn't deny taking the signs down.
Deputy Director of Code Services, Kenneth Taylor says, "Based on the current city of Jackson ordinance, those signs are illegal. Our team of inspectors are removing them."
Kenneth Stokes says he helped create the ordinance while on the city council, and that his paper signs are exempt from the law.
Stokes also says that her opponent Joyce Jackson has also pulled down some of her paper signs.
"Political signs on poles are not illegal," says Stokes.
As fast as the city takes down the signs, they have campaign workers canvassing the ward, tacking new ones up.
Cooper-Stokes faces Joyce Jackson in a runoff race for her seat next Tuesday.
City officials say she could face fines of up to $300.00 for each fine she doesn't remove.
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