State Senate candidate Eric Rawlings is sticking by his claim that state Rep. George Flaggs gave him campaign money and has lobbed a new grenade – that Flaggs, a senior member of the House, no longer lives in the Vicksburg district he represents.

Both men are Democrats, seeking different offices and neither faces a primary opponent.

Flaggs said he was at a loss to understand why Rawlings was needling him – and continued to vehemently deny any donation to anyone. He has filed a written protest with state authorities and said he was more than willing to take a polygraph exam.

&#8220Mr. Flaggs gave me four one hundred dollar bills and told me to take this for my campaign,” Rawlings said, adding the transaction took place in an impromptu meeting in a parking lot after the two passed each other in traffic sometime shortly after qualifying ended March 1.

The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office confirmed it received a letter from Flaggs asking for an investigation into the campaign finance report submitted by Rawlings and showing $400 from Flaggs, although Flaggs’ first and last names were misspelled.

Rawlings is the lone Democrat seeking the Senate seat in District 23 being vacated by Sen. Mike Chaney, R-Vicksburg.

Rawlings said Flaggs &#8220got caught playing both sides” by first supporting attorney W. Briggs Hopson III, who had initially filed to run as a Democrat. Hopson switched to Republican on the final day of qualifying, a week after Rawlings filed to run for the Democratic nod for District 23. Flaggs said Rawlings is clearly trying to embarrass him, but says he has no idea what Rawlings believes he has to gain.

Hopson faces retired state trooper James &#8220Buddy” Terrell and state Rep. Chester Masterson in the Aug. 6 primary. The winner of that contest advances to face Rawlings.

With the new accusation, Rawlings said it was improper for Flaggs to maintain 111 Laura Lake Road, off Halls Ferry Road, as a primary residence, as it is outside Vicksburg and District 55.

&#8220If Mr. Flaggs is so honest then why is he not living in his voting district?” Rawlings asked.

Mississippi law requires candidates for office to be registered voters in the district they seek to represent. To be a registered voter in a district, one must be a legal resident of that district.

Flaggs, who has served 20 years in the House and is seeking a sixth term, said today his primary residence remains 603 Howard St., off Grove Street, which is in District 55. On Warren County property tax records, the house is the home of his mother, Mozella Flaggs &#8220et. al.,” which means &#8220and others.”

&#8220I have five vehicles registered there and I homestead there,” Flaggs said, adding he still plans to build on property he owns inside the district on Confederate Avenue.

Flaggs said his name is on voter rolls at the St. Aloysius precinct for state elections. He said he has discussed the matter with the Secretary of State’s Office and the Mississippi Democratic Party and is in compliance.

The 1,800-square-foot home on Laura Lake Road, built in 1992, was purchased as a secondary home and will be conveyed to his daughter sometime this year after she marries, he said.

On Flaggs’ biography page on the Mississippi House of Representatives Web site, a post office box is listed for his home address. Flaggs said he uses the box as a way to separate his legislative mail from his personal mail.

&#8220I have a large volume of mail,” he said.

Flaggs is unopposed for the Democratic nomination for a sixth term for state representative in the Vicksburg-based district, which stretches from Eagle Lake south into Vicksburg, straddling land along Grange Hall and Gibson roads to the south and east. The house owned by Flaggs on Laura Lake Road is just south of the district line.

He will face minister and businessman Rick McAlister in the general election Nov. 6. McAlister is unopposed for the Republican nod.

Flaggs said he was prepared for a negative race, one in which he will face opposition for the first time since 1995.

&#8220I’ve prepared my mother, my wife and my family for a very personal race,” Flaggs said.