House candidates tie up over residency issue|[10/12/07]

Published 12:00 am Friday, October 12, 2007

It was whistle-stopping without the train at Covenant Health & Rehabilitation Thursday, as 22 candidates appearing on the Nov. 6 general election ballot took part in a meet-and-greet at the residential facility.

Most candidates kept things dignified while meeting with 20 or so residents and employees of the Porters Chapel Road center, sticking to campaign themes.

District 4 supervisor candidate C.L. “Buddy” Hardy greeted those in attendance with a folksy “How y’all are?” opening. House District 54 candidate Jennifer Thomas’ campaign received unexpected plugs because she was left off the announced list of invited candidates for the seat — leading to three extra mentions to make up for it.

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“Y’all remember, Jennifer Thomas. District 54,” social services director and event co-organizer Ingrid Powell said three times near the conclusion of the event.

The discourse was mild compared to the exchange between House District 55 Rep. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg and Republican challenger Rick McAlister.

Flaggs opened by reminding the crowded dining room he is the most experienced and longest-tenured legislator in Vicksburg and Warren County — and the only local lawmaker serving on the Legislative Budget Committee.

“I’ve balanced budgets for 20 years without raising taxes,” Flaggs said. “George Flaggs is your District 55 representative.”

Flaggs is chairman of the Juvenile Justice committee. He also serves on six others, Appropriations, Gaming, Hurricane Recovery, Investigate State Offices, Public Health & Human Services and Medicaid.

McAlister, operator of R&C Auto Sales on U.S. 61 South and pastor of New Vision Family Worship Center, launched a broadside against Flaggs first brought up in the months after qualifying — that Flaggs does not live in the district he represents.

“He doesn’t live in District 55. He lives in District 54,” McAlister said. “He uses his mother’s address.”

Flaggs has said he maintains a residence at 111 Laura Lake Road, off Halls Ferry Road and outside Vicksburg, as a second home while another is built on Confederate Avenue. His primary residence remains 603 Howard St., off Grove Street, the home of his mother, Mozella Flaggs. He maintains his name is still on voter rolls at the voting precinct at St. Aloysius.

Mississippi law requires a candidate be a registered voter in the district they run to represent. To be a registered voter in the district, one must be a legal resident of the district. Flaggs has said the matter has been settled with the Secretary of State’s Office and the Mississippi Democratic Party approving his qualification.

District 55 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.

Both were unopposed in their respective party primaries Aug. 7. Despite Flaggs’ high name recognition in the district, McAlister hammered away at Flaggs’ record. He said he has heard from voters on the stump they don’t know what Flaggs has accomplished in 20 years.

“And yes, I’ll bring my Bible with me to Jackson,” he said.

Campaign finance reports submitted for the period ending Sept. 30 were filed in the Secretary of State’s Office Wednesday, which experienced computer failures with scanning devices. As a result, a few reports were not immediately available, including Flaggs’ filing.

Once available, it showed Flaggs raising $37,679.92 and spending $23,887.13 for the period. The report shows $13,792.79 on hand. McAlister’s report was available Wednesday. It showed $7,546.33 raised and $7,541.33 spent.

Another political forum is planned for 6 p.m. on Oct. 23, at LeTourneau Volunteer Fire Department. As with Thursday’s event, all candidates running for local and legislative offices have been invited.