On October 14, the Glynn County, Georgia Board of Elections disqualified Elaine Brown from running for Mayor of Brunswick. Elaine Brown had been considered one of the leading Green Party candidates in next month’s elections around the nation. Candidates for Mayor must have lived in Brunswick for a year before the election. Brown lived with friends in Brunswick in November 2004, but didn’t started renting her current home until December 2004. She plans a lawsuit to overturn the Board’s decision.
She should look into some MN rulings. I believe in 2004 several cases were brouhgt up around this issue. A case from the area covering St. Peter had the courts ruling that looking for a place to live while being in the area (I believe the candidate was living in his business office) was good enough.
Check with Atty Brian Spears of Atlanta who is representing Ronda Cross-Scott of Homerville Georgia in a similar case now in federal court.
Elaine Brown had 10 days to file an appeal in the courts after she was removed from the ballot on Oct 14. At last check Elaine Brown continues to say she will fight this in court but 13 days after the decision, long past the 10 day limit, the courts have said she has yet to file any legal challenge in the courts. Elaine Brown talks a good game until you sit back and look at the facts and see for yourself what is truth and what is talk. With the electons less than 2 weeks away, this story continues.
Friends of Brunswick
PO Box 1776
Brunswick, GA 31521
December 10, 2005
Elaine Brown being Counter-Sued
Elaine Brown, the former and only female leader of the Black Panther Party, wanted to be Mayor of Brunswick, Georgia. Before the election a challenge was filed to the candidacy of Elaine Brown. A hearing was held and evidence presented established that Elaine Brown DID NOT meet the legal requirements to run for Mayor.
Elaine Brown has since filed appeal after appeal and filed other lawsuits challenging the Nov 8 Election results citing many violations and other reasons she cites in her lawsuits.
Now, the first COUNTER-SUIT has been filed against Elaine Brown seeking damages and legal fees.
This is a copy of the news report from The Brunswick News, Friday, December 9, 2005 on Page 2-A
Mayoral election back in court
The Brunswick News
Brunswick, Georgia
The two Brunswick residents who successfully petitioned to get Elaine brown off the mayoral ballot in the Nov 8 city election are now counter-suing her.
Brown has challenged the Glynn County Board of Elections ruling that removed her from the ballot in both Superior Court and U.S. District Court.
In their lawsuit filed Wednesday, Howard Buie and Alice Norman seek restitution of their legal fees for defending themselves during Brown’s hearings.
A hearing on Brown’s lawsuit contesting the results of last month’s election and a request for a new election will be held Dec 19 in Glynn County Superior Court.
A hearing date has not been set for the counter-suit.
Anyone running for office should be required to live in their respective area for at least a year. I think that’s only fair. I myself was thinking of moving to Brunswick but ended up buying some Saint Simons island real estate down here. The home I bought is an intracoastal home and though I love Brunswick I didn’t see as many intracoastal homes there as I did on the island.
I haven’t been to happy with many of the candidates in these parts over the last few years and it does seem as though many of them talk a good game, aren’t really from around here. I can’t remember his name but there was one guy who came down here looking for oceanfront home real estate and then within a month announced his running for mayor. I’ll never understand why these people come into an area and then act like they’ve been here for years, playing to the voting crowd.
I don’t think there should be ANY residency time requirement. If I, as a voter, wish to vote for someone who has only recently moved into the area, I should have a right to do so. Leave it to the voters to decide who is qualified.