Ex-Anderson Mayor To 'Rule From Exile' Pending Dispute

[AwakeAtLast]

Ex-Anderson Mayor To 'Rule From Exile' Pending Dispute

Lawsuit Questioning Election Winner's Residency Sent To High Court

POSTED: 8:28 am EST January 2, 2008
UPDATED: 9:53 pm EST January 2, 2008

ANDERSON, Ind. -- Though a new Anderson mayor has been inaugurated, the man he replaced says he's not officially acknowledging the change, citing a lawsuit questioning the election winner's residency.

Ex-Mayor Kevin Smith on Tuesday issued a statement contending it is his constitutional duty to keep claiming the office until the lawsuit -- which alleges new Mayor Kris Ockomon wasn't an Anderson resident for a required period before the election -- is adjudicated.

On Wednesday morning, a judge sent the lawsuit to the Indiana Supreme Court, asking it to appoint a special judge to the case.Ockomon, who was sworn in Tuesday, has assumed the mayor's duties and has moved into the mayor's official office. But Smith says he'll still claim the title of mayor until the lawsuit is resolved.

"Given the obvious potential for a vacancy in the office of mayor, I am ... announcing that I have not and will not be surrendering the office of mayor pending a determination by the courts," Smith said in the statement.

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/14960122/detail.html

If you guessed that Mr. Smith is a Republican --- you guessed right! What a pompous ass. He's the guy who sent a PIECE OF PAPER instead of himself to the ceremony honoring my husband's National Guard unit's service in Iraq and the awarding of medals. Good riddence (at least once he actually leaves office)!