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Trimble can't take office Monday
Special election to fill Ward 4 seat a possibility
Originally published 01:39 p.m., October 30, 2008
Updated 11:29 p.m., October 30, 2008
Circuit Judge John Bush ruled yesterday that William Trimble would not take the oath of office as a Clanton City Councilmember on Monday.
Bush made the ruling after listening to both sides in a contest filed over the Ward 4 city council election. Trimble won the Oct. 7 runoff for the Ward 4 seat but his opponent, Greg Dejarnett, contested Trimble’s election, claiming Trimble did not meet the requirement of living within Ward 4.
Yesterday’s hearing was to rule on a request from DeJarnett that Trimble not be allowed to take office since he had contested Trimble’s election.
Trimble said at the beginning of the hearing that he was qualified to run for the Ward 4 seat on the council and represented himself. Dejarnett was represented by Bill Speaks.
Kim Gillespie, chief clerk for the Chilton County Tax Assessor’s office, testified that Trimble was listed as the owner of a home located at 1354 Kincheon Road and that Trimble had acquired a homestead exemption on that property. The home is located in Ward 5 in Clanton.
DeJarnett testified that he had visited Trimble at Trimble’s home on Kincheon Road (over the years) and that a second home within Ward 4 owned by Trimble was not “in my opinion” in a state where someone could live.
Pam Kelley, representing the Chilton County Board of Registrars, testified that in August Trimble was listed as a qualified voter in Clanton’s Ward 5.
Trimble called no witnesses but told Judge Bush he has furniture in the house (located in Ward 4) and has spent time living there.
Speaks told the court that Trimble was listed by the tax assessor’s office as the owner of the home on Kincheon Road and signed an oath that the Kincheon Road home was his permanent residence when he filed for homestead exemption on that home.
Judge Bush said he would issue an order by the end of the day yesterday that would keep Trimble from being sworn in as the Ward 4 council member on Monday when the mayor and other elected council members are sworn in at Clanton’s City Hall.
He set the trial date for the election contest for Friday, Nov. 7.
Judge Bush explained it was important to handle this matter quickly because as he believed a special election may have to be held to fill the seat on the council.
Comments
Posted by TheDude (Michael Wells) on October 30, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, there ya go ...
Posted by Rickey (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Either one is legally allowed to represent the people of Ward 4 or they are not! Plain and simple. Taking an "Oath" may appear to be a mere formality, but it is actually swearing to uphold the truth. How can one swear to uphold the truth and represent the people of ANY ward, if they do not legally belong to that Wardship. The Answer ... they simply LIE.
Posted by NoSugar (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree.This should be quickly resolved so that the council can get on with the peoples business. I believe that if the residency was in question then Mr. DeJarnett made the right move but the court should move quickly to resolve this issue. How difficult can it be?
Posted by PhilBurnette (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 7:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why do we need to spend tax money on hearings to fix this? How hard is it to simply drive to the man's house and see if it is in the Ward he ran in? Simple, inexpensive common sense...so of course it will not be done that way.
Posted by belklowe1 (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think this is bad on Greg because if he thought William do not live in Ward 4, he should have contested before the election not after William beat him.The people of Ward 4 elected who they wanted to represent them and I'm sorry but it was not GREG.After this I do not think that people of Ward 4 will vote for Greg if there is a special election.I know I will not because I live in Ward 4 and I did vote for Greg in the run-off.
Posted by NoSugar (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The question of Trimble's residency was raised before the election, however no action was taken. It is very likely that through our legal system the only way to contest was after the election. It seems that some of you think it is ok for Mr. Trimble to have gotten voted in illegally, if that is the case. I do not know if he lives in Ward 4 or not but if there is a question about it then Mr. DeJarnett is doing the right thing by contesting it and I want to commend any one who has the courage to go against the norm and pursue what is right and just. So few people today have the character and integrity it takes to stand up for what is right, most just choose the easiest route and go with the flow. That attitude is the main reason for most of the problems we have in our country today. Often we all need to take a step back and really look at the situation and determine what is right, not what is convenient.
Posted by onevoice (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The court has ruled, but Ward 4 is still hanging in the balance. NoSugar I also believe that Greg had every right to contest the election of Mr. Trimble. However, I have to agree with belklowe1 when it comes to Greg's chances of winning a special election at this point. Regardless of what one may think is right or wrong concernig the residency of Mr. Trimble, the people voted and the majority stood with Mr. Trimble. Being a resident of Ward 4 this is a hot topic for discussion. Most people still lean toward Mr. Trimble as their candidate of choice. A lot of it has to do with how some of Greg's supporters are approaching people concerning this matter. I am not saying that Greg is sending these people out to speak for him, but their approach is all wrong. Like I have stated before, I would be pleased with either one of these men representing Ward 4. Good luck to both men in all future endeavors.
Posted by KatherineReece (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Perhaps people who are running for office in a particular area should be required to prove when they put their name on the ballot that they live in that particular area. He should be proven the same way that the court case was decided, by a statement from the board of registrars.
Just my thought.
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