### At pres ent , Gl enn is the Gre enwood Ci ty Counc ilMem ber for Ward 5, having f

ac ed 1 

### no othe r c onte nder s f

or the pos ition in thegene ra l e le ction in June2013, whi ch occurred during the p end encyof th e present suit.

I N T H E SUPR EM E C O UR T O F M I SS I SS I PPI

NO. 2 0 1 3 - I A- 0 1 1 1 2 - S CT DOR OT HY A NN GL EN

N
v. AN DR EW POW ELL
D A T E O F JU D G M E N T : 06/ 27/ 2013 TRI AL J UD GE: HO N. HEN RY L. LAC KEY T R IA L C O U R T A T T O R N E Y S : W IL L IE J A M E S P E R K IN S , S R . J AM ES D. BELL P AUL CALE B KOON CE COURT F ROM W HI CH APP EAL ED: LE F LORE COUNTY CI RCUI T COURT AT T OR NE YS F OR AP P E L L ANT : E RI C C HAR L E S HAW KI NS W IL L IE J A M E S P E R K IN S , S R . ATTO RN EYS FOR A PP ELLEE: J AM ES D. BELL P AUL CALE B KOON CE N A TU RE O F TH E C A SE: CI V I L - ELE CT I O N CO N TEST DI S P OS I T I ON: AF F I RMED I N P AR T ; RE VE RS E D AND V A C A T E D I N PA R T - 10/ 23/ 2014 M OT I ON F OR RE HE AR I NG F I L E D: M ANDAT E I S S UE D: EN BA NC. KI TCHEN S , J UST I CE, FOR TH E COU RT: ¶1
. Fol l ow i ng t he M ay 7, 2013, Democr a t i c pr i m ar y f ort he W ar d 5 s eaton t he G r eenw ood C i ty C ounci l , t he G r eenw ood M uni ci pal D emocr at i c Execut i ve C om m i t t ee ce rt if ied D o roth y A n n G lenn as th e w inn er a n d thu s the D em o cra ti c n o m inee fo r the W ard 5 s eaton the C i ty C ounci l
. A ndr ew Pow el l , the runner - up f orthe D emocr at i c nom i nat i on 1

### A write-in can did ate receiveda sing le vo te, garn ering 0.2 % o f the v otes cast. 2 

### Sec ti on 23-15- 921 provi des thefol lowing: 3 

### Ex cept a s othe rwi seprovide d by Sec ti on 23- 15-961, a pe rs on de siring to contest the electio n o f ano ther p ersonreturn ed as th e no minee o f the party to any c ounty or

county di stri ct

of fi ce , or as thenomineeof a le gis lative di stri ct com pose d of one(1) county or l es s, may, withintwenty ( 20) days a ft er the pri marye l e c t i on , f

i l e ape t i t i onwi th thes e c r e t ary, or anym e mbe r

of the county exe cutivecommi tt eein t he c ountyinw hic h theel ec ti on was hel d, settingforththe g round s up onwh ich th e primaryelectionis contested . . . . 2 f orthe W ar d 5 s eat , chal l enged the el ect i on r es ul t s , cont endi ng thatG l enn w as nota r es i dent of W ar d 5 att he t i m e of

t he el ect i on and thats he cons equent l y w as i nel i gi bl e t o run f orthat
o ffic e . P o w e ll so u g h t a sp e c ial p rim a ry ru n o ff e lec tio n , w ith o u t G len n ’s n a m e o n th e b a llo t. T he C i r cui tC our tof

L ef l or e C ount y, Speci al E l ect i on T r i bunal , f ound thatG l enn w as not
a re sid e n t o f W a rd 5 , h e ld tha t sh e w a s n o t q u a lified to h o ld th e p o sitio n o f G re e n w o o d C ity C ounci l M emberf

orW ar d 5, s etas i de the r es ul t s of the pr i m ary el ect i on of M ay 7, 2013, and
or der ed a s peci al pr i m ary runof f el ect i on w i thoutG l enn’ s name on t he bal l ot. F i ndi ng no err orbel ow , w e af

f i r m i n part . W e r ever s e i n par tand vacat e t he or derof the ci r cui tcourtf or a s p e c ia l p ri m a ry ru n o ff e le c tio n . F AC T S AN D P RO CE E DI NG S B E L OW ¶ 2
. In th e M a y 7 , 2 0 1 3 , D e m o c ra tic p ri m a ry , G len n g a rn e re d 5 5 .5 1 % o f th e v o tes c a st; the ru n n er-u p , A n d rew P o w ell , g arn ere d 3 9
. 7 3 % o f th e v o tes cast; an d N o rm an S m ith , a third cont ender , garner ed 4. 56% of the vot es c as t . Thr ee days a f t erthe pr i m ary, on M ay 10, 2013, 2 P o w ell fi led a “P eti ti o n for C erti fi ca ti o n o f th e T rue R esu lt s o f th e D em o cra ti c P ri m ary E l ect i on f

orC i ty C ounc i l M e mber , W a r d 5 , ” pu r s ua ntt o M i s s i s s i ppi C ode Sect i on 23- 15- 921 ( R ev. 2007) , w i th the G r eenw ood M uni ci pal D emocr at i c E xecut i ve C om m i t t ee ( “Execut i ve

3

### Mis si ss ippiCode Se ction 21- 8-7( 4)( a) (Supp. 2014) provides th at “ [c ] ounci lm en 4 

### el ec ted to repres ent

wards must

be r es ide nts of their wards at thetimeof qua li fi cati on for el ec ti on, and any c ounci l m em ber who re move s the member’s reside ncefrom t he mun icipalityor fro m the w ard fro m wh ich h e was electedshall v acate that o ffice.” 3 C om m i t t ee” )
. Pow el l s t at ed that“G l enn i s notcurr ent l y a resi dentof the 5th w ar d of G r eenw ood, M [ i s s i s s i ppi ] and w as nota r es i dentatthe t i m e she qual i f i ed t o run f

orof f i ce, and i s ther ef

or e i nel i gi bl e t o run f

orand/ orr epr es entthe D em ocr at i c Party i n the gene r al el ect i on . . . . ” A t t ache d t o Pow el l ’ s pet i t i on w er e af f i davi t s of

r el at i ves and ac quai nt ance s of G l enn att es t i ng thatG l enn di d notr es i de i n W ar d 5. A ccor di ng t o Pow el l , G l enn err oneous l y cl ai m ed r es i dence a t116 Longi no St r eeti n G r eenw ood i n or dert o qual i f y t o run fo r th e W a rd 5 se a t w h e n , in a c tu a lity , h e r re s id e n c e w a s 3 0 1 E a st P e rc y S tre e t in G r eenw ood, a dw el l i ng nots i tuat ed w i thi n W ar d 5. Pow el l r eques t ed thatthe Execut i ve 4 Co mm i t t e e “ d e c l a r e t h a tt h e t ru e r e s u l to f th e M a y 7 , 2 0 1 3 p r i ma ry i s th a tth e r e a r e t wo eli g ible ca n d idates, na m ely A n d rew P o w ell an d N o rm an S m ith , that sh all b e in a run -off p ri m a ry e le c tio n .” ¶3
. H avi ng re cei ved n o r e s po ns e f r om t he Exe c ut i ve Com mi tt e e a s of M a y 1 6, 2013, Pow el l f i l ed a “ Pet i t i on f

or Judic i al R evi ew of

the D emocr at i c Pr i m ary R es ul t s f ort he E l ect i on of

t he Pos i t i on of

C i ty C ounci l m an, W ar d 5” i n the C i r cui tC our tof L ef l or e C ount y. T hats ame day, thi s C our tappoi nt ed a s peci al j udge t o pr es i de overthe mat t er . G l enn
r es ponded w i th a M ot i on t o D i s m i s s , as s ert i ng thatthe courtl acke d s ubje ctm att erand per s onal j ur i s di ct i on and thatP ow el l had fa i l ed t o st at e a cl ai m upon w hi ch r el i ef coul d be gr ant ed. A l t ernat i vel y, G l enn as s ert ed an ent i t l ementt o s um m ary j udgm ent“on the gr ound thatther e i s no genui ne i s s ue of m at er i al f

act . ”

### 4

¶4. A bench tr i al w as conduct ed on M a y 2 4, 2013. Per s ons w hos e af f i davi t s w er e att ache d t o P ow el l ’ s Pet i t i on f

orC ert i f i cat i on t es t i f

i ed attr i al thatG l enn di d notr es i de atthe 116 L ongi no St r eetaddr es s , butthats he ac tual l y r es i ded at30 1 E as tPer cy Str eet , a hous e not
s i tuat ed w i thi n W ar d 5. G l enn di d t es t i f y on herow n behal f

, denyi ng t hatshe f

al s el y cl ai m ed
res i den cy at 116 L on gino S treeti n o rdert o m eetthe resi den cy requ i rem en t. N evertheles s, G len n tes tified th a t sh e h a d m u lti p le r e sid e n c e s, a n d th a t sh e h a d re sid e d fo r a tim e a t a b u sine ss sh e o w n ed a t 60 1 B roa d S tr ee t, an ad d ress situ ated in W ard 7 . A R eg ist ere d V o ters R ep ortw a s a dmi t t e d i nt o e vi de nc e s ho w i ng a n a dd r e s s f orG l e nn ( a l s o k no w n a s D or ot hy A nn N i chol s ) a t514 E as tM cLaur i n Str eet . But a notherV ot er s Repor tde m onst rat ed t hat W i l l i e W ayne G at ew ood l i ved att hatsame addr es s . G at ew ood t es t i f i ed thatG l enn had ne ver l i ved at51 4 E astM cL auri n S treet , bu tthat she had asked hi s perm i ssi on t o use t hat address as her m ai l i ng add res s. ¶5. T he tr i al courtfi l ed F i nd i ng s of F act an d C oncl us i ons of L aw on J une 28, 2013, f i ndi ng that“G l enn has no cr edi bi l i ty as a w i tnes s ” and that“hert es t i m ony and the evi dence
r ece i ved pr oves thatM s . G l enn has a pr opens i ty t o us e f al s e addr es s es t o at t empt t o m eett he
r equi r ementf

orcandi dacy f

orpubl i c of

f i ce. ” Fi ndi ng f

ur therthat“[ t ] he over w hel m i ng pr eponder ance of

the evi dence r ece i ved dur i ng the tr i al convi nced the C our tthatD or ot hy A nn G l enn i s notcurr ent l y a r es i dentof the 5th W ar d of

G r eenw ood, M i s s i s s i ppi and w as nota r es i dentatthe t i m e thats he appl i ed t o run f orof f i ce, ” the tr i al courthel d thatG l enn had been i nel i gi bl e t o r epr es entthe D emocr at i c Party i n the gene r al el ect i on f orthe of f i ce of G r eenw ood M uni ci pal C i ty C ounci l M ember , W ar d 5. A s a r es ul tof G l enn’ s di s qual i f

i cat i on t o run as t he D emocr at i c nom i nee, t he t r i al cour thel d f ur therthat“the r es ul tof the gene r al

### 5

el ect i on f

orthatpos i t i on is set asi de and he l d f ornaught , ” and thati f

G l enn “ha s as s um ed of f i ce by t he t i m e t hi s orde ri s m ade f i nal , then s he i s by O r derof thi s C our tr emoved f

r om of f i ce. ” The t r i al courtorde r ed a spe ci al runof f el ect i on t o t ake pl ace “on the f i r s tT ues day af t ertw o w eeks af

t erthe entr y of

thi s O r der
. ” ¶ 6
. A g g rie v e d , G len n filed o n Ju n e 3 0 , 2 0 1 3 , a P e tit io n fo r In ter lo c u to ry A p p e a l in th is C our t . A panel of

thi s Courtgr ant ed G l enn’ s pe t i t i on a nd s t ayed e xecut i on of the j udgm ent
o n J u l y 2 , 2 0 1 3
. Gl e n n r a i s e s two i s s u e s f o ri n t e r l o c u t o ry r e v i e w: 1. W hetherthe l ow ercourthad j ur i s di ct i on t o deci de a c ont es tof qual i f i cat i ons of

candi dat es f

orpr i m ary e l e c t i on un de rM i s s . Code A nn. Sect i on 23- 15- 927 as oppos ed t o Sect i on 23- 15- 961. 2
. W h ethe r th e low er co u rterred i n ord ering a spe cial p ri m ary ru n o ff e le c tio n w ith in tw o w e e k s b e tw e e n th e tw o lo s in g c a n d id a te s . W e a d d re s s e a c h a s s ig n m e n t o f e rr o r i n tu rn . DI S CU S S I ON ¶ 7 . “ In a n e lec tio n co n tes t, th e sta n d a rd o f re v iew fo r q u e s tio n s o f l a w is d e n o v o .” S u mn e rv . Cit

y o f Co mo De mo c r a ti c E

x e c u ti v e Co mm. , 972 So. 2d 616, 618 ( M i s s . 2008) ( quot i ng Ga r n e rv. S ta te De mo c r a ti c E x e c u ti v e Co mm. , 956 So. 2d 906, 909 (M i s s . 2007) ( ci t i ng L adn er v. N

ecais e , 771 So. 2d 353, 355 ( M i s s . 2000) ) )
. “W hen a tr i al j udge s i t s as a f actf i nder , hi s orhe rf

i ndi ngs a r e r evi ew ed f

ormani f es terr or , and the ver di ctw i l l notbe di s turbed unl es s i t‘ i s a r es ul tof pr ej udi ce, bi as , orf

r aud, ori s mani f

es t l y a gai ns tthe w ei ght of cr edi bl e evi dence
. ’ ” B o y d v . T is h o min g o Co u n t

y De mo c r a ti c E

x e c u ti v e Co mm. , 912 So. 2d 124, 128- 129 ( quot i ng Mis s . D ep’t of T r ansp. v. Johnson , 87 3 S o. 2d 10 8, 11 1 (M i ss. 2 0 0 4 ))
.

### 6

1. W het her t he l ow er c ourt h ad juris di ct i on t o deci de a cont es t of qual i f i c at i ons of

ca ndi dat e s f

or pri m ar y e l e c t i on unde r M i s s i s s i ppi C ode Sect i on 23- 15- 927 as opposed t o Sect i on 23- 15- 961. ¶8. G l enn cont ends thatthe l ow er cou rtlacked j uri sdi ct i on u nd erM i s s i s s i ppi C ode S ec ti o n s 2 3 -15 -9 2 1 a n d 2 3 -15 -92 7 . S h e u rge s tha t, b ec au se P o w ell co n test ed G lenn ’s qual i f i cat i on as a c andi dat e, hi s s ol e r emedy cons i s t ed of f i l i ng a cont es tunderM i s s i s s i ppi C od e S ect i on 23 -15-961
. M i ssi ssi pp i C od e S ect i on 23 -15-961 (1) provides: A ny person d esi ri ng t o co ntes tthe q uali fi cat i on s of anot her person as a candi dat e f

ornom i nat i on in a pol i t i cal par t y pr i m ar y el ect i on s hal l f

i l e a pet i t i on spec i f

i cal l y s ett i ng f

or th the gr ounds of

the cha l l enge w i thi n t en ( 10) day s af t erthe qual i

f yi ng deadl i ne fo r th e o ffic e in q u e stio n . T h e p e tit io n sh a ll be f i l ed w i th the e xe c ut i ve c omm i t t e e w i th whom t he c a nd i da t e i n q ue s t i on q u a lif ie d
. M is s . C o d e A n n . § 2 3 -1 5 -9 6 1 (1 ) ( R e v . 2 0 0 7 ) ( e m p h a s is a d d e d ). ¶9. P o w ell ad m it tedly fi led, on A p ri l 23, 201 3, an unti m ely c h all en g e to G lenn ’s qual i f i cat i ons pur s uantt o M i ssi ssi pp i C ode Sect i on 23- 15- 961( 1) , w hi ch he c oncede s w as “pr op erl y deni ed by the G r eenw ood M uni ci pal D emocr at i c Execut i ve C om m i t t ee. ” The qual i f yi ng deadl i ne w as M ar ch 8, 2013, and thus Pow el l had unt i l M ar ch 18, 2013, t o f i l e a t i m el y chal l enge t o G l enn’ s qual i f i cat i ons as a ca ndi dat e f ornom i nat i on. ¶1 0. B ut , as Pow el l an d the tr i a l c ou r tr e c og ni z e , ou re xa mi na t i on of G l e nn’ s “l aw f

ul qual i f i cat i on s t o run f

ororhol d of

f i ce doe s notend ther e, ” f orPow el l br oughthi s Pet i t i on f o rCe r t i f i c a t i o n a n d h i s P e t i t i o n f o rJ u d i c i a l Re v i e w af

t erth e p rim a ry e lec tio n p u rsu a n t to M i s s i s s i ppi C ode Sect i ons 23- 15- 921 and 23- 15- 927. W e mustas cer t ai n w hetherthe tr i al
court ’ s exer ci s e of

j ur i s di ct i on unde rSec t i ons 23- 15- 921 a nd 23- 15- 927 w as pr oper . Sect i on 23 -15-921 provides:

### SeeMis s. Code Ann. § 23 -15-171(1) (Re v. 2007) (“ At s uch prim ar y el ec ti on the 5 

### muni cipalexe cutiveco mmi tt eesha llper for m t he s am e dutie s a s arespe ci fi ed by l aw and perfo rmed b y memb ers of the countyex ecutiv e co mmittee withregardto state an d co unty pri mary e le ctions .” ); Mis s. Code Ann. § 23-15- 171(3) (Rev. 2007) (“Al l pri mary e le ctions in m unic ipa li ti es sha llbe he ld and conduc te d in t he s am e m anne r a s i s provide d by law for st at e and county pri mary e le ctions .” ). 7 E x c e p t as o th e rw ise p ro v id e d b y S e c tio n 2 3 -1 5 -9 6 1 , a p e rso n d e sirin g to co n testthe e lecti o n o f an o ther pers on r etur ned as the nom i nee of the par t y to any county orcounty di s tr i ctof f i ce, or as t he nom i nee of a l egi s l at i ve di s tr i ct composed of

one ( 1) county or l ess , m ay, w i thin tw enty ( 20 ) days af t erthe pr i m ar y elect i on , f

i l e a pe t i t i on w i th the s ecr et ary, orany me m ber of the count y execut i ve comm i t t ee i n the county i n w hi ch the el ect i on w as hel d, 5 s e ttin g fo rt h th e g ro u n d s u p o n w h ic h th e p ri m a ry e le c tio n is c o n te s te d
. . . . M i s s . Code A nn. § 23- 15- 921 ( R ev. 2007) ( emphasi s a dded)
. Li kew i s e, M i s s i s si pp i C ode S e c tio n 2 3 -1 5 -9 2 7 p ro v id e s: W hen and af

t era ny c ont es tha s be en f i l ed w i th the county execut i ve comm i t t ee, orcompl ai ntw i th the Stat e Execut i ve C om m i t t ee, and the e x e c u tiv e c o m m itt e e h a v in g ju risd ictio n fa ils to p ro m p tly m e e t o r, h a v in g m e t, fa ils o r u n re a so n a b ly d e lay s to fu lly a c t u p o n th e c o n tes t o r c o m p lain t o r fa ils t o gi ve w i th r eas onabl e pr om ptnes s the f ul l r el i ef r equi r ed by the f

act s and the l aw , the cont es t ants hal l have the r i ghtf or thw i th t o f

i l e i n the ci r cui tcourtof th e c o u n ty in w h ic h th e ir re g u la ri tie s a re c h a rg e d to h a v e o c c u rr e d
. . . . M is s . C o d e A n n . § 2 3 -1 5 -9 2 7 (S u p p . 2 0 1 4 ). ¶ 1 1
. T h e D e m o c ra tic p rim a ry e lec tio n w a s h e ld o n M a y 7 , 2 0 1 3 , a n d P o w e ll fil e d h is Pet i t i on f orC ert i f i cat i on on M ay 10, 2013, w i thi n the tw enty- day f i l i ng per i od al l ow ed under Sect i on 23- 15- 921. C i t i ng M i s s i s s i ppi C ode Sect i on 23- 15- 961( 7) , w hi ch st at es that“[ t ] he p roc ed u re s et fo rth a b o v e sh all b e the so le a n d o n ly m an n er in w h ich the q u ali fi ca ti o n s o f a candi dat e s eeki ng p ub l i c of f i ce a s a party m ay be c hal l enged p rio r to th e tim e o f h is
nom i nat i on orel ect i on , ” the t ri al courthel d that“[ a] f t erthe Pr i m ary on M ay 7, 2013, D or othy A nn G l enn t r ans f or m ed f r om a ‘c andi dat e f

ornom i nat i on’ t o an appa r entoractual

### 8

‘ nom i nee. ’ ” Thus, the tr i al courthel d thatSect i on 23- 15- 961( 1) no l ongerappl i ed t o G l enn, s i nce, af t erM ay 7, 2013, s he w as no l ongert he “ca ndi dat e f ornom i nat i on, ” buti ns t ead ha d been ce r t i f

i ed as t he D emocr at i c par ty nom i nee. T he tr i al courtrul ed thatSect i on 23- 15- 921 i s “a s epar at e s t atut e governi ng chal l enges of a party nom i nee. ” W e agr ee. T he l anguage of S ect i on 23 -15-961 renders i tinappli cable t o the presentcase. A tthe ti m e of Po w el l ’s con t est f i l i ng, G l enn no l ongerw as the “ca ndi dat e f ornomi nat i on i n a pol i t i cal party pr i m ary” under Sect i on 23- 15- 961( 1) , butha d be en “r eturned as the nom i nee of the party” underSect i on 23- 15- 921. S o P ow el l ’ s cont es tpurs uantt o S ect i on 23-15- 921 w as both pr ocedur al l y t i m el y and
s u b s ta n tiv e ly m e ri to ri o u s . ¶12. G l enn, how ever , ur ges thatthi s C our t ’ s hol di ng i n Go u r la y v. Wil lia ms , 874 S o. 2d 987 ( M i s s . 2004) , s t ands f orthe pr opos i t i on thatSect i on 23- 15- 961 pr ovi ded Pow el l an excl us i ve means of

cont es t i ng G l enn’ s qual i f i cat i ons t o run f

orthe W ar d 5 of

f i ce. I n t hat
cas e, G our l ay cont es t ed W i l l i ams’ s qual i f i cat i ons t o run as the D emocr at i c nomi nee f orthe pos i t i on of

B ol i varC ounty Super vi s or , D i s tr i ct1, pur s uantt o M i s s i s s i ppi C ode Sect i on 23- 1 5 -9 6 3 (R e v . 2 0 0 1 ). I

d. a t 9 8 8 . T h is C o u rt h e ld th a t S e c tio n 2 3 -1 5 -9 6 1 p ro v id e d , “ p rio r to the gener alel ect i on , ” “the s ol e means f orcont es t i ng the qual i f

i cat i ons of

a candi dat e s eeki ng of f i ce as a par t

y nom i nee . ” I

d. a t 9 8 9 (e m p h a sis a d d e d ). T h is C o u rt d e ter m in e d th a t an y su it underSect i on 23- 15- 961 w as t i m e barr ed, s i nce G our l ay f i l ed the cont es ton Sept ember4, 2003, w el l beyond t en days f ol l ow i ng the M ar ch 1, 2003, qual i f yi ng deadl i ne. H i ghl i ght i ng

### Miss. C od e Ann. § 23 -15 -96 1(7 ) (Supp . 20 14 ) pro vid es: 6 

### The proce durese t f

orth in this se ction s hal l bethe sole a nd on ly ma nn er in wh ich th e qu alification s of a can d id ate seekin g p ub lic office as a p arty no m i ne e m ay b e c ha l l e nge d pri or to thetime of hisnomination or

elec ti on . Aft er a party nomine e ha s be en e le ct ed t o publi c of fi ce , the e le ction m ay be cha ll enge d as othe rwi seprovi ded by l aw. Aft er a party nomineeas sum es an el ec tive of

fi ce, his qua li fi cati ons t o hold t hat off ic e m ay becont es te d as othe rwi s e prov i de d b y l aw. (Emp hasis ad ded .) 9 l anguage f

r om Sect i on 23- 15- 961( 7) , thi s Courtl ef t“ i tt o G our l ay t o det erm i ne w hatot her 6 pr ocedur es ar e ‘ otherw i s e pr ovi ded by l aw . ’ ” I d. ¶13. T he l anguage em ployed by thi s C our ti n G ourl ay r ender s that cas e i nappos i t e f r om the pr es entone. A tthe out s et , the G ourl ay C our tdi s t i ngui s hed Sect i ons 23- 15- 961 and 23- 15 -963, a quest i on no tbefore this C ou rti n the presentcase. M oreove r, here, G l enn w as a

“ candi dat e s e e k in g o ff

ic e a s a p a rt y n o m in e e ” in th e p ri m a ry e le c tio n . I d. a t 9 8 9 (e m p h a sis added)
. B utby the t i m e Pow el l cont es t ed G l enn’ s el ect i on, the pri m ary w as compl et e and G le n n h a d b e e n “ re tu rn e d a s th e n o m in e e ” o f t h e D e m o c ra tic p a rt y . See M is s . C o d e A n n . § 23- 15- 921 ( R ev. 2007)
. T her ef or e, P ow el l , l i ke G our l ay, w as l ef t“t o det erm i ne w hatot her pr ocedur es ar e ‘ otherw i s e pr ovi ded by l aw , ’ ” si nce, acc or di ng Sect i on 23- 15- 961( 7) , he w as c h a lle n g in g G len n ’s n o m in a tio n n o t “p rio r to ,” b u t af t er“ th e tim e o f [ h e r] n o m in a tio n . . .

. ” G ourl ay , 874 So. 2d at989. F orP ow el l , t hos e pr ocedur es “ot herw i s e pr ovi ded by l aw ” ca n b e fo u n d in S e c tio n 2 3 -1 5 -9 2 1
. ¶14
. A ddi t i onal l y, Sect i on 23- 15- 927 ves t s the ci r cui tcourtw i th s ubj ect - m att er j ur i s di ct i on f ol l ow i ng t he f

i l i ng of an el ect i on cont es tw i th the exe cut i ve comm i t t ee, “i n w hi ch the

### 10

irre g u lar iti e s a re c h a rg e d to h a v e o c c u rre d ,” w h e re th a t co m m itt e e “ h a v in g ju risd ictio n fa ils t o p rom ptl y m ee t or, hav i ng m et , fai l s or unreasonab l y d el ays t o ful l y act upo n the con t est
orcompl ai nt . . . . ” M i s s . C ode A nn. § 23- 15- 927 ( Supp. 2014)
. Pow el l f i l ed hi s Pet i t i on f

or C ert i f i cat i on w i th the Execut i ve C om m i t t ee on M ay 10, 2013. A ccor di ng to P ow el l , as of M a y 15 , 2 01 3, the Exe c ut i ve Comm i t t e e h a d no t“ i nv e s t i ga t e d the g r ou nd s f or[ t he]
c h a llen g e se t fo rth b y A n d re w P o w e ll’s P e tit io n , h a d n o t n o tified th e p a rties c o n c e rn e d w ith A ndr ew Pow el l ’ s Pet i t i on, an d had nott aken a vot e ordecl ar ed the true r es ul t s of t he D emocr at i c pr i m ary f

orthe pos i t i on of

C i ty Counci l M ember , W ar d 5, ” pur s uantt o Sect i on 2 3 -1 5 -9 2 1 , a s o f e ig h t d a y s a ft e r t h e p ri m a ry e le c tio n . See Bar bo urv. G unn , 890 So. 2d 843, 8 4 7 (M iss. 20 0 4 ) ( tr ial co u rt ’s ex erc ise of j u ri sd ict ion w as co n side red pro p er by this C o u rt
w h e re “ th e g e n e ra l ele c tio n w a s s o n e a r a t h a n d th a t a r e v o te w a s n e e d e d im m e d iate ly to pr es erve the r i ght s of

vot er s . ”) Thus, Pow el l f i l ed hi s Pet i t i on f

orJ udi ci al R evi ew pur s uant t o Sect i on 23- 15- 92 7 w i th the C i r cui tC our tof L ef l or e C ounty on M ay 16, 2013, w i th t he Ju n e 2 0 1 3 g en era l e lec ti o n loo m ing
. A S p ec ial T ri b u n al of the C ir cu itC o u rto f L eflore C ounty theref

ore had j uri sdi ct i on of Po w el l ’s el ect i on cont es tpur s uantt o Sect i ons 23- 15- 921
a n d 2 3 -1 5 -9 2 7 . ¶15. T he di s s entf

i nds thatt he tr i al courtl acke d j ur i s di ct i on, averr i ng that“a pl ai n r eadi ng of [ Sect i on 23- 15- 961( 1) ] l eads t o the conc l us i on thati ti s the o n ly means by w hi ch s om eone
m ay ‘ cont es tthe qual i f

i cat i ons of

anot herper s on as a c andi dat e f ornom i nat i on i n a pol i t i cal party pr i m ary el ect i on . ’” M i s s . C ode A nn. § 23- 15- 961( 1) ( Supp. 2014)
. I ti s true that S e c tio n 2 3 -1 5 -9 6 1 (7 ) p ro v id e s th a t “ [t] h e p ro c e d u re se t fo rth in th is s e c tio n sh a ll b e th e so le
a n d o n ly m a n n e r in w h ich th e q u a lifica tio n s o f a ca n d id a te s e e k in g p u b lic o ffic e a s a p a rty

### 11

nom i nee may be cha l l enged
. . . ” M i s s . C ode A nn. § 23- 15- 961( 7) ( Supp. 2014)
. B utt hat lan g u a g e , a b s o lu te a t firs t b lu sh , is q u a lified b y th e fo llo w in g : “p rio r to th e tim e o f h is
no m i nati on or e l ect i on. ” I d. O nc e the pr i mary e l e c t i on ha s oc c urr e d, the c a nd i da t e w ho
so u g h t th e p a rty n o m in a tio n h a s tra n sfo rm e d in to th e p a rty n o m in e e . T h is p ro c e ss , w h ich is ati s s ue i n the pr es entcas e, clea r l y i s cont empl at ed by Sect i on 23- 15- 921, w hi ch pr ovi des
an av en u e o f reli ef to a n in d iv id u a l de sir o u s o f co n test ing “the elec ti o n o f an o ther pers on
r etur ned as the nom i nee of the par t y t o any county orcounty di s tr i ctof f i ce . . . . ” M i s s . C ode A n n . § 2 3 -15 -92 1 (R ev . 2 0 0 7 ) (em p h asis ad d ed ). ¶ 1 6
. P o w e ll w a s c o n tes tin g G len n ’s q u a lifica tio n s a s a “ p e rs o n re tu rn e d a s ” th e D e m o c ra tic
nom i nee f

orthe pos i t i on of G r eenw ood C i ty C ounci l M ember , W ar d 5, underSect i ons 23- 15- 921 a nd 23- 15- 927, a nd nothe rqua l i f i cat i ons a s “ a candi dat e forno m i nati on” p rio r to
nom i nat i on underSect i on 23- 15- 961( 1)
. T hus , the t r i al courtdi d noterri n exer ci s i ng j ur i s di ct i on pur s uantt o M i s s i s s i ppi C ode Sect i ons 23- 15- 921 and 23- 15- 927. 2 . W h eth er th e low er co u rt e rr ed in o rd eri n g a sp ec ial pr im a ry ru n o ff e le c ti o n w it h in tw o w e e k s b e tw e e n th e tw o lo s in g c a n d id a te s . ¶17. G l enn nextaver s tha tM i s s i s s i ppi C ode Sect i on 23- 15- 937 m andat es thatthe governor cal l s peci al e l ect i ons , a nd t hatthe tr i al courther e exc eede d i t s author i ty by s o doi ng. Sect i on 2 3 -1 5 -9 3 7 p ro v id e s: W h en n o fi n a l d e c isio n h as b ee n m ad e b y the tim e the o ffi cial ba ll o ts are re q u ire d to b e p rin ted , the n a m e o f th e n o m in e e d e c lar e d b y th e p a rty e x e c u tiv e c o m m itt e e s h a ll b e p rin ted o n th e o ffic ial b a llo ts a s th e p a rty nom i nee, butthe cont es torcompl ai nts hal l notther eby be di s m i s s ed butthe c a u se sh a ll n e v e rth e les s p ro c e e d to fin a l ju d g m e n t an d if th e ju d g m e n t is in f avorof the cont es t ant , the el ect i on of the cont es t ee s hal l ther eby be va cat ed a n d th e G o v e rn o r, o r th e L ieu ten a n t G o v e rn o r, in c a se th e G o v e rn o r is a p a rty to the co n test , sh all ca ll a sp ec ial e lecti o n fo r th e o ffi ce o r offices inv o lved
. If

### 12

the cont es t ee ha s al r eady e nt er ed upon the t erm he s hal l vaca t e the of f i ce upon the qu al i fi cat i on of

the per s on el ect ed atthe s peci al el ect i on, and may be r emoved by quo w arr ant o i f he f ai l s o t o do. M i s s . C ode A nn. § 23- 15- 937 (Supp. 2014). P ow el l , i n the abs ence of any r el evantci t at i on, s t at es that , “ [ b] eca us e thi s c as e w as pe ndi ng w hen the gene r al el ect i on occurr ed, the Tri bunal
r et ai ned j ur i s di ct i on overthe part i es , overthe out come of the gene r al el ect i on and overthe
r i ghtof M s . G l enn t o assum e and hol d of f i ce i f el ect ed atthe gene r al el ect i on. ” The t r i al
courther e or der ed “a s peci al pr i m ary run- of f el ect i on . . . t o t ake pl ace on the f i r s tT ues day af t ertw o w eeks af

t erthe entr y of

thi s or der
. ” ¶1 8
. W e a g ree w ith P o w ell that the tr ial co u rtretaine d juri sd ict ion o v er v ac ati o n o f G lenn ’s el ect i on, si nce Sect i on 23-15- 937 st at es that , des pi t e the party nom i nee’ s name bei ng pl ace d upon the gene r al e l ect i on ba l l ot , “the caus e s hal l neverthel es s pr ocee d t o f i nal j udgm entand i f the j udgm enti s i n f

avorof t he cont es t ant , the el ect i on of the cont es t ee s hal l ther eby be
vaca t ed. ” The very nextphr as e pr ovi des that“the G overnor. . . s hal l cal l a s peci al el ect i on f orthe of f i ce orof f i ces i nvol ved. ” M i s s . C ode A nn. § 23- 15- 937 (Su pp . 2 014). W hi l e the
s t atut e ves t s the tr i al courtw i th the author i ty t o rendera j udgm ent , and eve n t o vaca t e the el ect i on, the l egi s l atur e mandat ed that , i n s uch ci r cumst ance , the governors hal l cal l a s peci al
e lec tio n . T h is C o u rt p re v io u sly h a s re v e rse d a n d re n d e re d th e ju d g m e n t o f th e trial c o u rt in the cont extof

a c ont es tof

the r es ul t s of

the D emocr at i c pr i m ary el ect i on f orthe pos i t i on of
m a y o r o f H o u sto n , M iss iss ip p i. Moo r e v. P arker , 9 6 2 S o . 2 d 5 5 8 , 5 6 1 (M iss . 2 0 0 7 ). T h is C our trul ed that“[ t ] he s peci al tr i bunal err ed i n or der i ng a spec i al pr i m ary run- of f el ect i on t o be hel d w hen i ti s s t atut or i l y m andat ed thatthe G overnorcal l s uch el ect i on. ” I d. at568.

### 13

¶ 1 9
. To t h e l i mi t e d e x t e n tth e tr i a l c o u r to r d e r e d a s p e c i a l p r i m a ry ru n o f f e l e c t i o n , we re v e rse th e ju d g m e n t o f th e trial c o u rt a n d re n d e r a ju d g m e n t th a t th e g o v e rn o r sh a ll ca ll a sp ec ial p ri m ary run o ff electi o n for the offi ce of G ree n w o o d C ity C o u n cil M em b er fo r W ard 5 t o t a ke p l a c e b e tw e e n the r e mai ni ng q ua l i f i e d c a nd i da t e s , Andr e w Po w e l l a nd N or m an S m ith
. CO NC L US I ON ¶20. T he C i r cui t C our t of L ef l or e C ounty, Speci al E l ect i on T r i bunal , corr ect l y f ound that G l enn w as nota r es i dentof W ar d 5 and thats he w as notqual i f i ed t o hol d the pos i t i on as G re e n w o o d C ity C o u n c il M e m b e r fo r W a rd 5 . T o the ex ten t th e tri a l co u rt v a c a ted th e re su lts
o f th e M ay 7 , 2 0 1 3 , p ri m ary elec ti o n , w e a ffi rm . B u t th e tri al co u rtex ce ed ed it s statutory
a u th o rity b y o rd e rin g a s p e c ial p rim a ry ru n o ff e lec tio n , w h ich th e g o v e rn o r is m a n d a ted to d o . W e the refo re rev erse an d va ca te th e o rde r of th e c ir cu itco u rtfor a sp ec ial p ri m ary run o ff
e le c tio n . ¶ 2 1
. AFF I RM ED I N PART; REVERSED AND VA CATED I N PART. W AL LE R, C. J . , RAN DOLP H, P . J . , CHANDL ER , P I ER CE , KI NG AND CO LEM AN, J J . , CO NCU R. DI CK I NSON, P. J . , DI SS ENTS W I TH SEP ARA TE W R I T T E N O P I N I O N JO I N E D B Y L A M A R , J. DI CK I NS ON , P RE S I DI NG J US T I CE , DI S S E NT I NG : ¶2 2
. B ec au se the tr ial co u rt lack ed juri sd ict ion to co n side r P o w ell ’s ch all en g e o f G lenn ’s q u a lifica tio n s fo r o ffic e , I re sp e c tfu lly d iss e n t. ¶23. B oth D or othy G l enn and A ndr ew Pow el l s ought the D emocr at i c nom i nat i on f ort he W ar d 5 ci ty counci l s eat . G l enn pr evai l ed, a dvance d t o a n uncont es t ed gene r al el ect i on, and
as s um ed of

f i ce. O n M ay 10, 2013, t hr ee days af t erG l enn t ook the D emocr at i c pr i m ary, but

### Mis s. Code Ann. § 23-15- 921 (Re v. 2007)
. 7 

### Mis s. Code Ann. § 23-15- 927 (Re v. 2007)
. 8 

### Id. 9 

### Mis s. Code Ann. § 23-15- 921 (Re v. 2007)
. 10 

### 14 pr i ort o the gene r al el ect i on, P ow el l pet i t i oned the muni ci pal D emocr at i c Execut i ve C om m i t t ee pur s uantt o M i s s i s s i ppi C od e Sect i on 23- 15- 921 t o chal l enge w hetherG l enn pos s es s ed the mi ni m um qual i f i cat i ons f orthatof f i ce. T hen, ha vi ng r ece i ved no r es pons e, 7 Pow el l f i l ed a pe t i t i on f

orj udi ci al r evi ew pur s uantt o M i s s i s s i ppi C ode Sect i on 23- 15- 927 i n the C i r cui tC our tof

Lef l or e C ounty. T he ci r cui tc our te xer ci s ed j ur i s di ct i on, f ound t hat 8 G l enn l acke d the nec es s ary qual i f i cat i ons, re m oved herf r om of f i ce, and or der ed a s peci al el ect i on. ¶2 4. A s a t hr es hol d i s s ue, w e mustd e t e r mi ne whet hert he ci r cui tcour t pos s es s ed ju risd ictio n o v e r P o w e ll’s c laim
. H e in iti a ted th is c irc u it co u rt p ro c e e d in g p u rsu a n t to S e c tio n 2 3 -1 5 -9 2 7 , w h ich p ro v id e s ju d icia l rev iew afte r a c o u n ty e x e c u tiv e c o m m itt e e fa ils t o pr om pt l y r es pond t o a compl ai nt . Pow el l f i l ed hi s compl ai ntw i th the county exec ut i ve 9
c o m m itt e e p u rsu a n t to S e c tio n 2 3 -1 5 -9 2 1
. S o th e p e rtin e n t q u e stio n is w h e th e r P o w e ll 10 properl y b rough tthis chall eng e pu rs uan tt o thatsect i on , w hich provides: E xceptas other w is e pr ovi ded by Se ct i on 23- 15- 961 , a p e rso n d e sirin g to c o n tes t th e e lec tio n o f a n o th e r p e rso n re tu rn e d a s th e n o m in e e o f th e p a rty to any county orcounty di s tr i ctof f i ce, or as t he nom i nee of a l egi s l at i ve di s tr i ct composed of

one ( 1) county orl es s , m ay, w i thi n tw enty (20) da ys af t erthe pr i m ary el ect i on, f

i l e a pe t i t i on w i th the s ecr et ary, orany mem berof the county exec ut i ve comm i t t ee i n the county i n w hi ch the el ect i on w as hel d, se tti n g fo rth th e g ro u n d s u p o n w h ich th e p rim a ry e lec tio n is c o n tes ted ; an d it s hal l be the duty of

the exe cut i ve comm i t t ee t o as s emble by cal l of the c h a irm a n o r th re e (3 ) m e m b e rs o f sa id co m m itt e e , n o tice o f w h ich c o n tes t sh a ll

### Id. (e mpha si s a dded)
. 11 

### Id. 12 

### Mis s. Code Ann. § 23-15- 961(1) (Re v. 2007) (e mpha si s a dded)
. 13 

### Id. 14 

### 15 be s erved f

i ve (5) days bef

or e s ai d m eet i ng, and af t ernot i f yi ng al l part i es c o n c e rn e d p ro c e e d to in v e stig a te th e g ro u n d s u p o n w h ich th e e lec tio n is cont es t ed and, by m aj or i ty vot e of m ember s pre s ent , decl ar e the true r es ul t s of s uch pr i m ary. 11 B y i t s t erm s , Sect i on 23- 15- 921 pr ovi des a pr ocedur al avenue “t o cont es tthe el ect i on of
a n o th e r p e rs o n re tu rn e d a s th e n o m in e e o f t h e p a rt y to a n y c o u n ty o r c o u n ty d is tr ic t o ff ic e ,”
e x c e p t “ a s o th e rw is e p ro v id e d b y S e c tio n 2 3 -1 5 -9 6 1 .” 12 ¶25
. S ect i on 23 -15-961 (1) provides: (1) A ny per

s on desi ri ng t o co ntes tthe q uali fi cat i on s of anot her person as a candi dat e f

ornom i nat i on i n a pol i t i cal party pri m ary el ect i on sh a llf i l e a pet i t i on s peci f

i cal l y s ett i ng f

or th t he gr ounds of

the cha l l enge w i thi n t en ( 10) d a y s a fte r th e q u a lify in g d e a d lin e fo r th e o ffic e in q u e stio n . T h e p e tit io n sh a ll be f i l ed w i th the exe cut i ve com m i t t ee w i th w hom the ca ndi dat e i n ques t i on qual i f i ed. 13 G iv e n th e a ll-en c o m p a ss in g lan g u a g e “a n y p e rso n ” a n d th e m a n d a to ry w o rd “ sh a ll, ” a p lain
r eadi ng of

t hi s s t atut e l eads t o the conc l us i on thati ti s the o n ly m eans by w hi ch s om eone may

“ c o n tes t th e q u a lifica tio n s o f an o th e r p e rso n as a c a n d id a te fo r n o m in a tio n in a p o lit ica l p a rty p ri m a ry e le c tio n .” 14 ¶26
. B ut s ub sect i on (7) of that s t atute pr ov i des t w o ex cepti on s and st at es: (7 ) T h e p ro c e d u re se t fo rth in th is s e c tio n sh a ll b e th e so le a n d o n ly m a n n e r in w h ich th e q u a lifica tio n s o f a c a n d id a te s e e k in g p u b lic o ffic e a s a p a rty nom i nee may be cha l l enged pr i ort o the t i m e of hi s nom i nat i on orel ect i on. A f t era par t y no m i nee has be en el ect ed t o publ i c of f i ce, the el ect i on m ay be c h a lle n g e d a s o th e rw is e p ro v id e d b y la w . A f t era par t y nom i nee as s um es an

### Mis s. Code Ann. § 23-15- 961(7) (Re v. 2007) (e mpha si s a dded)
. 15 

### Id. 16 

### Id. (e mpha si s a dded)
. 17 

### Mis s. Code Ann. § 23-15- 921 (Re v. 2007)
. 18 

### Id. 19 

### 16 el ect i ve of

f i ce, his qual i

f i cat i ons t o hold thatof f i ce m ay be c ont es t ed as other w is e pr ovi ded by law . 15 S o the s tatu te l im it s it s a ll -i n clus ive lan g u ag e b y p erm itti n g ch all en g es to a c an d idate’s qual i f i cat i ons af

t erthe ca ndi dat e assum es of f i ce, i f the l aw otherw i s e pr ovi des f ors uch a
c h a lle n g e . T h e m a

jo ri ty fin d s th a t S e c tio n 2 3 -1 5 -9 2 1 is th e “ o th e rw is e p ro v id e d b y la w .” 16 B ut that i nterpret at i on fai l s f or several reas on s. ¶27
. F ir st, S ec ti o n 2 3 -15 -96 1 ’s excepti on st at es “ [ a]f t e ra p ar t

y n omi ne e as s um es an el ect i ve of

f i ce , hi s qua l i f

i cat i ons t o hol d thatof

f i ce may be cont es t ed as otherw i s e pr ovi ded by l aw . ” Sect i on 23- 15- 921 pr ovi des f ora chal l enge “ w i thi n tw enty ( 20) days af t ert he 17 p rim a ry e lec tio n ,” n o t af ter the ca n d id a te a ss u m e s o ffic e . S o S e c tio n 2 3 -1 5 -9 2 1 c a n n o t fit
as an al t ernat i ve ave nue w i thi n t he pl ai n l anguage of Sect i on 23- 15- 961. ¶2 8. Second, S ect i on 23-15- 92 1 b e gi ns by s t a t i ng “ [ e ] xc e pta s othe rw i s e pr ov i ded by Sect i on 23- 15- 961 .
. . . ” I ti s s i m pl y i l l ogi cal t o f i nd thatthi s st atut e f

al l s w i thi n the “a s 18
o th e rwi s e p r o v i d e d b y l a w” l a n g u a g e o f th e s t a tu t e i ti d e n t i f

i e s a s a n e x c e p t i o n t o i t s o wn
rul e. ¶29. Fi nal l y, Sect i on 23- 15- 921 pr ovi des a l egal a venue t o “ cont es tthe el ect i on of another pe r s on . . . . ” Butthe l a s ttw o s e nt e nc e s o f Se c t i on 2 3- 15
- 96 1( 7) c l e a r l y r ecogni ze that 19

### Mis s. Code Ann. § 23-15- 961(7) (Re v. 2007)
. 20 

### Mis s. Code Ann. § 23-15- 921 (Re v. 2007)
. 21 

### 17 chal l enges t o the el ect i on and ch al l eng es t o a can didat e’s qual i f i cat i ons are di st i nct things. So t he el ect i on chal l enge s t atut e, Sect i on 23- 15- 921, cannots at i s f y the qual i f

i cat i on p ro v isio n ’s “ a s o th e rw ise p ro v id e d in law .” A n d itis h e re th a t th e m a jo rity ’s r e sp o n se to 20 thi s opi ni on fa i l s . T he m aj or i ty foc us es on the “nom i nee” l anguage of Sect i on 23- 15- 921, b u t f ail s to rec o g n ize tha t Se cti o n 2 3 -15 -92 1 p erm it s o n ly ch all en g es to the n o m inee ’s el ect i on, notthei rqual i f i cat i ons t o be el ect ed. 21 ¶30. T he pl ai n l anguage of Sect i on 23- 15- 961 l i m i t ed Pow el l ’ s opportuni ty t o chal l enge G l enn’ s qual i f

i cat i ons t o t he t en days fol l ow i ng t he qual i f i cat i on deadl i ne, unl es s s om e other p ro v isio n o f la w p ro v id e d fo r c h a llen g e s a fte r G len n a ss u m e d o ffic e . B e c a u se P o w e ll br oughtthi s chal l enge af t er the pr i m ary, butbef or e G l enn t ook of

f i ce, pur s uantt o Sect i on 23- 15- 921, the ci r cui tcourtl acke d j ur i s di ct i on. L AMAR , J . , J OI NS T HI S OP I NI ON .