The Mississippi State Supreme Court has affirmed an over two year-old challenge to Sunflower County Board of Supervisor Gloria Dickerson’s 2015 Democratic primary win.
In Barry Bryant versus Gloria Dickerson, Bryan, who lost narrowly in the primary according to the court’s decision, questioned whether Dickerson’s residence was the 166 Broadway, Drew residence she submitted to qualify to run or whether she and her husband’s primary residence is in Hinds County.
Bryant filed his first challenge on Aug. 20, 2015, a little over a week after the Aug. 4 primary, and the Sunflower County Circuit Court ruled in Dickerson’s favor after it consulted with five election commissioner from the Sunflower County Democratic Executive Committee.
All five said she did live in the county, with no one opposed, the court document read.
“The circuit court heard from numerous witnesses and reviewed documents over the course of the two-day hearing held on October 21, 2015, and November 10, 2015. The circuit court entered an order on January 14, 2016, finding Dickerson to be a resident of Sunflower County and dismissing Bryant’s petition,” the Supreme Court document read. “The order also stated that “The court has consulted with 5 members of the Sunflower County Election Commission with 5 members of the Commission agreeing with this Decision and 0 members disagreeing.”
In the appeal, Bryant stated that Dicker’s homestead exemption in Hinds County “creates a strong presumption that her residency is Hinds County.”
