Most people I’ve talked to over the past week seem genuinely delighted to have last week’s elections behind us. That’s an indication of how brutal some of the campaigning was, combined with the frustration and indifference many people feel regarding modern day politics.
I, too, am frustrated to go through an election season when true issues weren’t really discussed. We’ve become so partisan with our politics that true debate of issues isn’t productive to campaigns.
Joel McNeece
I would hope next year, with local and state races on the ballot, we hear more discussion about issues I believe pertinent to Mississippi citizens – whether or not we need to expand Medicaid, education funding at all levels, whether a minimum wage increase is needed, the widening gap between the haves and have nots, and how we’re going to improve our failing roads and bridges.
I hear many say “we can’t count on Washington to fix our problems.” We can’t count on ourselves either if we’re not willing to have actual debate. Perhaps a new election year will bring about better discussion.
We’re not quite done with this election, however, and there is a race on the Nov. 25 ballot Calhoun County voters need to pay attention to.
Kelly Luther, an assistant district attorney in the third district (which includes Calhoun, Benton, Chickasaw, Lafayette, Marshall, Tippah and Union counties) faces Shirley Byers of Holly Springs in the runoff to succeed Circuit Court Judge Robert Elliott who did not seek re-election.
Byers, who serves as Marshall County Prosecuting Attorney and represents the City of Holly Springs, isn’t without some glaring red flags in her background that include being sanctioned by the Mississippi Supreme Court for actions during a previous stint as a Mississippi circuit judge.
Byers was first elected circuit judge in the Fourth Circuit Court District, which includes Washington, Leflore and Sunflower counties, in 1994. During this term a number of complaints were filed against her, including the wrongful arrest of a newspaper reporter in her courtroom for reporting on a case she was hearing, improperly extending a defendant’s probation, and sentencing a defendant under the wrong statute.
The Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance recommended Byers be removed from office and the state Supreme Court indicated they were prepared to do just that had she not been ousted by the voters in the following election.
“Judge Byers either knew or should have known that her actions were in excess of the authority and jurisdiction conferred upon her as a circuit court judge. Because of the repeated nature and the magnitude of the conduct, we agree that Judge Byers engaged in willful misconduct in office and conduct which is prejudicial to the administration of justice which brings the judicial office into disrepute,” reads the Supreme Court ruling from Feb. 17, 2000.
Byers has previously run for Circuit Judge in this district losing to Judge Elliott in a runoff.
Now she finds herself in another runoff against Kelly Luther. I would encourage Calhoun County and all District Three voters to seek out information on both candidates prior to Nov. 25 allowing them to make an informed decision on who is best suited to be handing down justice in our circuit court.
Email Joel McNeece at joelmcneece@gmail.com & follow him on Twitter @joelmcneece