Post by Master-9 on May 27, 2004 6:41:29 GMT -5
Posted on Thu, May. 27, 2004
Panel disqualifies Nuwaubian candidates
By Gary Tanner
Telegraph Staff Writer
Two people reportedly affiliated with the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors were disqualified Wednesday as candidates for Putnam County Commission and county sheriff. A challenge of incumbent Sheriff Howard Sills by a third member of the group was dismissed.
George Jackson, who had qualified to run for sheriff as a Democrat, was disqualified because of a 1976 conviction for shoplifting, a three-member hearing panel ruled.
The panel was made up of Probate Judge Patrice Howard and one representative each from the Democratic and Republican parties.
Macon lawyer Jerry Lumley said Jackson's reported affiliation with the Nuwaubians is the reason the candidacy was challenged and he was disqualified. The group now calls itself the Yamassee Native American Moors of the Creek Nation.
"Obviously if he's connected with the Nuwaubians, that's an unpopular cause," Lumley said. "But regardless of who he's affiliated with, he deserves the right to be a candidate for office."
Jackson's misdemeanor conviction occurred when he was 18 and he was fined $25, Lumley said.
"I think he's a good guy, and there's a question whether that is a crime that should disqualify him," Lumley said.
The panel that heard the challenge ruled the conviction was a crime of "moral turpitude," that should disqualify Jackson from holding the county's top law enforcement job.
Lumley said he will appeal Jackson's disqualification.
Eatonton lawyer Frank Ford, who challenged Jackson's candidacy, said he began to check into the candidate's background four years ago when he first qualified for the office. In 2000, Jackson's candidacy was challenged by the election superintendent, who questioned whether Jackson was a resident of Putnam County. Jackson withdrew as a candidate that time.
Ford also challenged Wednesday the candidacy of County Commission hopeful Anthony Evans based on residency. Evans listed a Putnam County address in District 1 when he qualified to run for the District 3 seat, Ford said.
"As of March he was still registered to vote in Fulton County, and on his qualifying papers he listed business and home phone numbers with a 404 (Atlanta) area code," Ford said.
The review panel Wednesday ruled Evans did not meet residency requirements.
Putnam County resident Robbie Hibner filed the challenge to Sheriff Howard Sills' candidacy for re-election, but it was dismissed because Sills has not yet qualified, the review panel ruled.
Hibner accused Sills of attacking and injuring Sills' ex-wife, a charge the sheriff denies. She also said in her complaint that Sills had harassed her and defamed Nuwaubians. An Internet site lists Hibner as Secretary of the Interior for the Yamassee Native American Moors group. She did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
Sills said Wednesday he plans to run as an independent because he believes sheriffs should be nonpartisan. He cannot qualify for re-election until June 28, he said.
Hibner told the panel she will challenge Sills' candidacy then, Howard said.
Nuwaubian leader Malachi York was convicted earlier this year of child molestation charges. That conviction was recently appealed, and his followers have been trying to win his release, saying key witnesses have now recanted their stories.
Panel disqualifies Nuwaubian candidates
By Gary Tanner
Telegraph Staff Writer
Two people reportedly affiliated with the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors were disqualified Wednesday as candidates for Putnam County Commission and county sheriff. A challenge of incumbent Sheriff Howard Sills by a third member of the group was dismissed.
George Jackson, who had qualified to run for sheriff as a Democrat, was disqualified because of a 1976 conviction for shoplifting, a three-member hearing panel ruled.
The panel was made up of Probate Judge Patrice Howard and one representative each from the Democratic and Republican parties.
Macon lawyer Jerry Lumley said Jackson's reported affiliation with the Nuwaubians is the reason the candidacy was challenged and he was disqualified. The group now calls itself the Yamassee Native American Moors of the Creek Nation.
"Obviously if he's connected with the Nuwaubians, that's an unpopular cause," Lumley said. "But regardless of who he's affiliated with, he deserves the right to be a candidate for office."
Jackson's misdemeanor conviction occurred when he was 18 and he was fined $25, Lumley said.
"I think he's a good guy, and there's a question whether that is a crime that should disqualify him," Lumley said.
The panel that heard the challenge ruled the conviction was a crime of "moral turpitude," that should disqualify Jackson from holding the county's top law enforcement job.
Lumley said he will appeal Jackson's disqualification.
Eatonton lawyer Frank Ford, who challenged Jackson's candidacy, said he began to check into the candidate's background four years ago when he first qualified for the office. In 2000, Jackson's candidacy was challenged by the election superintendent, who questioned whether Jackson was a resident of Putnam County. Jackson withdrew as a candidate that time.
Ford also challenged Wednesday the candidacy of County Commission hopeful Anthony Evans based on residency. Evans listed a Putnam County address in District 1 when he qualified to run for the District 3 seat, Ford said.
"As of March he was still registered to vote in Fulton County, and on his qualifying papers he listed business and home phone numbers with a 404 (Atlanta) area code," Ford said.
The review panel Wednesday ruled Evans did not meet residency requirements.
Putnam County resident Robbie Hibner filed the challenge to Sheriff Howard Sills' candidacy for re-election, but it was dismissed because Sills has not yet qualified, the review panel ruled.
Hibner accused Sills of attacking and injuring Sills' ex-wife, a charge the sheriff denies. She also said in her complaint that Sills had harassed her and defamed Nuwaubians. An Internet site lists Hibner as Secretary of the Interior for the Yamassee Native American Moors group. She did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
Sills said Wednesday he plans to run as an independent because he believes sheriffs should be nonpartisan. He cannot qualify for re-election until June 28, he said.
Hibner told the panel she will challenge Sills' candidacy then, Howard said.
Nuwaubian leader Malachi York was convicted earlier this year of child molestation charges. That conviction was recently appealed, and his followers have been trying to win his release, saying key witnesses have now recanted their stories.
