Mayoral candidate’s appeal denied due to felony

VICKSBURG — David Day’s name has been restored to the ballot for mayor by the Vicksburg Municipal Democratic Executive Committee.

The Vicksburg Post reports the committee denied the appeal of Lester R. Smith and put off a decision on Linda Fondren’s appeal.

The committee earlier had removed all three names from the Vicksburg mayoral primary ballot.

Party primaries take place May 7 with runoffs on May 21 if needed. The general election is June 4.

The committee reversed its decision on Day’s residency and accepted his reasons for voting in the 2012 Republican primary.

“I felt the Democratic race was already decided,” Day said. “I wanted to get the most value out of my vote.”

The committee upheld Smith’s disqualification because of a felony conviction.

Records showed Smith served 364 days in jail for felony escape from confinement in 2010. Smith fled from the Vicksburg Police Department while being booked after he was accused of sexual battery of a child younger than 14. The charge was not prosecuted.

However, Smith pleaded guilty to escape from confinement. Smith said he fled because he felt physically intimidated by officers who had interrogated him.

The committee delayed a decision on Fondren’s candidacy pending a review of her residency records. Fondren argued she lives in the city. Committee members said four vehicles were registered in Fondren’s name to an address in the county.

Other Democrats on the ballot are incumbent Mayor Paul Winfield, former Warren County supervisor John Ferguson, state Rep. George Flaggs and former alderwoman Gertrude Young.

Real estate agent Daryl Hollingsworth is running as an independent.