Knox challenging disqualification

Published 12:00 am Friday, April 23, 2004

Elijah Knox of Akron is challenging his disqualification to run for the Hale County Commission seat for District 2. He has appealed to the county Democratic Executive Committee, which began to hear the appeal Tuesday evening but has recessed until Friday at 5 p.m.

Lois Fields currently holds the seat. She won a challenge to Knox’s qualification April 7 before a party subcommittee.

She had made a challenge April 2 to the party that Knox actually lived in District 1.

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Fields offered a copy of voter registration certified by Tammy Tarte, a member of the county Board of Registrars. Knox offered no evidence in his defense, said Robert Shepherd, chairman of the county party.

There were no witnesses or exhibits presented before the subcommittee, and it voted in Fields’ favor. Knox argued that he had previously voted for District 2 candidates.

Knox said the Wednesday hearing would not be the last word on the matter, Shepherd said.