UPDATE: Judge Refuses to Block West Point Runoff

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) –A federal judge has denied a request to block Tuesday’s runoff elections in West Point.

Jasper Pittman and four other residents filed suit Friday to have the city’s May 7 primary thrown out and Tuesday’s runoff voided. Pittman fell one vote short of getting into a runoff with businessman Gary Dedeaux for the Ward 5 spot Pittman currently holds.

U.S. District Judge Michael Mills decided just before noon not to grant the request. Pittman’s attorney Scott Colom of Columbus  says he will appeal.

The group claims the city’s election commission improperly ran the election at the request of Democratic Party Chairman Thomas Storey and that Storey didn’t have that authority.

ORIGINAL STORY FROM FRIDAY

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) — West Point Selectman Jasper Pittman and four others have challenged last week’s democratic primary and want a federal judge to stop any further elections until the issue is resolved.

Pittman fell one vote short of getting into a runoff with businessman Gary Dedeaux for the Ward 5 spot Pittman currently holds.

Pittman and the other four claim the city’s election commission improperly ran the election at the request of Democratic Party Chairman Thomas Storey and that Storey didn’t have that authority and isn’t chairman.

They ask U.S. District Judge Michael Mills to nullify the May 7 primary results and stop the city from conducting party primaries.

Click here to see the lawsuit complaint Click here to see the Restraining Order