FAST FACTS:
(Oakland, TN 3/30/2010) "It's important for the whole political system," said Sandra Queen.
She is taking to the polls in Oakland to vote for the mayor for the second time.
The first election in 2008 was declared void after a Fayette County judge ruled there were 23 people who did not live in Oakland City limits who voted.
"The exact city limits, that seemed to be the problem. That the city did not define their limits as accurately as they could have," said David Gichner from the Fayette County Election Commission.
Now several months later voters are back at the polls. And a lot has changed since then.
The Mayor, Bill Mullins, who is running again, was convicted on charges that he was doing work on the city's police cars and benefiting from the work.
The judge also ruled that Mullins had to step down because of his conviction.
"It hurt Oakland; there is no doubt about it. We've been in the news for a negative standpoint for some time but it's time to move forward," said candidate for Mayor, Scott Ferguson.
However the former Mayor's name is still on the ballot. The ballot was certified before Mullins' conviction.
Voters could find themselves back at the polls for a third time if former Mayor Bill Mullins is elected.
According to the Oakland City Charter, his conviction makes him ineligible to hold office.
He won the voided election by 15 votes in 2008. If he wins this time, the election would be voided again.
And it would be up to a judge if the Vice Mayor takes office or if there will have to be a third election.
Queen says she will vote as much as she has to, to get it right. "If he did it he shouldn't be mayor."
- It's Election Day for the Oakland Mayor, for the second time
- And one of the candidates, the former Mayor, is facing some time behind bars
- His conviction could be the reason voters have to go to the polls for this election for a third time
(Oakland, TN 3/30/2010) "It's important for the whole political system," said Sandra Queen.
She is taking to the polls in Oakland to vote for the mayor for the second time.
The first election in 2008 was declared void after a Fayette County judge ruled there were 23 people who did not live in Oakland City limits who voted.
"The exact city limits, that seemed to be the problem. That the city did not define their limits as accurately as they could have," said David Gichner from the Fayette County Election Commission.
Now several months later voters are back at the polls. And a lot has changed since then.
The Mayor, Bill Mullins, who is running again, was convicted on charges that he was doing work on the city's police cars and benefiting from the work.
The judge also ruled that Mullins had to step down because of his conviction.
"It hurt Oakland; there is no doubt about it. We've been in the news for a negative standpoint for some time but it's time to move forward," said candidate for Mayor, Scott Ferguson.
However the former Mayor's name is still on the ballot. The ballot was certified before Mullins' conviction.
Voters could find themselves back at the polls for a third time if former Mayor Bill Mullins is elected.
According to the Oakland City Charter, his conviction makes him ineligible to hold office.
He won the voided election by 15 votes in 2008. If he wins this time, the election would be voided again.
And it would be up to a judge if the Vice Mayor takes office or if there will have to be a third election.
Queen says she will vote as much as she has to, to get it right. "If he did it he shouldn't be mayor."
