Alabama: State Supreme Court denies Governor's request to stay special primary election
The Mobile Register reports: The Alabama Supreme Court denied Gov. Bob Riley's request to delay an upcoming special election to fill a vacancy on the Mobile County Commission.
The unanimous decision, announced Tuesday, means that the election most likely will proceed as scheduled with party primaries on Nov. 22. The general election is set for Jan. 3. ...
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also agreed to expedite its review of a lower court ruling in the case. Briefs could be accepted as late as Dec. 8, well after the primaries. ...
The vacancy occurred when longtime District 1 Commissioner Sam Jones, a Democrat, was sworn in as mayor of Mobile earlier this month.
Three Mobile County legislators, all Democrats, sued to force a vote for the seat. Trial Judge Eugene Reese, a Democrat on the Montgomery County Circuit Court, ruled that there should be a special election to choose someone to serve the three years remain ing on Jones' commission term. The special election is projected to cost $189,000. -- High court clears way for primaries