Commercial Dispatch - Rousaville touts experience in bid for 3rd Congressional seat - John Rounsaville used to work for U.S. Congressman Chip Pickering and now wants to take the 3rd Congressional District seat his former boss is vacating.
“I'm the only candidate that has experience working for Mississippi on Capitol Hill. I have a decade-long track record delivering results for Mississippi, and I'm the only candidate that can hit the ground running on day one,” Rounsaville said.
The 33-year-old Madison resident served as Pickering's deputy chief of staff and most recently was the U.S. Department of Agriculture's rural development director for Mississippi. Rounsaville has also worked as a staff adviser for Gov. Haley Barbour.
“Governor Barbour has set a strong course for economic growth and job creation in Mississippi, and we've been very successful in locating new industry,” Rounsaville said. “Some areas, however, have not enjoyed this growth. As Governor Barbour's economic development aide, I am confident that I am well-suited to continue the fight to bring higher-skilled and better-paying jobs to help grow the 3rd District.”
“Over the past decade, federal spending has gotten out of control. I will vote for the lowest budget offered in Congress each year. But once that budget is set, I will fight to make sure Mississippi gets its fair share,” he said.
“The McCain-Kennedy bill would have provided amnesty to those who have broken the law, and I was strongly opposed to it,” Rounsaville said. “I think the solution is to secure the border, enforce existing laws, prevent employers from hiring illegal immigrants and reject any form of amnesty.”
Rounsaville is the youngest candidate in the 3rd District's Republican field. “One of the advantages I bring to this race is my age,” he said. “Mississippi has a history of electing young, former congressional aides with great experience to Congress and then leaving them there for a long time to build up seniority and power so they can deliver for our state. Trent Lott, Thad Cochran and Chip Pickering were all in their early 30s when first elected to the House.”
Rounsaville grew up in Calhoun County and received bachelor's and master's degrees in agricultural economics from Mississippi State University.
He served 10 months as Mississippi director of the USDA's Office of Rural Development before resigning last September to begin his campaign for the House. Rounsaville previously served as Pickering's deputy chief of staff for five years and then worked three years for Barbour as a policy adviser.
Commercial Dispatch - Ross touts legislative experience in bid for 3rd Congressional seat - Charlie Ross is a former state legislator who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor last year and is now seeking the U.S. House seat Rep. Chip Pickering is giving up.
“I am the only candidate with experience in the legislative arena. I will be able to hit the ground running in Washington,” Ross said. Ross, who turned 52 today, is an attorney who served 10 years in the Mississippi Senate and one year in the House. He chaired the Senate Judiciary “A” Committee from 2004 through last year.
In his bid for a U.S. House seat, Ross boasts that “experience counts” and highlights his legislative accomplishments in getting bills passed. They include measures to limit damage suits and to strengthen the rights of residents to shoot burglars. He also pushed the enactment of bills to protect children from sexual predators and to impose the death penalty for murders committed on school property.
“While in the Mississippi Senate, I authored the tort reform bill, the Castle Doctrine Law, Jessica's Law and Megan's Law,” Ross said.
A Harvard law school graduate, Ross has received a civil justice achievement award from the American Tort Reform Association and was named legislator of the year by the American Legislative Exchange Council.
“The tax rebates are useful in the short term. More fundamentally, we must extend the Bush tax cuts while at the same time restraining spending,” Ross said.
“The U.S. is in a global war against Islamic extremism,” he said. “We must be strong and resilient, just like we were during the war on fascism during World War II and against communism during the Cold War. Weakness or appeasement will only invite more aggression.”
A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Ross was a fighter pilot and veteran of Desert Storm, the 1990s military conflict in Iraq.
“Transportation and infrastructure are not pork. They are investments. Sound economic-development spending and community improvements are not pork. They are investments,” he said. However, he said he does want to limit how members of Congress can tuck projects into bills with little public scrutiny. “I do support reform to allow more transparency in the appropriation process,” he said.
He said he'll focus on constituent services, another key duty congressmen have. “I will be the advocate for veterans and others that have problems with getting answers from the bureaucrats,” he said.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Landrum's Last Straw for Henry Barbour
(You can also read this email at Sid Salter's Blog where Salter says, "I received this e-mail from Henry Barbour a few minutes ago...it says far more than I can say about Mr. Landrum's voting record and his campaign's activities"
From: Henry Barbour
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008
Subject: the last straw with David Landrum
I have three friends running for the GOP nomination in the 3rd Cong. District race in MS on March 11. I told each of them last year that I was going to stay out of this race and remain neutral. I have done that. I wish all of them well on Tuesday. However, I am writing because I am furious at David Landrum.
We’ve all read about whether or not he voted over the last 8 years and that he gave Ronnie Musgrove $1,000 days before the election with Haley. He then claimed to have proof that he voted in 2003 by presenting the sign-in sheet for affidavit voters with his signature. For over a week, he stated publicly it was his signature. He told Paul Gallo it was his signature. He told the Clarion Ledger it was his signature. However, after the Clarion Ledger later proved it was not his signature, he admitted it was not. So, he changed his story and then attempted to blame his campaign staff – a cowardly act in my book.
Next, in another effort to salvage an obviously hemorrhaging campaign, he went on the Paul Gallo radio program yesterday morning. On that program, he and his lawyer (can you imagine a political candidate who brings his lawyer to a talk radio show?) accused long-time GOP “foot soldier” Pete Perry of possibly stealing Landrum’s affidavit ballot. They have zero evidence, other than Pete, like several others, was at the Election Commissioner’s office trying to confirm Mr. Landrum’s assertion that he had signed the sign-in sheet, which we now know is not true. Yet, they recklessly attacked Pete Perry’s integrity. And it makes me sick to hear Mr. Landrum say he’s running a “positive campaign”. Give me a break.
Like Pete – I am a “foot soldier” of the GOP and feel compelled to defend my friend and fellow GOP activist. I don’t always agree with Pete, but I know Republicans can always count on him to work with great passion for his Party and our candidates, and I greatly respect that. Therefore, I feel duty-bound to question Mr. Landrum’s hypocritical and arrogant accusations. If he had just come clean and not tried to spin why he had not voted or given money to Musgrove, this would have been a one-day story. I have heard a famous Mississippi political operative say more than a few times when you’ve got bad news – get it out fast. Mr. Landrum has taken a different approach and now has gotten to the point of desperation that he is attacking the “foot soldiers” of the Party in an effort to move the focus off of him. I hate to tell him, but he’s just making us activists angry with his actions. Therefore, I am still neutral in this race, but I urge you to share this with Republican voters in the 3rd CD and ask them to support one of the good candidates.
I am hopeful that Mr. Landrum will not make the run-off; however, I understand he has spent over $400,000 of his own money in this race. If he makes the run-off, I would not be surprised to see him effectively try to purchase our nomination. I hope y’all will join me in working to make sure that does not happen, but hopefully he will finish with only a handful of votes on Tuesday and not make the run-off.
Some of you may not know me, so here’s a little political background on me…I have been involved in Republican politics essentially all of my life. I grew up doing grassroots work in Yazoo City because my father always needed more volunteers in local races. I learned a lot about elections and people. I worked as a field rep in George Bush’s race in 1988 and then moved to DC to work in his administration and then finished my time in Washington working under Haley at the RNC. I came home to Yazoo City and ran Chip Pickering’s first race for Congress in 1995-96 – then ran his “big race” against Ronnie Shows in 2002. I also ran Haley’s race for Governor in 2003. After Mike Retzer stepped down as Republican National Committeeman from Mississippi, I ran for that post, won it and still hold it.
If you find this email helpful, I would encourage you to share it with others. If you don’t, I apologize for the inconvenience.
Thanks,
Henry Barbour
From: Henry Barbour
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008
Subject: the last straw with David Landrum
I have three friends running for the GOP nomination in the 3rd Cong. District race in MS on March 11. I told each of them last year that I was going to stay out of this race and remain neutral. I have done that. I wish all of them well on Tuesday. However, I am writing because I am furious at David Landrum.
We’ve all read about whether or not he voted over the last 8 years and that he gave Ronnie Musgrove $1,000 days before the election with Haley. He then claimed to have proof that he voted in 2003 by presenting the sign-in sheet for affidavit voters with his signature. For over a week, he stated publicly it was his signature. He told Paul Gallo it was his signature. He told the Clarion Ledger it was his signature. However, after the Clarion Ledger later proved it was not his signature, he admitted it was not. So, he changed his story and then attempted to blame his campaign staff – a cowardly act in my book.
Next, in another effort to salvage an obviously hemorrhaging campaign, he went on the Paul Gallo radio program yesterday morning. On that program, he and his lawyer (can you imagine a political candidate who brings his lawyer to a talk radio show?) accused long-time GOP “foot soldier” Pete Perry of possibly stealing Landrum’s affidavit ballot. They have zero evidence, other than Pete, like several others, was at the Election Commissioner’s office trying to confirm Mr. Landrum’s assertion that he had signed the sign-in sheet, which we now know is not true. Yet, they recklessly attacked Pete Perry’s integrity. And it makes me sick to hear Mr. Landrum say he’s running a “positive campaign”. Give me a break.
Like Pete – I am a “foot soldier” of the GOP and feel compelled to defend my friend and fellow GOP activist. I don’t always agree with Pete, but I know Republicans can always count on him to work with great passion for his Party and our candidates, and I greatly respect that. Therefore, I feel duty-bound to question Mr. Landrum’s hypocritical and arrogant accusations. If he had just come clean and not tried to spin why he had not voted or given money to Musgrove, this would have been a one-day story. I have heard a famous Mississippi political operative say more than a few times when you’ve got bad news – get it out fast. Mr. Landrum has taken a different approach and now has gotten to the point of desperation that he is attacking the “foot soldiers” of the Party in an effort to move the focus off of him. I hate to tell him, but he’s just making us activists angry with his actions. Therefore, I am still neutral in this race, but I urge you to share this with Republican voters in the 3rd CD and ask them to support one of the good candidates.
I am hopeful that Mr. Landrum will not make the run-off; however, I understand he has spent over $400,000 of his own money in this race. If he makes the run-off, I would not be surprised to see him effectively try to purchase our nomination. I hope y’all will join me in working to make sure that does not happen, but hopefully he will finish with only a handful of votes on Tuesday and not make the run-off.
Some of you may not know me, so here’s a little political background on me…I have been involved in Republican politics essentially all of my life. I grew up doing grassroots work in Yazoo City because my father always needed more volunteers in local races. I learned a lot about elections and people. I worked as a field rep in George Bush’s race in 1988 and then moved to DC to work in his administration and then finished my time in Washington working under Haley at the RNC. I came home to Yazoo City and ran Chip Pickering’s first race for Congress in 1995-96 – then ran his “big race” against Ronnie Shows in 2002. I also ran Haley’s race for Governor in 2003. After Mike Retzer stepped down as Republican National Committeeman from Mississippi, I ran for that post, won it and still hold it.
If you find this email helpful, I would encourage you to share it with others. If you don’t, I apologize for the inconvenience.
Thanks,
Henry Barbour
Just Wild about Harper
Dear Friend,
The voters in the Third Congressional District have several good candidates from which to choose in the upcoming election. If you are not already committed to one of the candidates, I hope you will consider Gregg Harper. If you are already committed, I certainly understand.
Gregg is dedicated to working for the traditional values we believe in. I have no doubt that he will be a strong supporter of those values in Congress.
We need people like Gregg in Washington now more than ever. There is no doubt in my mind that if liberals gain control of government, those of us who believe in traditional values will have many major battles to fight. I want Gregg to be there leading the fight for us.
Be sure to vote. And if you feel so led, encourage your family and friends to join you in voting for Gregg Harper for Congress.
Thanks for caring enough to get involved. I urge you to go vote.
Sincerely,
Donald E. Wildmon
The voters in the Third Congressional District have several good candidates from which to choose in the upcoming election. If you are not already committed to one of the candidates, I hope you will consider Gregg Harper. If you are already committed, I certainly understand.
Gregg is dedicated to working for the traditional values we believe in. I have no doubt that he will be a strong supporter of those values in Congress.
We need people like Gregg in Washington now more than ever. There is no doubt in my mind that if liberals gain control of government, those of us who believe in traditional values will have many major battles to fight. I want Gregg to be there leading the fight for us.
Be sure to vote. And if you feel so led, encourage your family and friends to join you in voting for Gregg Harper for Congress.
Thanks for caring enough to get involved. I urge you to go vote.
Sincerely,
Donald E. Wildmon
Candidates at MSU
The MSU Reflector - Hopefuls meet, greet students - SA hosts event for Congressional candidates - Gill said he does not believe in a fast track to citizenship for illegal immigrants but does believe in the privatization of Social Security.
Eads, on the other hand, said he does not support the privatization of Social Security. He said he wants to bring a swift end to the war in Iraq and increase efforts to secure the border. "The average citizen can no longer afford rising gas prices and continue to make ends meet," he said. "Oil companies are making record profits, and the record price of gas is causing a hardship on the American economy."
Landrum said he supports securing U.S. borders, protecting Mississippi values and providing families and small businesses alike with tax relief.
Marcy said he believes in national defense, does not support abortion and feels that illegal immigration must be stopped.
Ross said he is anti-illegal immigration, pro-business, believes in a strong national defense and does not support abortion. "I have a 100 percent voting record in the state legislature on pro-life issues," he said. "If you want to know what kind of congressman I'm going to be, you don't have to listen to what I say. Look at what I've done because I'm not going to change."
If elected, Rounsaville plans on increasing the amount of high-skill jobs in Mississippi and focusing on economic development. "I want to make sure that we have opportunity for jobs," he said. "If you leave the university with a good degree and grades you ought to have the opportunity to stay in Mississippi."
Eads, on the other hand, said he does not support the privatization of Social Security. He said he wants to bring a swift end to the war in Iraq and increase efforts to secure the border. "The average citizen can no longer afford rising gas prices and continue to make ends meet," he said. "Oil companies are making record profits, and the record price of gas is causing a hardship on the American economy."
Landrum said he supports securing U.S. borders, protecting Mississippi values and providing families and small businesses alike with tax relief.
Marcy said he believes in national defense, does not support abortion and feels that illegal immigration must be stopped.
Ross said he is anti-illegal immigration, pro-business, believes in a strong national defense and does not support abortion. "I have a 100 percent voting record in the state legislature on pro-life issues," he said. "If you want to know what kind of congressman I'm going to be, you don't have to listen to what I say. Look at what I've done because I'm not going to change."
If elected, Rounsaville plans on increasing the amount of high-skill jobs in Mississippi and focusing on economic development. "I want to make sure that we have opportunity for jobs," he said. "If you leave the university with a good degree and grades you ought to have the opportunity to stay in Mississippi."
Clarion Letters: Harper, Ross
Clarion Ledger - Letter to the Editor - Gregg Harper has worked more for Republican Party - Chip Pickering has been a great congressman. We have a large number of good Republican candidates running for his 3rd Congressional District seat. We Republicans should thank our Republican chairman, Jim Herring, for recruiting good candidates. Having been a county chairman and the state Republican Party Chairman for a number of years, I know the work this entails. With numerous candidates running, it is difficult for the voter to determine the best one. Numerous commercials or name recognition from previous campaigns can overshadow the best candidate. I know the candidates and my choice is Gregg Harper. Gregg is a fiscal conservative and a law- and-order conservative with experience as a prosecutor. He has been chairman of the Rankin County Republican Executive Committee and on the state party executive committee for eight years. Gregg has worked tirelessly for numerous candidates including Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant and Gov. Haley Barbour. He answered the call of the state and national parties by spending weeks in Florida helping in the recount for President Bush as well as working for fair elections in Ohio and Missouri. Gregg has worked more for the Republican Party than all the other candidates combined. - Billy R. Powell
Clarion Ledger - Letter to the Editor - Vote for Ross as the best candidate for 3rd District - In choosing a congressman for the Third Congressional District, I believe each voter should determine the most qualified candidate; one who can successfully work to pass meaningful legislation that will benefit the people of Mississippi. That person is Charlie Ross. Charlie is a business man, a partner in a very successful law firm. He was educated at the U.S. Air Force Academy and Harvard University and returned to Mississippi to raise his family and enter the practice of law. As chairman of the Rankin County Republican Executive Committee, Charlie showed strong conservative leadership abilities. Each time Charlie Ross has been elected to public office, he has again proven himself to be a leader. As a member of the Mississippi Senate, he successfully wrote and passed tort reform legislation - with a legislative body that certainly cannot be considered conservative. This legislation has been hailed as a model of the most progressive tort reform in the nation. Charlie also wrote and passed Jessica's Law for the protection of our children and the Castle Doctrine which allows citizens to protect their homes and property. Vote on March 11 to give Charlie Ross a chance to prove he can do in Washington what he has done in Mississippi as a member of the Mississippi Legislature. Let's send someone to Washington that we know can get the job done! - Ann Sturdivant, Brandon
Clarion Ledger - Letter to the Editor - Vote for Ross as the best candidate for 3rd District - In choosing a congressman for the Third Congressional District, I believe each voter should determine the most qualified candidate; one who can successfully work to pass meaningful legislation that will benefit the people of Mississippi. That person is Charlie Ross. Charlie is a business man, a partner in a very successful law firm. He was educated at the U.S. Air Force Academy and Harvard University and returned to Mississippi to raise his family and enter the practice of law. As chairman of the Rankin County Republican Executive Committee, Charlie showed strong conservative leadership abilities. Each time Charlie Ross has been elected to public office, he has again proven himself to be a leader. As a member of the Mississippi Senate, he successfully wrote and passed tort reform legislation - with a legislative body that certainly cannot be considered conservative. This legislation has been hailed as a model of the most progressive tort reform in the nation. Charlie also wrote and passed Jessica's Law for the protection of our children and the Castle Doctrine which allows citizens to protect their homes and property. Vote on March 11 to give Charlie Ross a chance to prove he can do in Washington what he has done in Mississippi as a member of the Mississippi Legislature. Let's send someone to Washington that we know can get the job done! - Ann Sturdivant, Brandon
Southern Political Report: Did Landrum Vote?
Southern Political Report - Mississippi: Did Congressional Candidate Landrum Vote in 2003? - David Landrum, a wealthy businessman who has poured some $500,000 of his own money into the campaign for the GOP nomination to succeed US Rep. Chip Pickering (R), but his momentum has been slowed by allegations that he did not vote in 2003 or in the elections since then. Landrum, who is dominating the TV air waves in this eight-candidate contest, made the matter worse when his campaign released documents from the voter roll for 2003 that included the signatures of Landrum and his wife. Then the Jackson Clarion-Ledger revealed they were not genuine signatures. Now the betting is that on March 11, former favorite Landrum will be forced into an April 1 runoff with either ex-Pickering staffer John Rounsaville; state Sen. Charlie Ross, a 2007 contender for lieutenant governor; or Gregg Harper, Rankin County GOP chairman.
Voter Purge Investigation
WLBT - Landrum To Ask For Federal Investigation - Candidate Calls for Federal Investigation into Purging - The names that were wrongly purged from Madison County's voter rolls between December and March have now been restored. Even the names of David Landrum, 3rd District Congressional candidate, and his wife and daughter. Landrum and his attorney, Dale Danks, plan to ask the U.S. Justice Department to investigate why it happened. "This past Sunday, when a rather detrimental news article appeared, (Landrum ) went from an active status to inactive status," Danks says. It's believed Election Commissioner Susan Sautermeister purged the rolls by herself without the approval of the entire commission, which violates federal law. Danks says some, if not all, of the changes were made from Sautermeister's home computer. If several pieces of official mail are returned as undeliverable to a voter's address, election commissioners can use that as one step in the process of removing someone from the rolls.
Incidentally, voter profile reports show two separate Madison County addressess for Landrum: 314 Lake Castle Road, and 105 Longleaf Place. Turns out it's the same house. Landrum says the street address for the house is in the process of being changed from Lake Castle to Longleaf. At least one jury summons addressed to Landrum was returned as undeliverable, but that alone is insufficient reason to purge anyone from the rolls. And records do show that Landrum voted in Madison County last November.
If the mass purging had not been caught, more than 10,000 people may have been forced to vote by affidavit ballot. "It would have been embarrassing to be running for Congress of the United States and be told in front of the cameras that I'm inactive," Landrum says.
Clarion Ledger - Voter rolls: Punishment merited in Madison - Both Hosemann and Madison County Circuit Clerk Lee Westbrook said Wednesday all names should be on the poll books before Tuesday's primaries.
But that doesn't answer the question of how District 1 Election Commissioner Sue Sautermeister could remove the names without prior knowledge or approval of the other four election commissioners. Neither does it answer the question of "why?"
Speculation has abounded that the names were purged in connection with the controversy surrounding 3rd District Republican congressional candidate David Landrum's voting record. The majority of voters removed live in the 3rd District, and Landrum and his wife, Jill, were two of the voters removed. Westbrook said she personally restored both of them to the official books. She said she called Landrum, and "he assured me he still lived in Madison County."
Sautermeister would not say why she undertook the actions now or why she acted on her own, saying, "It doesn't matter because they've all been put back."
The purged rolls would not have solved the issue of whether Landrum voted in 2003 for Gov. Haley Barbour, as he has claimed, providing documents purportedly with his signature, since the item in dispute is a Hinds County voter roll which doesn't seem to conform to his and his wife's signatures.
But it could be used to cloud the issue.
Incidentally, voter profile reports show two separate Madison County addressess for Landrum: 314 Lake Castle Road, and 105 Longleaf Place. Turns out it's the same house. Landrum says the street address for the house is in the process of being changed from Lake Castle to Longleaf. At least one jury summons addressed to Landrum was returned as undeliverable, but that alone is insufficient reason to purge anyone from the rolls. And records do show that Landrum voted in Madison County last November.
If the mass purging had not been caught, more than 10,000 people may have been forced to vote by affidavit ballot. "It would have been embarrassing to be running for Congress of the United States and be told in front of the cameras that I'm inactive," Landrum says.
Clarion Ledger - Voter rolls: Punishment merited in Madison - Both Hosemann and Madison County Circuit Clerk Lee Westbrook said Wednesday all names should be on the poll books before Tuesday's primaries.
But that doesn't answer the question of how District 1 Election Commissioner Sue Sautermeister could remove the names without prior knowledge or approval of the other four election commissioners. Neither does it answer the question of "why?"
Speculation has abounded that the names were purged in connection with the controversy surrounding 3rd District Republican congressional candidate David Landrum's voting record. The majority of voters removed live in the 3rd District, and Landrum and his wife, Jill, were two of the voters removed. Westbrook said she personally restored both of them to the official books. She said she called Landrum, and "he assured me he still lived in Madison County."
Sautermeister would not say why she undertook the actions now or why she acted on her own, saying, "It doesn't matter because they've all been put back."
The purged rolls would not have solved the issue of whether Landrum voted in 2003 for Gov. Haley Barbour, as he has claimed, providing documents purportedly with his signature, since the item in dispute is a Hinds County voter roll which doesn't seem to conform to his and his wife's signatures.
But it could be used to cloud the issue.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Salter: Butler & Danks - Snowjob for Landrum
ClarionLedger.com - Sid Salter Blog - Maybe that March snow the weather man is promising has started early... - I have no idea what possessed Madison County Election Commissioner Sue Sautermeister to purge the 2008 Madison County voter rolls in the manner she did. Clearly, David Landrum and his family were not treated fairly in that situation.
But to attempt to link that action in 2008 in Madison County to Landrum's admitted manufacture of false evidence that he voted in Hinds County in 2003 as Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler and former Jackson mayor Dale Danks are doing is simply laughable. It's comparing apples and lugnuts. Landrum and his campaign manager Neil Forbes have already admitted that the campaign made false claims about 2003 signatures that they had earlier promised were legitimate.
What Butler and Danks are doing is providing political cover for Landrum and hoping that the voters become so confused by the 2008 Madison County problem that they will conveniently forget the outrages that Landrum's campaign has already engaged in over in Hinds County's 2003 vote.
The better question is why.
But to attempt to link that action in 2008 in Madison County to Landrum's admitted manufacture of false evidence that he voted in Hinds County in 2003 as Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler and former Jackson mayor Dale Danks are doing is simply laughable. It's comparing apples and lugnuts. Landrum and his campaign manager Neil Forbes have already admitted that the campaign made false claims about 2003 signatures that they had earlier promised were legitimate.
What Butler and Danks are doing is providing political cover for Landrum and hoping that the voters become so confused by the 2008 Madison County problem that they will conveniently forget the outrages that Landrum's campaign has already engaged in over in Hinds County's 2003 vote.
The better question is why.
More on Madison Purge
Madison County Herald - Butler calls for Sautermeister's resignation - Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler is calling for the resignation of Madison County Election Commissioner Sue Sautermeister who was responsible for moving almost 11,000 names from voter rolls. In addition, attorney Dale Danks Jr. is calling for a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the removal of names from Madison County and possible impropriety surrounding the voting record of Republican David Landrum of Madison, a candidate for the 3rd Congressional District seat.
Butler said she is reviewing the names of city residents included in the list of 10,942 removed from the voter registration rolls. “There are over 2,700 of our city voters included,” she said. “The more names I find, the madder I get.”
Board of Supervisors President Tim Johnson said he met with Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann today and was assured that all the names have been restored. Those voters will be able to vote without any problems on Tuesday, he said.
Butler said city employees and other longtime residents, who have voted in recent elections and have not changed their residence, were removed from the rolls. Landrum, his wife and daughter were removed.
“Why did she delete him? She knew he was a candidate,” Butler said. “It makes no sense she would arbitrarily delete a candidate, his wife and daughter.”
Sautermeister said she based the removals on jury notices and voter notification cards that had been returned as undeliverable by the U.S. Postal Service. However, Election Commission Chairman Kakey Chaney said Sautermeister did not follow the procedures the commission has followed the past three years in making voters inactive.
Butler said she believes removing the thousands of names, most of whom live in the 3rd Congressional District, was an attempt to harm Landrum’s campaign. “I think it’s an attempt to derail the heart ... of his congressional base in Madison County,” she said.
Danks said he has written a letter formally requesting an FBI investigation into the series of activities surrounding the election. Besides the removal of the names, which affects the Landrum campaign, Danks said he is submitting an affidavit that raises the question of possible impropriety in Hinds County voter records. “You put all that together and it doesn’t pass the smell test,” Danks said. “This all raises enough questions for the FBI to step in and investigate.” The attempt to remove so many voters from Landrum’s home base could affect Tuesday’s results, Danks said.
Johnson said county officials will wait until after Tuesday’s election to look into Sautermeister’s actions. “We will proceed at whatever rate we need to to make sure there is confidence in our voting procedures,” he said.
Madison County has more voters on the rolls than are included in the 2000 census, Johnson said, so names obviously need to be purged. “But there needs to be a right way to do it,” he said. The Secretary of State’s Office will send representatives to Madison County to discuss appropriate ways to purge the books, Johnson said.
Butler said she is reviewing the names of city residents included in the list of 10,942 removed from the voter registration rolls. “There are over 2,700 of our city voters included,” she said. “The more names I find, the madder I get.”
Board of Supervisors President Tim Johnson said he met with Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann today and was assured that all the names have been restored. Those voters will be able to vote without any problems on Tuesday, he said.
Butler said city employees and other longtime residents, who have voted in recent elections and have not changed their residence, were removed from the rolls. Landrum, his wife and daughter were removed.
“Why did she delete him? She knew he was a candidate,” Butler said. “It makes no sense she would arbitrarily delete a candidate, his wife and daughter.”
Sautermeister said she based the removals on jury notices and voter notification cards that had been returned as undeliverable by the U.S. Postal Service. However, Election Commission Chairman Kakey Chaney said Sautermeister did not follow the procedures the commission has followed the past three years in making voters inactive.
Butler said she believes removing the thousands of names, most of whom live in the 3rd Congressional District, was an attempt to harm Landrum’s campaign. “I think it’s an attempt to derail the heart ... of his congressional base in Madison County,” she said.
Danks said he has written a letter formally requesting an FBI investigation into the series of activities surrounding the election. Besides the removal of the names, which affects the Landrum campaign, Danks said he is submitting an affidavit that raises the question of possible impropriety in Hinds County voter records. “You put all that together and it doesn’t pass the smell test,” Danks said. “This all raises enough questions for the FBI to step in and investigate.” The attempt to remove so many voters from Landrum’s home base could affect Tuesday’s results, Danks said.
Johnson said county officials will wait until after Tuesday’s election to look into Sautermeister’s actions. “We will proceed at whatever rate we need to to make sure there is confidence in our voting procedures,” he said.
Madison County has more voters on the rolls than are included in the 2000 census, Johnson said, so names obviously need to be purged. “But there needs to be a right way to do it,” he said. The Secretary of State’s Office will send representatives to Madison County to discuss appropriate ways to purge the books, Johnson said.
Harper in Meridian
WTOK - Harper Holds Press Conference - One of the candidates seeking the congressional seat for Mississippi's third district campaigned in Meridian Thursday. Gregg Harper is one of seven Republicans in the race. He said he believes the momentum is building for his campaign. "We're strong on the issues, on fighting against illegal immigration," said Harper. "They also know from a personal standpoint that we have a child with special needs, and we're committed to helping families who are raising such a child. And at this point, you're trying your best to get the vote out, to make sure people show up at the polls." In addition to Harper, John Rounsaville, Gregory Hatcher, James Broadwater, Bill Marcy, Charlie Ross and David Landrum are all running for that seat on the Republican ticket. Joel Gill and Randy Eads are the only two Democrats in the race.
Rounsaville, Ross, Marcy in Starkville
Commercial Dispatch - 3rd Congressional District candidates gear up for Tuesday at MSU - Some touted their experience in Jackson. Another his experience in Washington. Still another candidate pointed to his background in security as the credentials he would bring to the forefront as Mississippi's next congressman representing the 3rd Congressional District.
“Charlie Ross is going to be the same in Washington as he is in Jackson,” said Ross, a former state representative and senator, and Republican who's running for Chip Pickering's open seat in the 3rd Congressional District. “I've been to the plate a few times,” added Ross, remarking on his experience and record Wednesday afternoon at Mississippi State University as the candidates participated in an afternoon of stump speeches and meeting supporters in the Oktibbeha County area.
John Rounsaville, 32, and a Republican who has worked in the administrations of both Haley Barbour and Chip Pickering pointed to his youth and familiarity with Washington as his top credentials to being chosen in Tuesday's primary. “I'm going to be a strong conservative vote. You can count on that. But I also know my way around Washington,” said Rounsaville, an MSU alum who was recently appointed to the office of U.S. Department of Agriculture in rural development and community infrastructure. Rounsaville also pointed out Mississippi's long tradition of sending young people like Chip Pickering - who was in his early 30s when elected - Trent Lott or Thad Cochran to Washington and having them develop seniority. “It takes decades to build up that seniority and become a Sonny Montgomery or a Trent Lott or a Thad Cochran,” said Rounsaville to a meager crowd in a Union meeting room of only about two dozen, who were primarily Republicans. “Mississippi has derived power through seniority,” added Rounsaville.
Another Republican, Bill Marcy, of Meridian, is putting national defense and what he sees as a real threat of growing Islamic militancy as a top concern to tackle in Washington. “How many other groups of 19 are out there?” asked Marcy, reminding voters of the 19 terrorists who participated in the Sept. 11 attacks nearly seven years ago.
“I do feel like people are beginning to tune in,” said Sharon Ross, wife of Charlie Ross, remarking that the Democrats through Presidential candidates like Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have generated much excitement for their voters, but Republicans have been more subdued this election season.
“I came here with an open mind,” said Sean Galligan, of Kosciusko, and an MSU junior studying risk management, insurance and financial planning. “But I'm leaning toward John Rounsaville.”
“Charlie Ross is going to be the same in Washington as he is in Jackson,” said Ross, a former state representative and senator, and Republican who's running for Chip Pickering's open seat in the 3rd Congressional District. “I've been to the plate a few times,” added Ross, remarking on his experience and record Wednesday afternoon at Mississippi State University as the candidates participated in an afternoon of stump speeches and meeting supporters in the Oktibbeha County area.
John Rounsaville, 32, and a Republican who has worked in the administrations of both Haley Barbour and Chip Pickering pointed to his youth and familiarity with Washington as his top credentials to being chosen in Tuesday's primary. “I'm going to be a strong conservative vote. You can count on that. But I also know my way around Washington,” said Rounsaville, an MSU alum who was recently appointed to the office of U.S. Department of Agriculture in rural development and community infrastructure. Rounsaville also pointed out Mississippi's long tradition of sending young people like Chip Pickering - who was in his early 30s when elected - Trent Lott or Thad Cochran to Washington and having them develop seniority. “It takes decades to build up that seniority and become a Sonny Montgomery or a Trent Lott or a Thad Cochran,” said Rounsaville to a meager crowd in a Union meeting room of only about two dozen, who were primarily Republicans. “Mississippi has derived power through seniority,” added Rounsaville.
Another Republican, Bill Marcy, of Meridian, is putting national defense and what he sees as a real threat of growing Islamic militancy as a top concern to tackle in Washington. “How many other groups of 19 are out there?” asked Marcy, reminding voters of the 19 terrorists who participated in the Sept. 11 attacks nearly seven years ago.
“I do feel like people are beginning to tune in,” said Sharon Ross, wife of Charlie Ross, remarking that the Democrats through Presidential candidates like Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have generated much excitement for their voters, but Republicans have been more subdued this election season.
“I came here with an open mind,” said Sean Galligan, of Kosciusko, and an MSU junior studying risk management, insurance and financial planning. “But I'm leaning toward John Rounsaville.”
Jackson Jambalaya's Kingfish for Ross
Charlie Ross: A Pit Bull, not a Poodle - There are times when one must take a stand and the election to replace Congressman Chip Pickering is one of them. As we live in turbulent times with much uncertainty while the Republicans are rudderless and afflicted with a malaise, it is clear that the best choice to replace Congressman Chip Pickering next week is Charlie Ross.
Salter on Leaders
ClarionLedger.com - Sid Salter Blog - 3rd District: Landrum, Ross likely to meet in the 2nd primary - The 3rd District is hard to handicap. Despite David Landrum's implosion on the issue of his voting record, he's run a well-financed, textbook campaign otherwise. He was virtually uncontested on TV for six weeks. His supporters are loyal. And the secret weapon?
Landrum has the friendship of Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, who would like to see Landrum or any other Republican put a knot on the head of his old 2007 GOP primary opponent Charlie Ross. Ross hit Bryant hard during that bruising primary and there are hard feelings.
Ross has also run a good campaign. Ross has superior qualifications and has softened his stodgy image somewhat. His experience and his legislative record are strong and he's 2nd in the campaign finance parade behind Landrum.
Gregg Harper is relying on a big Rankin County ground game, but has been weak on TV. John Rounsaville has taken the fight to Landrum, but is unlikely to be able to move the needle enough to knock Landrum out of a runoff spot.
So I think you'll see a Ross-Landrum second primary. Then, it gets down to how much fence mending Ross can do with Harper and Rounsaville supporters and just how badly Phil Bryant wants to help Landrum put that knot on Ross's head.
Landrum's campaign finances are limited only by his own considerable checkbook. Ross will have to depend on contributions.
On the Democratic side, I think Pickens alderman Joel Gill will get the nomination. He's campaigned hard, which is more than you can say for his primary opponent.
Landrum has the friendship of Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, who would like to see Landrum or any other Republican put a knot on the head of his old 2007 GOP primary opponent Charlie Ross. Ross hit Bryant hard during that bruising primary and there are hard feelings.
Ross has also run a good campaign. Ross has superior qualifications and has softened his stodgy image somewhat. His experience and his legislative record are strong and he's 2nd in the campaign finance parade behind Landrum.
Gregg Harper is relying on a big Rankin County ground game, but has been weak on TV. John Rounsaville has taken the fight to Landrum, but is unlikely to be able to move the needle enough to knock Landrum out of a runoff spot.
So I think you'll see a Ross-Landrum second primary. Then, it gets down to how much fence mending Ross can do with Harper and Rounsaville supporters and just how badly Phil Bryant wants to help Landrum put that knot on Ross's head.
Landrum's campaign finances are limited only by his own considerable checkbook. Ross will have to depend on contributions.
On the Democratic side, I think Pickens alderman Joel Gill will get the nomination. He's campaigned hard, which is more than you can say for his primary opponent.
Salter Blog: Landrum and his lawyer
ClarionLedger.com - Sid Salter Blog - The 110th Congress: The chair recognizes Congressman Landrum's attorney, Dale Danks, who will speak for him on this next important bill... - As the multiple stories that have become David Landrum's truly pitiful excuses for explaining the fact that making sure he voted or was even registered to vote over the last seven years continue to evolve, now it's come down to the suggestion that Landrum's somehow the target of a more than five-year conspiracy by election officials in two counties.
Caught in the web of their own failed efforts to misdirect the public and the press in this matter, now it's come to claiming bizarre conspiracy theories that ignore the basic facts of how one casts an affidavit ballot.
And that's after Landrum and his campaign manager have admitted that they offered fraudulent information to the media in an attempt to stifle criticism of his voting records from campaign opponents.
Somewhere, Sonny Montgomery must be coughing up a hairball.
Where to begin? I suppose the saddest part of the David Landrum appearance on the Paul Gallo Show today was the fact that his lawyer, Dale Danks, did most of the talking for him. Is that what we really want in a congressman? A guy who has to have a mouthpiece when the pressure's on?
If Landrum's elected, is Danks going to go hold his hand on Capitol Hill as well? Why not just cut out the middle man and send Danks?
But the bottom line here is that the 2008 Sue Sautermeister shenanigans in Madison County has absolutely nothing to do with the absence of Landrum's signature on a very present 2003 Hinds County District 78 Affidavit Ballot Register. The allegations that Rounsaville consultant and Hinds County GOP Chairman Pete Perry stole documents from that Hinds County box — if they were true — still doesn't trump the fact that there's no evidence that Landrum was ever handed an absentee ballot in the first place because he wasn't registered to vote in Hinds County and didn't sign the Hinds County Precinct 78 affidavit ballot register that is still in the box. No affidavit register book signature, no affidavit ballot.
How exactly could Perry steal something that the existing public records proves would not and should not be there in the first place? No affidavit register book signature, no affidavit ballot. This isn't brain surgery here, folks.
Perry is set to appear on Gallo's show tomorrow morning to answer the allegations made by the Landrum camp.
Landrum's political wounds here are singularly self-inflicted.
Caught in the web of their own failed efforts to misdirect the public and the press in this matter, now it's come to claiming bizarre conspiracy theories that ignore the basic facts of how one casts an affidavit ballot.
And that's after Landrum and his campaign manager have admitted that they offered fraudulent information to the media in an attempt to stifle criticism of his voting records from campaign opponents.
Somewhere, Sonny Montgomery must be coughing up a hairball.
Where to begin? I suppose the saddest part of the David Landrum appearance on the Paul Gallo Show today was the fact that his lawyer, Dale Danks, did most of the talking for him. Is that what we really want in a congressman? A guy who has to have a mouthpiece when the pressure's on?
If Landrum's elected, is Danks going to go hold his hand on Capitol Hill as well? Why not just cut out the middle man and send Danks?
But the bottom line here is that the 2008 Sue Sautermeister shenanigans in Madison County has absolutely nothing to do with the absence of Landrum's signature on a very present 2003 Hinds County District 78 Affidavit Ballot Register. The allegations that Rounsaville consultant and Hinds County GOP Chairman Pete Perry stole documents from that Hinds County box — if they were true — still doesn't trump the fact that there's no evidence that Landrum was ever handed an absentee ballot in the first place because he wasn't registered to vote in Hinds County and didn't sign the Hinds County Precinct 78 affidavit ballot register that is still in the box. No affidavit register book signature, no affidavit ballot.
How exactly could Perry steal something that the existing public records proves would not and should not be there in the first place? No affidavit register book signature, no affidavit ballot. This isn't brain surgery here, folks.
Perry is set to appear on Gallo's show tomorrow morning to answer the allegations made by the Landrum camp.
Landrum's political wounds here are singularly self-inflicted.
Y'all's Take
Y'all Politics - Alan Lang - The 3rd Congressional District Republican Primary
Upsides and Downsides
Y'all Politics also has the audio of the David Landrum interview on Paul Gallo this morning.
Upsides and Downsides
Y'all Politics also has the audio of the David Landrum interview on Paul Gallo this morning.
Starkville forum
Starkville Daily News - Congressional candidates make case during campus event - With days remaining in the contest, seven candidates for Mississippi’s open Third Congressional District seat in Mississippi made their cases in a public setting Wednesday night in Starkville.
Ross, a former state Senator, pointed to his experience in the Legislature as a lawmaker who grew up in nearby Eupora.
Rounsaville, a former aide to Pickering and Gov. Haley Barbour, called into play his experience as on Capitol Hill and his status as a Mississippi State University graduate.
Landrum says he is running on a “common sense, business mindset to Washington.”
In his remarks during the event, did not address allegations he did not vote in recent major elections but did answer questions about the charges afterwards.
He said that he and his wife Jill did vote in the 2003 election but they were improperly registered in Hinds County, did vote by the affidavit process, but then found out that their votes did not count. He said they did vote in 2007 in Madison County and records will reflect that. “It’s basically a lie,” Landrum said of the allegations. “Really, it’s just an attempt by some campaigns to get in the mud, but I’m not going to sling it,” Landrum said. “... Some are compromising the truth to win. ... I’d rather lose with integrity and character than win without it. ... We’ve got a lot of momentum, we’re cautiously optimistic but we’ve got to push hard these last four or five days.”
Ross, a former state Senator, pointed to his experience in the Legislature as a lawmaker who grew up in nearby Eupora.
Rounsaville, a former aide to Pickering and Gov. Haley Barbour, called into play his experience as on Capitol Hill and his status as a Mississippi State University graduate.
Landrum says he is running on a “common sense, business mindset to Washington.”
In his remarks during the event, did not address allegations he did not vote in recent major elections but did answer questions about the charges afterwards.
He said that he and his wife Jill did vote in the 2003 election but they were improperly registered in Hinds County, did vote by the affidavit process, but then found out that their votes did not count. He said they did vote in 2007 in Madison County and records will reflect that. “It’s basically a lie,” Landrum said of the allegations. “Really, it’s just an attempt by some campaigns to get in the mud, but I’m not going to sling it,” Landrum said. “... Some are compromising the truth to win. ... I’d rather lose with integrity and character than win without it. ... We’ve got a lot of momentum, we’re cautiously optimistic but we’ve got to push hard these last four or five days.”
Roll Call: (Absence of) Voting Record Hurts Landrum
Roll Call - (Absence of) Voting Record Hurts Mississippi Candidate - With less than a week to go before primary day in Mississippi, wealthy businessman David Landrum, the assumed frontrunner in the 3rd district GOP race, has been tripped up by controversy over his voting record — or lack thereof — dating back to 2003.
The Landrum campaign, with the help of a strong fundraising arm and more than a half-million dollars of Landrum’s personal fortune, has enjoyed a strong media presence during the race. That has helped to build up Landrum’s name identification in the crowded eight-way GOP primary to replace retiring Rep. Chip Pickering (R).
But depending on how much traction the issue generates in the coming days, Mississippi Republican insiders say the voting flap has the potential to make Landrum vulnerable in a runoff for the GOP nomination or possibly even knock him out of one of the top two spots.
The emerging controversy stems from concerns raised in late February by former Pickering aide John Rounsaville (R) — who also is running to replace his former boss — that Landrum didn’t vote in the 2003 election.
In that year’s Mississippi gubernatorial election, Landrum made donations to the campaigns of both Democrat Ronnie Musgrove and Republican Haley Barbour. Though Landrum has given significantly more money to GOP candidates, some of his opponents questioned his Republican bona fides for his Musgrove donation.
Landrum insisted that, like any good Magnolia State Republican, he voted for Barbour. He said he voted by affidavit that year because, after he and his family moved to Hinds County in 2002, his name was not on the official voter rolls.
To back up those claims, Landrum’s campaign produced documents that they said proved both Landrum and his wife voted in Hinds County. Those voter roll documents contained signatures that Landrum told Mississippi reporters were both his and his wife’s.
But an investigation by the Clarion-Ledger newspaper found that those signatures did not match up to either Landrum or his wife. In an article published Sunday, the Clarion-Ledger found two former Hinds County voters who said the signatures were in fact theirs.
This week Landrum explained that his campaign released the voter roll documents before he had the chance to review them and admitted that the signatures were neither his nor his wife’s.
Landrum campaign manager Neil Forbes said Wednesday that Landrum and his wife were on the campaign trail on the day the campaign released the documents and had been unable to verify their signatures.
According to an e-mail sent to supporters by Jill Landrum, Forbes offered to resign over the matter but Landrum refused.
This week, Landrum continued to insist that he voted in 2003 and Forbes said the campaign is calling for an investigation into what happened to Landrum and his wife’s voting records, which have yet to be found. Forbes described the entire issue as “desperation politics” stirred up by other campaigns. He added that the camp wants to find out who had access to Landrum’s voting records and if those records could have been tampered with.
On Wednesday, several Mississippi political insiders described the voting controversy as a classic case of the coverup being worse than the crime.
“If he didn’t vote and had voter registration problems just say so and move on,” said Sid Salter, an editor and syndicated columnist with the Clarion-Ledger who was involved in the paper’s investigation into the Landrum controversy. “In a nutshell the coverup and disingenuous manner in which it has been handled I think is much more of an issue than not voting itself.”
But is it enough to knock Landrum out of a runoff?
Probably not, Salter said. A lot more people have seen Landrum’s TV commercials than have seen the story on his voting record. But that could change in a runoff.
“At that point I think it’s a whole new ballgame and I think there’s going to be an even greater level of scrutiny brought to bear on his statements and on these bogus releases,” Salter said.
“I do think [the controversy] absolutely stopped whatever momentum [Landrum] might have had, and wherever he was two weeks ago is about his high point,” said Mississippi attorney Andy Taggart, a former chief of staff to then-Gov. Kirk Fordice (R).
Taggart said the biggest beneficiary of the current voting flap may not be Rounsaville, who sparked the entire issue, but rather state Sen. Charlie Ross and Rankin County Republican Party Chairman Gregg Harper, who are the other top-tier Republicans in the primary race.
“Sometimes the conventional wisdom is even if a claim is accurate the person who has blown the whistle on it sometimes gets fragged by having made the claim,” Taggart said. “This is definitely ... to the benefit of both Ross and Harper, who have been perceived to be outside the fray and I think they are benefiting from the fact that lots of people are falling off Landrum.”
For his part, Harper chose not to discuss the voting issue in an interview Wednesday.
“We are going to continue to run a clean, positive campaign, and we will stay on message until the end of this race,” Harper said. “I do believe that if there’s a runoff that we’ll be in that runoff.”
The Landrum campaign, with the help of a strong fundraising arm and more than a half-million dollars of Landrum’s personal fortune, has enjoyed a strong media presence during the race. That has helped to build up Landrum’s name identification in the crowded eight-way GOP primary to replace retiring Rep. Chip Pickering (R).
But depending on how much traction the issue generates in the coming days, Mississippi Republican insiders say the voting flap has the potential to make Landrum vulnerable in a runoff for the GOP nomination or possibly even knock him out of one of the top two spots.
The emerging controversy stems from concerns raised in late February by former Pickering aide John Rounsaville (R) — who also is running to replace his former boss — that Landrum didn’t vote in the 2003 election.
In that year’s Mississippi gubernatorial election, Landrum made donations to the campaigns of both Democrat Ronnie Musgrove and Republican Haley Barbour. Though Landrum has given significantly more money to GOP candidates, some of his opponents questioned his Republican bona fides for his Musgrove donation.
Landrum insisted that, like any good Magnolia State Republican, he voted for Barbour. He said he voted by affidavit that year because, after he and his family moved to Hinds County in 2002, his name was not on the official voter rolls.
To back up those claims, Landrum’s campaign produced documents that they said proved both Landrum and his wife voted in Hinds County. Those voter roll documents contained signatures that Landrum told Mississippi reporters were both his and his wife’s.
But an investigation by the Clarion-Ledger newspaper found that those signatures did not match up to either Landrum or his wife. In an article published Sunday, the Clarion-Ledger found two former Hinds County voters who said the signatures were in fact theirs.
This week Landrum explained that his campaign released the voter roll documents before he had the chance to review them and admitted that the signatures were neither his nor his wife’s.
Landrum campaign manager Neil Forbes said Wednesday that Landrum and his wife were on the campaign trail on the day the campaign released the documents and had been unable to verify their signatures.
According to an e-mail sent to supporters by Jill Landrum, Forbes offered to resign over the matter but Landrum refused.
This week, Landrum continued to insist that he voted in 2003 and Forbes said the campaign is calling for an investigation into what happened to Landrum and his wife’s voting records, which have yet to be found. Forbes described the entire issue as “desperation politics” stirred up by other campaigns. He added that the camp wants to find out who had access to Landrum’s voting records and if those records could have been tampered with.
On Wednesday, several Mississippi political insiders described the voting controversy as a classic case of the coverup being worse than the crime.
“If he didn’t vote and had voter registration problems just say so and move on,” said Sid Salter, an editor and syndicated columnist with the Clarion-Ledger who was involved in the paper’s investigation into the Landrum controversy. “In a nutshell the coverup and disingenuous manner in which it has been handled I think is much more of an issue than not voting itself.”
But is it enough to knock Landrum out of a runoff?
Probably not, Salter said. A lot more people have seen Landrum’s TV commercials than have seen the story on his voting record. But that could change in a runoff.
“At that point I think it’s a whole new ballgame and I think there’s going to be an even greater level of scrutiny brought to bear on his statements and on these bogus releases,” Salter said.
“I do think [the controversy] absolutely stopped whatever momentum [Landrum] might have had, and wherever he was two weeks ago is about his high point,” said Mississippi attorney Andy Taggart, a former chief of staff to then-Gov. Kirk Fordice (R).
Taggart said the biggest beneficiary of the current voting flap may not be Rounsaville, who sparked the entire issue, but rather state Sen. Charlie Ross and Rankin County Republican Party Chairman Gregg Harper, who are the other top-tier Republicans in the primary race.
“Sometimes the conventional wisdom is even if a claim is accurate the person who has blown the whistle on it sometimes gets fragged by having made the claim,” Taggart said. “This is definitely ... to the benefit of both Ross and Harper, who have been perceived to be outside the fray and I think they are benefiting from the fact that lots of people are falling off Landrum.”
For his part, Harper chose not to discuss the voting issue in an interview Wednesday.
“We are going to continue to run a clean, positive campaign, and we will stay on message until the end of this race,” Harper said. “I do believe that if there’s a runoff that we’ll be in that runoff.”
Landrum's voting scandal
Madison County Journal Editorial - Landrum's voting scandal - David Landrum has some explaining to do. So far, his ever-evolving story about his voting record isn't holding water.
The next Landrum press release could very possibly cite the Madison County voter roll "scandal" that was breaking at press time as proof of the corruption he's been alleging. The problem is, Landrum has never stated unequivocally that he voted regularly during the nearly decade in question. The record reflects that Landrum didn't vote after November 2000 or before November 2007. The Madison County voter roll story is overblown, by all accounts.
A blog entry late Wednesday by Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger said the Landrum campaign is likely to ramp up previously vague allegations they've made of possible tampering with voting documents in Hinds County. Because Landrum was hit in the Madison County voter roll purge, they will suggest a similar pattern exists in Hinds County.
"That's a stretch, considering that the Hinds County affidavit voter register remains available for inspection. But look for a conspiracy scenario to emerge that attempts to give the Landrum campaign some cover on what they've already admitted - manufacturing false evidence to bolster Landrum's voting claims," Salter wrote.
The stakes are high and the shoes to be filled are big in this election on Tuesday. Mississippi would be well served in Congress by a Harper, Ross or Rounsaville.
But Mr. Landrum has some explaining to do.
If casting a ballot on election day isn't really that important, then why are we in Iraq? For a flag-waving Republican trying to get elected to Congress, failing to participate regularly in the most basic of democratic processes is an unforgivable sin.
The controversy began Feb. 11 at a debate in Noxapater when Landrum was asked directly for whom he voted in the 2003 gubernatorial election between incumbent Democrat Ronnie Musgrove and Republican challenger Haley R. Barbour. "Well, my vote is for Gov. Barbour," Landrum said, dodging the question. But Landrum acknowledged making a $1,000 donation to Musgrove at the request of friends and business associates interested in tort reform.
Many of the other candidates are aware of Landrum's voting record, but only one, John Rounsaville, has had the courage to call Landrum out. He did so in a Feb. 20 press conference - not with a whisper campaign or mud-slinging. Now that's the kind of integrity and character we need in Washington.
On Feb. 22, two days after the press conference, Landrum's campaign provided documentation saying that signatures on a Hinds County voting log belong to Landrum and his wife Jill. The Clarion-Ledger reported on Sunday that other voters say the signatures are theirs - and they are.
By Monday night, Landrum's campaign chair was explaining that the Feb. 22 press release was sent out without Landrum's knowledge. "It never occurred to either David or Jill to verify the signatures. David accepts responsibility for an honest mistake," wrote Bill Lampton, the campaign chair, in an e-mail.
Hogwash!
Records show Landrum didn't vote at all, wasn't even registered in Hinds County. What about the other elections between 2000 and 2007?
The Landrum coverup began and continues with a classic campaign tactic of admitting nothing, denying everything, demanding proof, minimizing the effects and making wild counter accusations.
Landrum's story simply isn't adding up and voters deserve an explanation from a candidate who has made integrity an issue. Landrum has spent nearly $400,000 of his own money campaigning. For a man who professes to be the anti-politician of the bunch, he sure is acting like one.
Voting is the solemn right, privilege, and civic duty of every American citizen. Landrum has yet to state definitively that he's voted regularly since 2000. Is David Landrum telling the whole truth?
The next Landrum press release could very possibly cite the Madison County voter roll "scandal" that was breaking at press time as proof of the corruption he's been alleging. The problem is, Landrum has never stated unequivocally that he voted regularly during the nearly decade in question. The record reflects that Landrum didn't vote after November 2000 or before November 2007. The Madison County voter roll story is overblown, by all accounts.
A blog entry late Wednesday by Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger said the Landrum campaign is likely to ramp up previously vague allegations they've made of possible tampering with voting documents in Hinds County. Because Landrum was hit in the Madison County voter roll purge, they will suggest a similar pattern exists in Hinds County.
"That's a stretch, considering that the Hinds County affidavit voter register remains available for inspection. But look for a conspiracy scenario to emerge that attempts to give the Landrum campaign some cover on what they've already admitted - manufacturing false evidence to bolster Landrum's voting claims," Salter wrote.
The stakes are high and the shoes to be filled are big in this election on Tuesday. Mississippi would be well served in Congress by a Harper, Ross or Rounsaville.
But Mr. Landrum has some explaining to do.
If casting a ballot on election day isn't really that important, then why are we in Iraq? For a flag-waving Republican trying to get elected to Congress, failing to participate regularly in the most basic of democratic processes is an unforgivable sin.
The controversy began Feb. 11 at a debate in Noxapater when Landrum was asked directly for whom he voted in the 2003 gubernatorial election between incumbent Democrat Ronnie Musgrove and Republican challenger Haley R. Barbour. "Well, my vote is for Gov. Barbour," Landrum said, dodging the question. But Landrum acknowledged making a $1,000 donation to Musgrove at the request of friends and business associates interested in tort reform.
Many of the other candidates are aware of Landrum's voting record, but only one, John Rounsaville, has had the courage to call Landrum out. He did so in a Feb. 20 press conference - not with a whisper campaign or mud-slinging. Now that's the kind of integrity and character we need in Washington.
On Feb. 22, two days after the press conference, Landrum's campaign provided documentation saying that signatures on a Hinds County voting log belong to Landrum and his wife Jill. The Clarion-Ledger reported on Sunday that other voters say the signatures are theirs - and they are.
By Monday night, Landrum's campaign chair was explaining that the Feb. 22 press release was sent out without Landrum's knowledge. "It never occurred to either David or Jill to verify the signatures. David accepts responsibility for an honest mistake," wrote Bill Lampton, the campaign chair, in an e-mail.
Hogwash!
Records show Landrum didn't vote at all, wasn't even registered in Hinds County. What about the other elections between 2000 and 2007?
The Landrum coverup began and continues with a classic campaign tactic of admitting nothing, denying everything, demanding proof, minimizing the effects and making wild counter accusations.
Landrum's story simply isn't adding up and voters deserve an explanation from a candidate who has made integrity an issue. Landrum has spent nearly $400,000 of his own money campaigning. For a man who professes to be the anti-politician of the bunch, he sure is acting like one.
Voting is the solemn right, privilege, and civic duty of every American citizen. Landrum has yet to state definitively that he's voted regularly since 2000. Is David Landrum telling the whole truth?
Marshall Ramsey on David Landrum
Clarion Ledger - Thursday's Cartoon - OK, I just wrote a long post explaining that this cartoon refers to the 2003 election in HINDS County about which the Landrum campaign presented false signatures to prove he voted in the race between Musgrove and Barbour (he gave money to both) and not to the 2007 one where his and 9,999 other names were mysteriously purged from the MADISON County voter rolls. But Pluck just wiped out the post I had been working on for 20 minutes. I guess Pluck's part of the conspiracy to get David Landrum. I know it seems to be getting my blog. Anyway, here's the cartoon.
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