The Hinds County Election Commissioners have until Nov. 12 to complete the certification process of declaring winners in the Nov. 2 elections. Some races across the county are still being decided. State law mandates that votes must be certified within 10 days of any election. A runoff, if needed, will take place Tuesday, Nov. 23.
In the midst of this dubious task of counting votes, some election officials are at odds and are displaying their dividedness in a public fashion.
“I’m embarrassed that one election official feels she needs to scream and yell at others when we have so many people here watching and monitoring our every move,” said Commissioner Bobbie Graves. “Connie Cochran feels the need to be in control and has no respect for anyone. All of that yelling and condescending talk is inappropriate.”
Some citizens agree with Graves.
“I have a real problem with this so-called democracy,” said Stephanie Parker-Weaver of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. “No one person should have absolute power and treat folk the way that Bobbie Graves is being treated.”
Graves maintains that Cochran, who is a white Republican and represents District 4, isn’t alone with her public outbreaks.
Graves, a black Democrat, said white Republican Commissioner Marilyn Avery, who represents District 1, “exploded” during an Oct. 19 confrontation over access to voting machines at the commission’s south Jackson warehouse, grabbing her arm and calling her a “b—-.”
“All I asked for was proper training and I wanted working knowledge of how the machines work,” said Graves.
Graves alleged that technician Pat Wilson refused to complete “logic and accuracy” testing on voting machines that were used in her district in her presence and that he walked out on her on two occasions. “This was embarrassing and more than that he was being insubordinate and I think he should be terminated,” Graves said.
Avery admitted, during a public meeting, to calling Graves a “b—-.” “There have been a lot of fights in this office, and you have never seen me lose my temper but one other time during my entire time here,” Avery said. “I’m sorry.”
The day of the Oct. 19 confrontation, Avery said Graves “humiliated” Wilson, who is contracted by the county to set up machines by attempting to do his job for him, and he refused to stand by and let it happen.
Graves pressed at a recent meeting for the termination of Wilson, but her request was rerouted. “We can’t fire him; we don’t sign his contract. You will need to deal with Barbara Dunn,” Cochran said.
Earlier in this same meeting, both Cochran and Avery upon learning of the intended discussion concerning Wilson suggested that the commissioners go into executive session because it was a personnel matter.
Commissioner Jermal Clark, who represents District 3, made it known that Wilson was not hired as an employee by the county but rather a contractual employee and any claims of needing to go into executive session were null and void.
The Mississippi Link spoke to Dunn, who serves as the Hinds County Circuit Clerk. Dunn said she had no authority over the hiring or firing of Wilson. “I’ve not been involved in that process in a number of years,” said Dunn. “That is not my responsibility.”
The Mississippi Link obtained a copy of Wilson’s contract and only two signatures are on it. Those signatures are his [Wilson] and Election Commissioner Lelia Gaston Rhodes, who serves as chair of the board of commissioners.
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