Many District B residents are upset that their runoff election is being postponed. However, current councilman Jerry Davis said he will not abandon his district until this matter is resolved.
Members of the Texas Organizing Project took their protests to City Hall to demand the runoff election for District B move forward as planned. The County Clerk postponed District B’s runoff because of a legal challenge involving candidate Cynthia Bailey.
“They’re upset, very upset,” said District B councilman, Jerry Davis. “They want representation in that office and I will do my best to be there for them until the new councilmember elect comes in.”
Davis is leaving office because of term limits, but he said the Texas Constitution will allow him to remain in office if the matter is not resolved by the beginning of next year.
Bailey was set to face Tarsha Jackson in the runoff, but the third-place finisher in the race, Renee Jefferson-Smith, is challenging Bailey’s candidacy since she is a convicted felon. State law reads convicted felons cannot run for public office, but Bailey is challenging that; claiming she is not prohibited from running for office by the city’s charter and the so-called “home rule” should take precedence.
“I’m prepared whatever comes my way because I believe what’s for me is for me,” said Bailey. “I paid my debt to society, I’m qualified citizen and a voter.”
A hearing on the legal challenge to Bailey’s candidacy has not yet been scheduled
Smith and her attorney have criticized the city for not removing Bailey from the ballot prior to the November 5 election.