TUPELO â¢Â Incumbent Ward 3 Councilman Travis Beard, who is currently running for re-election, filed his required ethics form past the statutory deadline, skirting a provision of the stateâs ethics laws.
State law requires candidates running for public office to file a statement of economic interest with the State Ethics Commission within 15 days after the qualifying period ends. The qualifying deadline was Feb. 5, which means the deadline for candidates to submit their economic interest forms was on Friday, Feb. 20.
However, thereâs a slight loophole in the timeline for submitting the form. Although the stated deadline for candidates to file is Feb. 20, the law also allows incumbents to submit the form no later than May 1, giving incumbents running for re-election two possible deadlines to submit the form.