Tuscaloosa City Councilwomanâs attorney explains why theyâre fighting election results
Tuscaloosa incumbent challenging election results By Kelvin Reynolds and Ugochi Iloka | March 9, 2021 at 7:28 PM CST - Updated March 10 at 6:10 AM
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) - The Tuscaloosa City Council certified the March 2 municipal election results in Tuesday nightâs city council meeting, despite a complaint being filed in district court for challenging district 7 results.
The votes have been counted in that race, but it may be up to a judge to decide if the candidate with the most votes for that seat can claim victory.
Incumbent Tuscaloosa City Councilwoman Sonya McKinstry came in second to Cassius Lanier in the race for the District 7 city council seat. She filed a lawsuit Monday to get Lanier disqualified.
Sonya McKinstry, who has served as the council’s representative for District 7 since 2013, has filed a challenge in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court in an attempt to overturn the results that saw challenger Cassius Lanier capture the seat by just 25 votes on municipal Election Day.
That margin grew by three on Tuesday, as Lanier was granted three more votes from provisional ballots that were cast March 2 at the District 7 ballot box.
None of the three eligible provisional ballots, as determined by the Tuscaloosa County Board of Registrars, went to McKinstry, leaving the final – and certified – total at 752 votes for Lanier and 724 for McKinstry.
Tuscaloosa city councilwoman contesting election results According to Councilwoman Sonya McKinstry s lawyer, her district 7 city council seat challenger , Cassius Lanier was not qualified to hold the office on the date of the March 2nd election. (Source: WBRC) By Ugochi Iloka | March 9, 2021 at 7:37 AM CST - Updated March 9 at 7:38 AM
TUSCALOOSA , Ala. (WBRC) - One Tuscaloosa city councilor is now asking a court to overturn the results of last weekâs municipal election. District 7 incumbent Sonya McKinstry said she deserves to be declared the winner over challenger Cassius Lanier.
Tuscaloosa city officials are expected to certify election results Tuesday. According to Councilwoman Sonya McKinstryâs lawyer, Lanier was not qualified to hold the office on the date of the March 2nd election.
Tuscaloosa City Council District 7 incumbent Sonya McKinstry is asking a court to overturn the results of last week’s municipal election.
In a complaint filed Monday in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court by McKinstry and her husband, Darryl, the couple is claiming that Sonya McKinstry deserves to be named the winner of the March 2 municipal election despite falling short by 25 votes.
The reason, according to Cam Parsons, the Tuscaloosa-based attorney representing the McKinstrys, is that challenger Cassius Lanier was not qualified to hold the office on the date of the election.
Because Lanier has yet to receive an official pardon for a series of felony convictions that date between 1998 and 2007, state law prevents him from being declared the winner of the election by the City Council during its Tuesday canvassing meeting.
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