By Antonio D. French
Filed Tuesday, April 11, 2006 at 10:54 PM
The chairman of the St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners sent a letter to the St. Louis Public Schools this week informing them that, as far as they are concerned, Peter Downs and Donna Jones are not yet elected officials.
As PUB DEF exclusively reported last week, officials at the election board have not yet certified the April 4 election and have said that it was premature to swear-in the two newest school board members until they do so.
State law allows the Board of Elections 14 days to certify the election. Before that occurs, the Board must conduct accuracy tests on the voting machines and perform internal audits.
Scott Leiendecker, the Board's Republican director of elections, told PUB DEF last week that they were shooting to get all of that done by Wednesday, April 12, but that they may take until the April 18 deadline.
PUB DEF caught up with Ed Martin, the chairman of the election board, Tuesday in the State Capitol building in Jefferson City. He said that he expects the election to be certified on or about the 18th, in time for that evening's regular school board meeting.
But at Tuesday night's administative and executive meetings of the school board, Downs and Jones assumed their seats despite the election board's claims. They have been advised by attorneys for the district that it is proper for new board members to begin their duties almost immediately.
Ex-board members Darnetta Clinkscale and James Buford did not attend Tuesday's board meeting and no other board members objected to Downs and Jones taking their seats.
As PUB DEF exclusively reported last week, officials at the election board have not yet certified the April 4 election and have said that it was premature to swear-in the two newest school board members until they do so.
State law allows the Board of Elections 14 days to certify the election. Before that occurs, the Board must conduct accuracy tests on the voting machines and perform internal audits. Scott Leiendecker, the Board's Republican director of elections, told PUB DEF last week that they were shooting to get all of that done by Wednesday, April 12, but that they may take until the April 18 deadline.
PUB DEF caught up with Ed Martin, the chairman of the election board, Tuesday in the State Capitol building in Jefferson City. He said that he expects the election to be certified on or about the 18th, in time for that evening's regular school board meeting.
But at Tuesday night's administative and executive meetings of the school board, Downs and Jones assumed their seats despite the election board's claims. They have been advised by attorneys for the district that it is proper for new board members to begin their duties almost immediately.
Ex-board members Darnetta Clinkscale and James Buford did not attend Tuesday's board meeting and no other board members objected to Downs and Jones taking their seats.
Labels: Election_Board, Schools
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