CHAROLOTTE, N.C. – Pine Bluff Mayor Carl A. Redus Jr. said Thursday that he is not seeking to block the mayoral election this November but is simply looking to follow the law.
Citing an Arkansas law that governs when an election for mayor is held in cities of less that 50,000, an attorney for the mayor is asking a circuit judge to issue a restraining order that would prevent the election of a mayor this November.
Redus, who is a delegate at the Democratic National Convention here, said that as mayor he is obligated to make certain the law is followed correctly.
“We filed a suit to make sure the law is followed. The state code says that if the city’s population is under 50,000 the elections should follow along with the midterm in 2014,” he said.
According to the most recent census, the population of Pine Bluff was 49,083.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Redus said that he is prepared to run this fall for re-election and expects that he would win.
“My campaign has kicked off. My campaign office is open,” he said. “And we have a tremendous track record. The community’s quality of life is growing.”
Redus dismissed any claims that he is seeking to gain an advantage through delay.
“What do you say to people when you’re following the law. My job as chief executive is to make sure we follow the law,” he said.
The lawsuit was filed against Gov. Mike Beebe, Secretary of State Mark Martin, Jefferson County Clerk Patricia Royal Johnson and the three members of the Jefferson County Election Commission in their official capacities, and was assigned to Second Division Circuit Judge Rob Wyatt Jr.
McKissic wants Wyatt to prevent the election from occurring and prevent the election commission from counting ballots cast or certifying the results in November.