Local Radar

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Judge rules: Nathaniel Jackson to remain on ballot for School Board

web posted October 17, 2006
LEXINGTON – School Board hopeful Nathaniel Jackson will be on the ballot to challenge incumbent School Board member Mary Alice Jackson for the District 1 School Board seat in November. Zach Bush of Johnston challenged Mr. Jackson’s residency claiming Mr. Jackson’s residency was in North Augusta, not Johnston. At a Hearing held on August 31 the Edgefield County Election Commission ruled Mr. Jackson eligible to run for office. Mr. Bush appealed that decision to the Court of Common Pleas. The Case was heard by Judge Victor Rawl in Lexington last Friday.

Judge Rawl issued his order late Friday afternoon. According to a copy of the ruling obtained by EdgefieldDaily.com, Judge Rawl said he found in favor of the Election Commission citing they followed the laws governing residency as a voter. “After reviewing the entire case, I can find no abuse of discretion and there is substantial evidence in the record to support the Board’s decision that Mr. Nathaniel Jackson is a registered voter of Edgefield County, residing at 420 Railroad Avenue, Johnston, SC.,” the order read in part.

Mr. Bush has said in previous interviews that he was not challenging Mr. Jackson’s status as a legal registered voter for the upcoming election, but his status at the time of filing as a candidate.

Mr. Bush, in an e-mail, said he was not going to push the issue further and is instead going to, “try my best to beat him as a write-in candidate.” Mr. Bush stated he has already spent time making contacts and will be campaigning in earnest over the next three weeks.

Mr. Jackson said in a phone interview Monday he was pleased with the ruling, “I think the judge made the right decision. I am going to be spending the next three weeks campaigning as hard as I can and hope to be victorious.”

Incumbent School Board member Mary Alice Jackson was unable to be reached for comment. Ms. Jackson also began a challenge against Mr. Jackson’s residency, but withdrew.

Mr. Bush’s original complaint also stated that Mr. Jackson was a convicted felon and therefore ineligible to run for office. Mr. Jackson plead guilty to one count of conspiracy on January 4, 1988 that stemmed from a 52-page Federal Indictment and a multi-state federal investigation on cocaine trafficking involving twenty-eight people. Jackson was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for his participation in the scheme. Mr. Jackson was paroled, records show, July 17, 1991. Mr. Jackson’s civil rights were restored on January 1, 1996 after completing his sentence and parole making him eligible to run for elected office.

Mr. Bush said he dropped the complaint when provided with that information. “They (Voters Registration) showed me a copy of a letter from his parole officer so I didn’t pursue that.” Mr. Jackson has not commented on his prison record during his campaign.
 


 

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