Former State Rep. Johnnie Bolin, represented by the Democratic Party counsel Chris Burks, sued today in Drew County to have Republican James Hall removed from the November general election ballot as the Republican candidate for the currently vacant House District 9 seat.
The party contends Hall is constitutionally unqualified because of a conviction of a crime involving dishonesty and deceit, specifically a hot check violation
The state Court of Appeals also recently upheld a harassment conviction of Hall.
He’s seeking the seat that had been held by the late Sheila Lampkin. The Democratic Party has nominated LeAnne Burch for the seat, both for a special election to fill the remaining months on Lampkin’s term and for the full term in the November election. The Republican Party didn’t field a special election candidate, to Hall’s unhappiness. He says he’ll run as a write-in.
The suit to have Hall ruled ineligible says the Republican nomination can’t be filled this election because of the circumstances that would create the vacancy. A vacancy occurs only for death, serious illness, a candidate’s move or the candidate filing for another office. Hall has said he’ll fight for the seat.