Judge dismisses Supervisor David Archie’s election challenge

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - A special Hinds County Circuit Court judge has dismissed an election challenge from District 2 Supervisor David Archie.

On Tuesday, Judge Barry Ford dismissed Archie’s complaint against the Hinds County Democratic Executive Committee with prejudice.

The reason was that the suit was not filed within the 10 days as required by state statute.

Archie maintains he was unable to file the suit by that deadline because the courts were closed following the county’s cyber-attack.

He says he has video showing that his representatives were unable to file documents with the circuit court. He also included several subpoenas in the court record.

“Although we respect the ruling of the court, we disagree with the court’s ruling. Not only is it an election challenge, where integrity is at the forefront, and alleged corruption. Now, we have to deal with the subject matter of judicial review,” he said. “Now we have to deal with that before we get to the case.”

Archie filed the suit seeking judicial review citing several election irregularities in the August Democratic primary.

The supervisor was seeking a second term but was defeated by retired businessman Anthony Smith.

HCDEC Chairperson Jacqueline Amos, who has contended there were no irregularities, was pleased with the court’s decision.

“Fair and honest elections are essential to our democracy. The unpaid volunteers who serve on the Hinds County Democratic Executive Committee conduct our primary elections as a civic duty. We take that duty seriously and we do our duty with integrity,” she said in a statement. “Anyone who says otherwise speaks from ignorance, malice, or both.”

“The facts are indisputably clear, and no amount of infantile histrionics from the failed candidate can change the fact that the people of Hinds County have clearly had quite enough of David Archie.”

WLBT Investigative Reporter C.J. LeMaster contributed to this report.

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