Trial date set for Centreville mayoral election challenge

CENTREVILLE, Ala. (WBRC) - A Bibb County judge decided Monday, Oct. 27 that the results of Centreville’s mayoral election will go to trial.

The decision comes after incumbent mayor Mike Oakley filed a lawsuit in September contesting the results of an extremely close election, which saw challenger Barry Cooner win by just two votes.

Judge Marvin Wiggins considered a motion Monday from Cooner’s attorney, Michael Murphy, to dismiss Oakley’s lawsuit.

The motion claimed the city did not properly secure ballots and other election materials where it was being stored in Centreville’s city hall.

The document went on to allege that Oakley could have accessed the election materials in city hall, “anytime day or night,” and asked that Oakley’s lawsuit contesting the election be dismissed.

Oakley’s attorney, Joel Blankenship, argued that the motion to dismiss was not supported by factual evidence.

“The election materials were secure pursuant to statute in the locked closet...in the city clerk’s office,” Blankenship said after the hearing.

“It was a completely baseless motion,” he added.

Blankenship also argued before the judge that any alleged evidence of tampering with election material should be heard at trial, rather than the case being dismissed outright before such evidence can be presented.

During the hearing, Blankenship was asked by the judge what evidence he has that would change the outcome of the election.

Blankenship responded that, after an examination of the ballots completed on Oct. 20, he believes there were ballots counted for voters who did not live in Centreville.

“We found several suspicious things that we will continue to investigate,” Blankenship said after the hearing.

“We believe that not all votes were properly counted,” he continued.

After the hearing, Barry Cooner said that he looks forward to being sworn in on Monday, Nov. 3, regardless of the outcome of the election contest.

“Whatever happens from then is God’s will,” said Cooner.

“I cannot control anything after this. After I get sworn in, everything else is in God’s hands.”

The trial date for the election contest is set for Dec. 5.

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