Three Morehouse Parish School Board Candidates Will Not Run

A candidate for the Morehouse Parish school board has been disqualified by a court to run for office Two other candidates withdrew. At question was whether all three actually lived in the district they wanted to represent. The Morehouse Parish School Board is guaranteed to have new leadership in October’s election. Only one current board member qualified to run again. Leonard Posey, Shonda Thompson-Lollie and Henry Cotton wanted to be part of that new board. Now they won't get that chance. Shonda Thompson-Lollie, Leonard Posey and Henry Cotton say they wanted to be part of the change on the Morehouse Parish School Board. "The decisions that the school board makes should be based upon the children's need's not the superintendent's needs,” said Thompson-Lollie. "The only reason I ran was because of the children in the parish,” said Cotton. But the permanent residences of all three were challenged by the district attorney's office. There was question of whether they live in the district they were running for on the Morehouse Parish School Board. "If you're going to assume such an office such as school board you should be prudent to get there,” said Assistant District Attorney Neal Johnson. Henry Cotton was registered to run in District 6, but his address doesn't match. Cotton says it was an oversight of the clerk who registered him. "I gave my correct address and my assumption was that they were tied to the database, the secretary of state's database,” said Cotton. Cotton could have registered in District 7 and qualified. He says he didn't know the district he should have registered for. "I should have exercised more diligence probably,” said Cotton. Assistant District Attorney Neal Johnson says that's no excuse. "He's bound by what he signs and his signature is his word and you can't come back and say I really didn't mean it,” said Johnson. Today, a judge disqualified Cotton from the race. Thompson-Lollie claims she told the clerk she intended to run in District 5, but was registered in District 3 with her District 5 address. She withdrew her name before court even started. "The best thing for me to do right now is to withdraw my name from the ballot,” said Thompson-Lollie. Thompson claims the whole thing had to do with race. Her opponent is white. "I know Morehouse Parish, the sheets are not on, but they're dressed up in suits and ties now,” said Thompson-Lollie. Still the government says that's not the case. Officials say it’s the candidates' responsibility to make sure the address and the district match. "The statute says that the judge can correct it and put her in the right district, but she chose not to go forward on it,” said Johnson. Leonard poesy also withdrew himself before court. His address actually matched District two that he's running in, but the district attorney's office says he doesn't actually live there permanently. "Mr. Posey an honorable man we feel like he made a mistake,” said Johnson. Now, amid all the mess, candidates in District 2,3 and 6 will run unopposed. Candidates in Districts 5 and 7 were already unopposed – so it will automatically be given to candidates who have qualified. On October 2, only 2 Morehouse Parish School districts will be on the ballot… Districts 1 and 4.