[EL] VRA--City of Butler--Strange result?

[Mathew Manweller]

I have a question about the VRA litigation that took place against the City of Butler, Ga in 1986. I am hoping someone on the list has some personal knowledge about the case.


As part of some VRA research I am doing, I made a public records request of all election results 5 years prior and 5 years after the litigation. The response I got from the City Clerk is below. In it she suggests that as a result of the Sec 2 litigation, the office holders at the time got to serve 10 year terms and that no elections were held until the litigation was resolved. This seems peculiar to me. I have not come across another instance that is similar. Any insight would be appreciated.


It is possible that the clerk is simply incorrect.


"From 1985 through 1995 there was no elections held within the City of Butler due to a court order filed in 1986 after a federal lawsuit was filed.  Therefore the Mayor and Council Members served those 10 years without any qualifying or election.  I have attached the newspaper clipping from that 1995 election.  Barry Whitley and Sandra Hortman ended up having a run-off special election, and Barry Whitley won that election."


Thanks,


Matt Manweller
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