Insurance Commissioner George Dale has run as a Democrat eight times in his political career. But this year to his frustration, he won’t be allowed to do so.
The Mississippi Democratic Executive Committee denied certification to Dale last week because they “questioned his loyalty to the Democratic Party,” a party spokesman said
Dale publicly supported President Bush’s re-election in 2004. He said from his home in Clinton that he hasn’t thought about future plans and doesn’t know what status he will run under – likely independent or Republican.
“I have been a freethinker for a long time,” said Dale, who noted that he was not really’ surprised to hear the news. “I haven’t a clue why they did this.”
Longtime House member Mary Ann Stevens, of West, was also denied based on party loyalty. A call to her home went unanswered.
In January, the attorney general’s office issued a legal opinion that political parties could not refuse to certify candidates based on “generally perceived party disloyalty.” An attorney general’s opinion does not carry the weight of law but is designed to provide public entities a level of protection in a court of law.
Mississippi’s party primaries are Aug. 7. The general election is Nov. 6.
Topics Mississippi Politics
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