Let’s Win This Thing
Roundtree gets good news at hearing
by Eric Johnson
Fifteen minutes before the Board of Elections hearing that would determine whether or not he would be allowed to continue his campaign for Richmond County sheriff, Richard Roundtree pulled his dark gray Kia Optima into the first row of the mostly empty Municipal Building parking lot.
He got out of the car, deliberately slipped on his black sport coat and retrieved a folder from inside the car. A big man with a quick smile, he seemed unhurried and lost in thought as he made his way to the front entrance of the Marble Palace.
Because it was so late in the day, getting through security was a snap, but it still took him a little while to finally enter the commission chambers, which is where the hearing was taking place. Inside, several supporters were scattered throughout the room waiting for his arrival.
Most of the city’s television news crews were there, too. They positioned their cameras along the perimeter, got some shots of Roundtree entering the chambers and then quietly chatted with each other while everyone waited for the Board of Elections members to file in.
Once inside, Roundtree shook a few hands and chatted quietly with whoever came up to meet him. Most offered words of encouragement as he worked his way over to his lawyers, who sat in the first row on the Jerry Brigham side of the chambers.
By 6 p.m., three of the four members of the Board of Elections, Director Lynn Bailey and attorney Andrew MacKenzie took their places and the meeting was called to order.
Willie Cooper, the Hephzibah man responsible for the challenge against Roundtree’s qualifications to run for sheriff, did not attend the hearing, but was instead represented by attorney Rodney Quesenberry, who began by stating his case — that Roundtree owed back taxes and was therefore ineligible to run for office.
Roundtree’s attorneys countered by providing documents showing he was on a payment plan for the unpaid federal taxes. They also claimed that Cooper’s letter was obviously written by an attorney, alleging that the suspiciously absent Cooper was simply a pawn for someone in opposition to Roundtree’s candidacy.
Quesenberry, who admitted he was brought onboard late in the game, frequently had a deer in the headlights look, especially when he was reduced to making the claim that he really didn’t think his client harbored any ill will toward Roundtree.
The hearing itself was relatively short and to the point. When the board left the room to deliberate, Roundtree, who had been rhythmically chewing a stick of gum he unwrapped at the beginning of the hearing, stood up and worked the room like a man running for office.
At 7:27 the board returned, gave Roundtree back three of the four copies of his tax records, then unanimously denied Cooper’s challenge.
Roundtree sat still for several moments while his supporters stood up and cheered and the cameras all jockeyed for position.
“
We’ll win this election, baby,” someone said as Roundtree finally stood up and smiled. “Let’s go win this thing.”You Might Also Like:
Most of the city’s television news crews were there, too. They positioned their cameras along the perimeter, got some shots of Roundtree entering the chambers and then quietly chatted with each other while everyone waited for the Board of Elections members to file in.
Once inside, Roundtree shook a few hands and chatted quietly with whoever came up to meet him. Most offered words of encouragement as he worked his way over to his lawyers, who sat in the first row on the Jerry Brigham side of the chambers.
By 6 p.m., three of the four members of the Board of Elections, Director Lynn Bailey and attorney Andrew MacKenzie took their places and the meeting was called to order.
Willie Cooper, the Hephzibah man responsible for the challenge against Roundtree’s qualifications to run for sheriff, did not attend the hearing, but was instead represented by attorney Rodney Quesenberry, who began by stating his case — that Roundtree owed back taxes and was therefore ineligible to run for office.
Roundtree’s attorneys countered by providing documents showing he was on a payment plan for the unpaid federal taxes. They also claimed that Cooper’s letter was obviously written by an attorney, alleging that the suspiciously absent Cooper was simply a pawn for someone in opposition to Roundtree’s candidacy.
Quesenberry, who admitted he was brought onboard late in the game, frequently had a deer in the headlights look, especially when he was reduced to making the claim that he really didn’t think his client harbored any ill will toward Roundtree.
The hearing itself was relatively short and to the point. When the board left the room to deliberate, Roundtree, who had been rhythmically chewing a stick of gum he unwrapped at the beginning of the hearing, stood up and worked the room like a man running for office.
At 7:27 the board returned, gave Roundtree back three of the four copies of his tax records, then unanimously denied Cooper’s challenge.
Roundtree sat still for several moments while his supporters stood up and cheered and the cameras all jockeyed for position.
“We’ll win this election, baby,” someone said as Roundtree finally stood up and smiled. “Let’s go win this thing.”You Might Also Like:
