Young vs. Stamey challenges election
Ron Young, who ran against Clinton City councilman E.T. Stamey in the November election, has filed a lawsuit against Stamey and the Anderson County Election Commission.
It is a “complaint to contest election, for declaratory judgment and for injunctive relief,” according to the lawsuit. The issue stems from Stamey’s employment as the athletic director of Clinton Elementary School. Young alleges that Stamey “is disqualified from holding office on the city council because of his employment with the public school system of the town.”
As reported in The Courier News last week, the Clinton city charter states that a vacancy exists on the council if a councilmember accepts employment with the city. Young alleges that a vacancy, therefore, exists, disqualifying Stamey from office.
He further alleges that because Stamey was not qualified to run for office, “the only qualified candidate on the ballot for that office in the general election should be declared the duly elected winner.”
Meaning, Young wants Stamey out and wants to take his place.
The lawsuit states, “Stamey should be deprived of all right or claim to the office and that plaintiff, Ronald C. Young, should be invested with the right to the office.”
Young also wants the courts to permanently prohibit the election commission from approving any ballot where an employee of the Town of Clinton seeks to run for office.
Stamey, for his part, said last week that he did not believe he works for the city. The school system operates under its own governing body — the school board — and has its own pay roll. He believes he works for the school.
Director of Clinton City Schools Kelly Johnson has requested an opinion from the Attorney General to clarify whether a school employee is a city employee.
“We need some clarity on it moving forward,” she said, “and Clinton City Schools wants to play by the rules.”
Johnson said that Stamey’s position is part-time with no benefits. He is the Coordinator of College and Career Activities and oversees the Blaze’s well-rounded activities program.
“He single handedly brought in approximately $65,000 in fundraising for our school system,” she said. “When we talk about doing our gym renovations without instructional money, he was behind that.”
Stamey, according to Johnson, created the Blaze’s cross country, basketball, swim and soccer teams. He also oversees the school’s Project H2O club and their reading society, according to Johnson. Additionally, Stamey acts as a liaison with the community to bring in people to support their college-ready programs, like the Ace of Shakes, which teaches students soft skills.
He accepted the position last year. He said in a statement last week that if it is determined he can’t be councilman and work for the school system, he would resign from his position as councilman.
“I feel my position as athletic director of Clinton City Schools serves a greater purpose by working with the children of our community,” he said.