Embattled Noxubee County School District Superintendent candidate Roger Liddell — who owes the Hollendale School District in Washington County more than $100,000 — wants Noxubee voters to go to the polls for the third time in a year.
After losing to Kevin Jones in Tuesday’s special election, a Liddell spokesperson said Liddell will be contesting the results of the election.
“Oh we will absolutely be contesting the election; yes we will,” the spokesperson, who was contacted through Liddell’s campaign website and declined to give his name, said Wednesday afternoon, as the elections results were being certified by the Noxubee County Democratic Executive Committee. Jones won the election by almost 400 votes. Liddell’s spokesperson would not comment any further on the matter.
The Special Election for Noxubee County Superintendent was held, after Gov. Phil Bryant determined a need for the election. In January, a judge decided some absentee ballots were not properly processed, in the August Democratic primary election.
Liddell, who has been on the job since January, had requested the Mississippi Supreme Court allow additional time to review Bryant’s decision. But the request was denied by Circuit Judge Kenneth Coleman.
Election woes are not the only problems Liddell faces. He was ordered by State Auditor Stacey Pickering to repay $111,581 to the Hollendale School District for electronic equipment purchased — when he was principal of Simmons High School — for personal use.
In November of 2009, a Washington County Grand Jury indicted Liddell, following Pickering’s investigation.
“Roger Liddell has been indicted on the charge that, from 1996 through 2009, he allegedly embezzled five cameras, six camcorders, 10 desktop computers; seven laptop computers; eight DVD/CD players; seven televisions and computer monitors; nine printers; four projectors and three DVD/CD writers, all valued at $500 or more each and converted that equipment to his own use,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering. “I appreciate the work of District Attorney Dewayne Richardson for putting this case before the grand jury. Our schools are looking for ways to cut costs and do more with less. I am committed to holding individuals accountable when they steal from our children’s education.”
Lisa Shoemaker, Pickering’s communication director, said Liddell has not made any restitution, as of Wednesday.
“To my knowledge, (Mr. Liddell) has not paid back any of this money,” Shoemaker said. “But this is the judgment that was issued. He cannot appeal this amount. This amount is the result of the investigation. He will have to pay this money back.”
Richardson said Liddell had received a continuance, but he expected the case to go to trail later this year.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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