Johnson was sued by State Rep. Robin Wright-Jones, another candidate for the 5th District senate seat. Johnson’s removal would make the August 5th contest a two-person race, between Wright-Jones and the frontrunner, State Rep. Rodney Hubbard.*

But not so fast! Johnson says she plans to appeal the judge’s decision. This statement comes from her attorney, Rufus Tate:

We are disappointed. However, Representative Johnson is a lawmaker. Ultimately, she believes in the rule of law and judicial restraint. Therefore, I have been instructed to proceed with a notice of appeal, request to stay the circuit court order, and a request for an expedited appeal, including oral arguments.

Our legal position has not changed. Representative Johnson is and has always been a resident of the 61st legislative district; she has never abandoned her domicile at 5969 Tara Lane. To suggest that Rep. Johnson would have purchased this house on Maple for any reason other than to accommodate her mother’s increasing medical needs is to ignore incontrovertible evidence. We wouldn’t be having this conversation but for pressing medical needs of her mother.

Juxtaposing the Supreme Court ruling in the “Kit” Bond case and the Court of Appeal’s decision in the Jennings city councilman case with this one causes us concern.

We are also very concerned with whether the circuit court exceeded its jurisdiction to hear the matter. Section 115.531 RSMo required a hearing to begin not later than April 29, 2008. That did not happen because the Contestant was not ready to try the case. That unreadiness should have proven decisive for the Contestant in the circuit court. The law is plain and unambiguous. When you file a primary election contest petition, you better be ready to go to trial immediately. That is not open to debate.

The process has been taxing emotionally and financially. Justice has been too long delayed. We do not feel that the matter of jurisdiction has been sufficiently addressed so far. Therefore, we will have to wait a little while longer for justice in either the Court of Appeals, Eastern District or the Supreme Court.

UPDATE: This response comes from the other party in the case, Robin Wright-Jones:

Yesterday, Missouri Circuit Judge Russell Long issued the ruling that Representative Connie Johnson, because of Representative Johnson’s residency in the 5th Senatorial District was not
established that she shall be removed from the ballot as a candidate for Senator of the Missouri’s
5th Senatorial District. Judge Long’s ruling was based on the evidence presented during the trial.
This ruling is a victory for the people of Missouri and the 5th Senatorial District.

I am strongly committed to representing the values of those that live and work in the district.
There is absolutely no room in our government, and particularly with our elected officials, for
misdeeds, deception or fraud. This is particularly true where the standard for those working in the
corridors of the institutions where laws are proposed and passed should meet the highest morale
principles. I promise that I will meet and even exceed the highest principles possible. I will not
engage in any behavior that will sullen the image of my office or negatively diminish my ability to
do my work on behalf of my constituents. I invite all the other candidates running for public office,
particularly the other candidate running for Missouri’s 5th Senatorial District office to do the same.

Upon being elected to the Senate, I will preserve that integrity with fair and honest
representation. It’s time now to run this primary race.

*Hubbard is a client of PubDef.net publisher, Antonio D. French

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3pQ1JNW0jw

“Who died?” asked one person who saw the piece on my desk.

The front of the four-page campaign brochure looks eerily like a funeral program.

Click here to download a PDF of the piece.

At one point, State Rep. Robin Wright-Jones, who is suing State Rep. Connie Johnson for misrepresenting that she does live in the 5th Senatorial District, which they are both seeking to represent in the August 5th primary, took the stand to “play the part” (meaning she was reading the testimony of another witness taken during a previous deposition) of the man who rented the home Johnson claims is her residence.

Johnson listened as Wright-Jones read in the first-person allegations that she slashed the car tires of one of her tenants, then stole a pair of boots, allegedly saying “I am going to have to get gangsta on this girl. She doesn’t know who I am.”

Johnson denies the allegations of William Keys, a firefighter who claims that he rented Johnson’s northside house with an agreement to purchase it with his girlfriend, who also lived there. Johnson has said that the arrangement was actually more of a roommate agreement, with her being able to come and go when not in Jefferson City fulfilling her duties or at another home she owned in Central West End taking care of her ailing mother.

In his deposition, read in court by Wright-Jones, Keys denied that description of the arrangement. “Where would she sleep? There were only two mattresses.” he said.

Further damaging is the fact that the house has been condemned by the city since December or January. According to Susan Block, attorney for Robin Wright-Jones, Representative Johnson just applied for an occupancy permit this month.

Johnson has called Wright-Jones lawsuit a desperate political move. She also points out that Wright-Jones entire case almost completely mirrors the evidence anonymously sent to election officials and several media outlets weeks before she filed her suit.

Wright-Jones denied on the stand that she had any knowledge of that anonymous packet.

More may be at stake for Connie Johnson than just being allowed to stay on the ballot or not. Wright-Jones is also seeking attorney fees and costs, which already total to more than $17,000. The U.S. Attorney’s office also requested a copy of the St. Louis Board of Elections findings and a representative from the Missouri Attorney General’s office was in court Friday monitoring the case.

Friday’s proceedings, which started at 9:30 AM, lasted until 7:30 PM.

Judge Douglas Long of Pulaksi County, the third judge in the case following the recusal of two others because of possible conflicts of interest, has requested additional documents from Wright-Jones’ attorney by midweek. A verdict may be announced by Thursday or Friday.

First, his committeewoman and ally, Pat Moss, withdrew her name from seeking re-election. Then he found himself with a serious opponent (Khatib Waheed) to his 26th Ward Committeeman post while at the same time trying to unseat State Rep. Talibdin “T.D.” El-Amin. And now, his ward’s alderman is publicly endorsing El-Amin for re-election.

The following press release from El-Amin’s campaign reports the endorsement of both Alderman Frank Williamson and Congressman Lacy Clay:

State Representative Talibdin “TD” El-Amin received yet another boost in his re-election bid. Congressman William “Lacy” Clay, 1st District and 26th Ward Alderman Frank Williamson announced the endorsement of Representative “TD” El-Amin.

“Congressman Clay and the Clay family have a long, and rich tradition in national, state and local politics and have been instrumental in shaping the political, social and economic landscape of St. Louis, and it’s a tremendous honor to have the Congressman’s support.”

Joining Congressman Clay in his support of El-Amin is Alderman Frank Williamson, 26th Ward.

“Representative El-Amin has demonstrated a strong ability to lead, his “hands-on, style of people-politics,” and his ability to build bridges makes him best suited to lead the 57th district,” stated Williamson.

“El-Amin has shown he’s not afraid to take on tough issues, his accessibility and commitment to engage the community and take a forward role in its stewardship makes him worthy of my support. I look forward to continuing to work with Representative El-Amin in his efforts to continue progress in the 57th District”, stated Congressman Clay.

El-Amin has garnered the support of other political heavyweights. Former Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr., St. Louis’s first African-American mayor has also thrown his support behind El-Amin’s candidacy, as well as Pearlie Evans, long-time community activist and former top aide to former Congressman Bill Clay.

The main figure behind the controversial initiative, California business Ward Connerly, who is African-American, had targeted five states, including Missouri. Connerly was successful at getting a similar measure passed in California in 1996.

Perhaps the most significant affect of the measure dying early is that such a racially inflammatory proposal will now have no chance of appearing on the same ballot which could possibly elect the nation’s first African-American president.
 

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nybB92RxcWs