HELENA-WEST HELENA-In the aftermath of Judge Richard
Proctor’s ruling declaring the filing period contained in the city’s municipal
codebook invalid, Andrew Bagley has announced that he will not refile in the
filing period ordered by the judge which ends August 17.
Bagley said, “First, I would like to thank those who signed
my petition to allow me to run. I
appreciate their willingness to let me stand as a candidate for the Helena-West
Helena City Council. While I was looking
forward to a spirited debate about the future course of our city with incumbent
Alderman Larry Brown, it is not personally prudent for me to refile at this
time. I wanted to make this announcement
with enough time left before the judicially-mandated deadline of August 17 for
those that believe in my philosophies and positions to find a new candidate."
Bagley added that he will not rescind his previous
filing. He said, “In the event that
there are further legal developments, I am leaving my previous filing in
place. If there are future legal
developments that were to result in the previous filing period being held
valid, I will mount the campaign I originally planned. I believed that the filing period contained
in the codebook was approved properly. Subsequent
research has shown me that the minutes reflect that the codebook was passed
unanimously with an emergency clause, which would have meant immediate effect
without publication. However, I respect
the judicial system and will abide by its rulings.”
He continued, “We would not have these controversies if
aldermen would simply read what they are passing. Unfortunately, too many were preoccupied with
drawing a gerrymandered map to protect their own political interests and missed
reading these important provisions of the codebook they voted to pass.”
Bagley closed by saying that he will continue to work to
make the community a better place. He
said, “I have always believed that to whom much is given, much is
expected. God has blessed me immensely,
and he has done it many times through people, institutions, and events in this
community. I love this town. I intend to continue to work to make our
community better, particularly through my volunteer efforts with the HWH
Booster Club in the Helena-West Helena School District. Again, I want to thank my supporters and
those who signed my petition. There will
be future opportunities to serve, and I look forward to those.”
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