Cherokee Elections Board To Decide Poole's Eligibility

The fate of Cherokee County Commissioner-elect Brian Poole rests in the hands of the Cherokee County Board of Elections as they hold a hearing today to review charges that the candidate is ineligible to hold office.

The hearing, set for 10 a.m. at the county administration building, will formally hear charges that Poole can not take office due to him owing the state of Alabama over $30,000 in sales taxes.

Eight residents – Chris Hampton, Scott Ault, Teisha Ault, Jamey Cagle, Connie Miller, Bryan Roach, Eric Love and Linda Flory – allege Poole has not paid state and local sales taxes in the state of Alabama. Poole allegedly owes $38,599.09 in sales taxes in the neighboring state.

Hampton was Poole's Republican challenger in the July 31 primary. 

The residents are being represented by Canton attorney Jeff Rusbridge, who sent a letter to Cherokee County Elections Supervisor Janet Munda requesting the board to review the mater.

Along with the letter, Rusbridge also sent several documents that appear to be certificates of liens against Poole from the Alabama Department of Revenue, which were filed between 2009 and 2011, and copies of a voluntary bankruptcy filing Poole made in 2010.

“Mr. Poole himself, in sworn statements submitted with his Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition in the Middle District of Alabama, Case No. 10-11227, admitted owing $29,855 in unpaid state and local sales and withholding taxes to the State of Alabama,” the letter reads.

The board in a called meeting last week voted unanimously to move forward to schedule a formal hearing. 

The Towne Lake resident is set to take office on Jan. 1. Poole has no Democratic opposition in the Nov. 6 general election. Both Poole and Hampton sought the seat after incumbent County Commissioner Karen Bosch opted not to seek re-election.