Cherokee Elections Board To Review Charges Against Poole

The Cherokee County Board of Elections will hold a called meeting to review allegations that County Commissioner-elect Brian Poole is ineligible to take office.

The meeting will take place today at 1 p.m. at the Albert Stone Elections Building at 400 East Main Street in downtown Canton.

The residents contend 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.

The elections board will decide whether to move forward on charges brought forth by a group of unnamed residents who allege Poole is ineligible to take office. 

Canton Attorney Jeff Rusbridge, who is representing the citizens, on Friday sent a letter to Cherokee County Elections and Voter Registration Supervisor Janet Munda, requesting she schedule a hearing to consider the allegations before the Nov. 6 election. 

Rusbridge also sent to Munda 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 Towne Lake resident is set to take office on Jan. 1. Poole ran and won the Republican nomination for the District 3 commission seat against Cherokee Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member Chris Hampton. 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. 

Poole has not returned calls or emails requesting comment, but has denied charges in other media outlets.