Election Challenge in Centerville

Centerville’s Mayor Mike Oakley has filed litigation contesting the results of the recent mayoral election, in which he lost to Barry Kooner by just two votes. Oakley’s complaint, submitted late last week, asserts that certain votes were improperly declared, resulting in Kooner’s slim victory.

Initially, both candidates received 326 votes on election night. However, a review by the Centerville Canvas Committee on September 2nd assessed eight provisional votes related to the election. The committee concluded that only four of those votes were valid—one added to Oakley’s total and three to Kooner’s. Oakley’s legal claim alleges that “miscalculations, mistakes, or misconduct” led to the inclusion of illegal votes favoring Kooner while legitimate votes supporting Oakley were disregarded, which, he believes, caused his defeat.

“This isn’t about someone being a sore loser or not accepting the results. It’s a process to ensure that all legitimate votes are counted, free from any illegal influences,” said one representative.

Another spokesperson emphasized, “The suit is solely focused on maintaining the accuracy and transparency of our elections, ensuring that the will of Centerville’s voters is honored.”

Kooner acknowledged awareness of Oakley’s lawsuit but mentioned he hasn’t received an official legal notice yet. He plans to respond to the lawsuit within five days of getting the summons, as mandated by Alabama law.

Looking ahead, Kooner stated, “We’re excited to serve as Centerville’s mayor and commit to transparency and integrity over the next four years.”

The case is currently being handled by the Bibb County Circuit Court, pending Kooner’s response.