LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Lepanto's mayor can stay in office.
The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Steve Jernigan was legally elected mayor in 2010 because he keeps a residence inside the city limits.
In a hearing, Circuit Judge Ralph Wilson ruled against the Poinsett County prosecutor, who challenged Jernigan's election on grounds that Jernigan had a couple of sham rentals in the city and kept his primary residence in the county.
Wilson said there was strong evidence that Jernigan's presence in the city was "a subterfuge and a farce," but found the law allows someone with a residence in a city to be elected mayor.
The high court agreed Thursday, saying it found no error in Wilson's ruling.
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