The Selma Times-Joural

A candidate for public office is facing some opposition.

Larry Nickels, a candidate for Dallas County Commission District 4, has challenged the right of incumbent Clifford Hunter to run as a Democrat in the upcoming June 3 primary.

Republican Gov. Bob Riley appointed Hunter to the seat in February 2007. Nickels, who is a Democrat, is claiming Hunter&8217;s candidacy as a Democrat is in violation of the rules of the Democratic Party.

As member of the Freedom Party, Hunter lost the race for Dallas County Board of Education, District 2 in 2006. Nickels is also challenging that the party switch is in violation of the Democratic Party rules.

The Freedom Party was established in 2006, and Cliff Albright served as chairman.

The Radney Rule is the Democratic loyalty rule.

Nickels could not be reached for comment. Hunter said he had no comment when reached by phone on Tuesday.

The Democratic Executive Committee is scheduled to hear the challenge at 5 p.m. Friday in the Dallas County Commission Courtroom in the Courthouse Annex. The five-member committee, appointed by Dallas County Democratic party chairman Mayor James Perkins Jr., includes Collins Pettaway, committee chairman; Lorenzo Harrison, Tammy Maul, Susan Keith and Buddy Swift.

Nickels lost the race for the District 4 seat in 2004 against now Probate Judge Kim Ballard. He was in the running to finish Ballard&8217;s term as commissioner of District 4 after Ballard was elected as probate judge, but Hunter was appointed to the seat on Feb. 5, 2007.

Radney rule:

“No person shall be permitted to qualify as a candidate for nomination or election to

public or party office in said primary elections who did not support the nominees of the Democratic Party in the last general election. Any elected public official who attained office as a nominee of the Democratic Party, and any person who is a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee, shall not be permitted to qualify as a candidate for public or party office in said primary elections if, while holding such public or party office, he or she did not support the nominees of the Democratic Party in the last general election.”