Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 15

Saturday, November 15, 14H6 The CUnon4edKeriikson Daily News 3B Madison County's attorney FIREPLACE INSERTS, GAS LOGS, FIRESETS AMD GLASS DOORS accused of ethics violation ilil I 'm y1 FREE INSTALLATION FROM NOW UNTIL THANKSGIVING By TOM BRENNAN Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer A MadlSOn Coiintv Sllnprvwnr an. cused the county's attorney Friday of having a conflict of interest by being a member of a law firm that is suing the county. Supervisor J.L. McCullough of the 5th District accused County Attorney Dolan D. Self Jr.

of an ethics violation, saying Self 's law partner, Jim Herring, is representing Terry Pyron, who has filed a federal lawsuit against the county over his dismissal as county administrator. "He (SelH is on our navrnll anH I finH it hard to believe he can do this," McCullough said. "We're paying him $24,000 a year, and you think that if anything he should have offered his assistance to the county." Self could not be reached for comment, but Herring defended his partner's conduct, saying, "He has no conflict of interest." "The county prosecutor does not work for the board of supervisors," Herring said. "He prosecutes misdemeanor cases and had nothing to do with the criminal investigations involved here." Pryon filed suit in May 1985 seeking $5 million in damages claiming he was fired May 6, 1985, in retaliation for his cooperation with a Sheriff's Department investigation into county finances. The suit was filed against Madison County and the three supervisors McCullough, David Richardson of District 3 and Karl Banks of District 4 -who voted to fire him.

The supervisors were sued in their official capacity. The investigation mentioned in the suit led to the indictment of Richardson and McCullough. Richardson was acquitted in August 1985 of embezzling county funds. McCullough's trial on similar charges ended in a mistrial in July 1985. Pyron's suit is scheduled for trial Dec.

1. The six-person jury that will hear the suit was selected Wednesday. "This case is in a delicate stage," Herring said Friday. "I am concerned that any publicity could affect the jury." Herring filed a request for a gag order in the case Thursday. U.S.

District Judge William H. Barbour, who will preside over the trial, has scheduled a hearing Monday on that request. In his motion. Herring is attempting to have the three supervisors prohibited from commenting to the news media until the suit is resolved. The request also anticipated the conflict-of-interest accusation McCullough made Friday.

Herring said he met with McCullough Wedesday and the supervisor accused Self of unethical behavior. "Plaintiff suspects and believes, based on prior activities of the defendant, McCullough, his propensity to calls and news conferences, and the nature of this case, that he (McCullough) intends to call a press conference or make other contact with the news media concrning the unfounded conflict-of-interest charges against counsel for plaintiff," the motion said. McCullough said Friday that Self should either resign as county attorney or Herring should withdraw from the Pyron suit. 596 W. Mayes Jackson, MS 39206 Brick 366-8463 M-F Sat.

(b. works for ALL OF US Supply MJ NO-RISK SHOPPING STORE Rankin businessman hi nc miKmnn trivial vim a v. a a a. a a a. By DAN DAVIS Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer Mississippi could have a Lemon in the governor's mansion in 1988 if a Rankin County businessman's election plans don't sour.

Doug Lemon, 44, said Friday that he plans to enter the 1987 gubernatorial race as a Republican. "I think I can help the state make some things happen, said Lemon. "What we're hearing is that people are fed up with the status quo." Lemon, a self-employed financial planner, is one of several potential candidates for the 1987 election. Others who have expressed an interest in the race include Republicans Charles Pickering of Laurel. Jim Herring of Canton, Allan Torrence of Brandon and former state Rep.

Perrin Gris-som of Leland. Democratic possibilities include Gov. Bill Allain, state Auditor Ray Ma- fr lW DOUG jr. "1 consider it a blessing to live in a country that provides the freedom and opportunity to have an organization where a local community can pool its resources in a single campaign to help fund such a large number of human service agencies. There is no doubt that the financial strength gained from a united effort allows tor a much greater portion of those in need to receive help.

Serving the State Government United Way Campaign allows me. as a state employee, to expand my ability to serve the community in which I live. James F. Stokes, State Job Corps Coordinator Mississippi Employment Security Commission 1986 United Way Campaign Unit Chairman Thanks to you it GUESS? STONEWASHED OVERALLS GIVE JUNIORS THAT TOUCH OF CLASS Juniors outguessed by Guess? with spirited and casual, yet thoroughly sophisticated, denim style! Soft stonewashed cotton denim bib front overalls with relaxed silhouette have metallic hardware and front-pleated V-yoke. Indigo; sizes 1-4, $70.

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Bill Waller of Jackson and John Arthur Eaves of Jackson. Also considering the race is Tupelo businessman Jack Reed, chairman of the state Board of Education. Reed is undecided about a party banner, but is believed to be leaning toward the GOP. The qualifying deadline for the August primary is June 5. Lemon, a political unknown entering his first political campaign, said he is not worried that he lacks name recognition.

"I know people in every county in the state, but not politically," he said. a a a a a a a a a a a He added that if he is elected he doesn't plan to use the governor's office as a springboard for other political office. "I'm looking at this as a tour of duty in the Army. I have no further political aspirations," he said. Lemon said he supports merit pay for the state's public school teachers, but called the current teacher evalua tion plan "a debacle that is chasing away our good teachers.

"I'm for merit pay and getting rid of incompetency in the system," he said. "We need an evaluation system similar to what you have in any other business." Lemon also criticized the state's highway system, which is overseen by the nation's only elected Highway Commission. "If we're doing it right, why isn't everybody copying us?" he said. Having a Highway Commission is an open door for graft or whatever." he said. "It makes it very easy for a lot of money to go under the table." Lemon said he supports state tax code revisions that would allow Mississippi to lure more capital and investments.

One needed change, he said, is elimination of the tax on interest on money invested in the state. "We send millions of dollars every year out of the state. There's nowhere to invest it here," he said. A Roanoke, native, Lemon graduated from Virginia Tech in 1962. He moved to Jackson in 1969, was transferred to Chicago and returned to Jackson in 1974.

He and his wife, Jan, are the parents of three children. handicapped make the public aware of the disabled. "I think that this is going to take Jackson one step further," Danks said. "It will help the city be more actionary rather than reactionary." Task force members include Brenda Hammack, service information coordinator for the state Office of Handicapped Services; Becky Floyd, executive director of the Mississippi Protection and Advocacy System Maggie Wade, news reporter for WLBT-TV Larry Dixon, programs specialist for the state Independent LivingVocational Rehabilitation; Allen Graham, guidance counselor Mississippi School for the Deaf; Nancy Hull, a supervisor for the state Department of Education's Disability Determination Services; Tom Barnes, director of the Tele-Serve Unit with the Jackson Police Department; and Judy Foster, coordinator of promotions and publications for The Clarion-Ledger. It's kind of nice, isn't it, to be selected over a bunch of people." A former dancer, Woodard began his career in his native England with the London Festival Ballet.

He was a soloist and ballet master with the Ballet Municipal de Santiago, Chile. Before coming to Jackson, Woodard served as assistant director of the Metropolitan Ballet, a student company in Woodard has been acting artistic director of Ballet Mississippi since February, when then-Director Charles Dickjon resigned. Jackson task force to study accessibility to By JOHN WILLIAMS Clarion-Ledger Staff liter Mayor Dale Danks appointed an eight-member task force Friday to investigate making downtown Jackson a better place for handicapped persons to work and travel. Though no recommendations have been made, the mayor said he may go as far as deputizing and hiring handicapped persons to ticket those who park illegally in spaces reserved for the handicapped. "People would be shamed if they got parking ticket from a handicapped person," Danks said, "and I think that is more effective than paying a fine a lot of times." The task force, including officials with local agencies that help the handicapped, will investigate parking problems, ways to keep handicapped park-ling places open, how to get disabled people from place to place and how to Woodard named ballet director The Clarion-Ledger After nine months of serving as acting artistic director of Ballet Mississippi, Alan Woodard can drop "acting" from his title.

On Thursday, the ballet board of directors appointed Woodard as permanent artistic director. Woodard said Friday he thinks familiarity helped him win over the 35 other candidates for the job. "One benefit is they know me," said Woodard, 51, who joined Ballet Mississippi (then called Jackson Ballet) as company manager in 198L "I feel good. Guess Sundays 1-800-392-4100 Northpark 957-7244.