MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - The Jackson Parish town of Jonesboro is heading to the Court of Appeals in Shreveport on Monday, November 12, 2012.
Mayor Leslie Thompson has represented his town in court numerous times, each of which has ruled in favor of his opposition.
In July, a judge ruled in favor of the state's Attorney General, allowing the state to appoint a Fiscal Administrator to oversee Jonesboro's finances.
After hearing the court's decision, Thompson believed the Attorney General had no legal standing.
"There's a certain group of folks who refuse to accept the fact that certain folks have been elected," said Thompson in August, "and that type of hatred, that type of prejudice, that type of unwillingness to cooperate and to accept is present, this is what you find."
The town's attorney, Carol Powell-Lexing of Monroe, agrees with Mayor Thompson, and says, "This whole scenario is just a political train wreck."
Monday's appeal is the consolidation of two cases: the Attorney General appointing a Fiscal Administrator, and the case that Lexing says "started it all" against the town's former mayor. She says this case is also based on personal feelings toward Thompson's administration.
"It is a racial issue, but it's a racial issue that's stirred up by just a little small group of people," says Lexing.
Lexing says there are wonderful people in Jonesboro, and she hopes that one day they can all unite for change.
"I just wish that everybody will get along to work together to move that town forward," Lexing says.
Jonesboro is scheduled to appear at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Shreveport Monday at 1:30pm.
