ABERDEEN - The Aberdeen Executive Democratic Committee has reversed its earlier decision for a new election and named Wilchie Clay the Ward 2 alderman.

The move came less than a week after the committee called for another runoff in Ward 2 due to possible voter fraud.

“From this examination of all relevant evidence, it is the finding of the committee that three illegal absentee votes were cast for Cloyd Garth and therefore, Wilchie Clay is declared winner of the second primary as alderman of Ward 2, city of Aberdeen, Mississippi, by a vote of 263 to 261 …” said committee chairman Coy Flynn.

The controversy started on April 22 when Garth, the incumbent, defeated Clay by one vote in the runoff election. After recounting the votes the following day, the committee found three residents voted twice in Ward 2. All three voters, as well as three more individuals, were subpoenaed for questioning on Friday. After hearing the testimony, the committee sent a request for a new election date to a city judge.

Before a judge could set a date, the committee reversed the decision.

“I think this is totally unjust,” said Garth. “They (executive committee) had no grounds to stand upon. I talked to an attorney in Washington, D.C., and he said they have no grounds to do what they did and that it is totally illegal. They told me that they were going to throw out three votes and declare Mr. Clay the winner. When I asked why they were doing this, Coy Flynn told me that they didn’t have the money to go to court. You cannot take away this when I was the winner. Not only do I plan to pursue it legally, I may also sue the committee members personally and press criminal charges against them.”

Clay could not be reached for comment.