Mann v. Key

JONES, Justice.

This case involves a contest between two candidates for the office of mayor of the Town of New Hope.

In August of 1976, a primary was held to elect a mayor and Town Council for New Hope. There were three candidates for mayor, none of which received the required number of votes. A run-off was held between the top two vote-getters, John Davis Mann, the incumbent mayor, and Kenneth Self, an incumbent city councilman. The result was a tie vote.

On September 15, 1976, the Town Council met; Mann was absent and the remaining five councilmen present were J. C. Taylor, Houston Key, Self,…