As it turns out, former Ku Klux Klan member Chester Doles won't qualify to run for office in Georgia due to a felony conviction unveiled by CBS 46.
Doles, who had his eye on the District 3 seat of the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners, pleaded guilty to battery in the beating of Charles Peters, a Black man, in Maryland in 1993, The Baltimore Sun reported.
But it’s his decision to plead guilty to possessing dozens of firearms in 2004 that led to him being stripped of the opportunity to run for office. A truly sad sentence if ever there were one.
RELATED: Of course, a former KKK member, ex-con believes he can win a seat in Georgia—he’s a Republican
Federal law prohibits those convicted of felonies from possessing firearms, and Georgia code prohibits those convicted of felonies from holding elected positions unless their civil rights have been restored and at least 10 years have passed since they completed their sentences, CBS 46 reported.
The Georgia Republican Party told the news station that, although it had been more than 10 years since Doles served his time in prison, his rights “were not restored in time for the qualifying deadline” of March 8.
“They have violated my civil rights,” Doles told CBS 46. “We’re gonna ask for damages. My attorney is reviewing the case right now. They’ve caused me major damages. I have thousands of dollars in campaign signs, billboards, radio commercials.”
Doles claimed earlier in his interview with CBS 46 the matter of his qualifications for candidacy had "been resolved.”
"It’s been cleared. I’m good to go," he said.
He later said, "it was not in the judge’s authority."
"He said it’s not that he doesn’t want to do it. He just lacks the authority," Doles said. "So that was the start and I’ve also filed with other departments and I’m gonna leave it right there."
When CBS 46 asked Doles why he signed an affidavit asserting he was eligible to run for office, he responded: "You can read the code. It seems like a gray area. There are parts that support me and there are parts against me. There is no intention to deliberately deceive anyone.”
He said he hopes it isn't the case, as the Declaration of Candidacy and Affidavit maintains, that “any false statements knowingly made by me in this Declaration of Candidacy and Affidavit will subject me to criminal penalties.”
In Doles’ specific case, I hope he is subjected to every criminal penalty applicable.