Long-absent Delegate Ron Thompson missed his own deadline for returning to the House on Monday, renewing the pressure on leadership to act.
Unable to find a previous example of such conduct, House officials will create precedent in their handling of Thompson's case and so have treaded carefully. But the House speaker concluded earlier that a continued failure to appear would amount to a refusal to take the oath of office. The state constitution requires a lawmaker to forfeit his seat for such a refusal.
Though Thompson has alleged he is seeking treatment for a medical condition, he also told the speaker last month that he wanted to continue serving in the House and planned to return by Feb. 5.
The press staked out his desk in the Chamber, his legislative office and even the House Clerk's office waiting for him to show up. They included Thompson's hometown Register-Herald of Beckley, The Charleston Gazette, and MetroNews.
Previous posts on the elusive Delegate Thompson are here, here and here.
06 February 2007
Missing in Action II: The Showdown
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2 comments:
"The press staked out his desk in the Chamber, his legislative office and even the House Clerk's office waiting for him to show up. They included Thompson's hometown Register-Herald of Beckley, The Charleston Gazette, and MetroNews."
Well, at least it gave the press something to do.
The press should have "staked out" the local watering hole, then they would have been right at home.
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