The candidate challenging District 5 Jefferson Parish School Board Member Cedric Floyd in the upcoming runoff election has asked a Jefferson Parish court to make the incumbent stop making "misleading and/or defamatory" campaign statements about him.
District 5 candidate Simeon Dickerson filed suit on Nov. 27 in Jefferson Parish 24th Judicial District Court against Floyd and Floyd's attorney, Ronald Wilson, a posting on nola.com said.
"My campaign has filed (for) a temporary restraining order against my opponent Cedric Floyd," Dickerson announced on his campaign's Facebook page. "Previously he sent out literature saying I was arrested and had a criminal background. My opponent lied and put out false information. Vote for me Simeon Dickerson #64 on 12/8/2018 so we can remove my lying opponent who continues to be an embarrassment out of office."
Jefferson Parish School Board District 5 candidate Simeon Dickerson
| Committee To Elect Simeon Dickerson - Facebook
Dickerson's lawsuit follows two campaign flyers issued by Floyd's campaign that reportedly suggest Dickerson lied to get a job, was arrested in 1997 and that he isn't certified to teach in public school.
"Simeon Dickerson will suffer immediate and irreparable injury if Cedric Floyd (defendant) and/or his agents and assigns are not enjoined from making statements that are intentionally misleading and/or defamatory regarding Mr. Dickerson," the lawsuit said.
Dickerson alleged that Floyd made the "misleading and/or defamatory statements" about his character and qualification in the upcoming election "in order to gain an advantage," in violation of state law, the lawsuit said.
A copy of the lawsuit is posted on the Committee to Elect Simeon Dickerson Facebook page.
Early voting began Saturday for the runoff election set for Dec. 8.
Floyd, a lifelong Jefferson Parish resident, was first elected to represent District 5 on the school board in 1990 and was re-elected in 1994, according to his biography on the school board's website. After a hiatus of about a decade, Floyd was again elected to the school board in October 2008 and has been in that seat ever since.
Dickerson is running against Floyd after advancing during the general election. Floyd took 42.5 percent of the vote over Dickerson's 37 percent and both defeated the third candidate in the race, Dee Dunn, who took 20.5 percent of the vote.