April 22, 1999

TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE FOR HOUSE BILL 1714

I am returning House Bill 1714, "AN ACT TO RESTORE THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE TO JANIE ELIZABETH SLATER OF WALTHALL COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI," without my approval and respectfully present the following reasons for my veto:

Janie Elizabeth Slater and her husband, former Sheriff Warren Slater, defrauded the taxpayers of Walthall County. For her part in that criminal scheme, Mrs. Slater was convicted of the felony of wire fraud and the misdemeanor of obtaining an unauthorized appropriation from the Walthall County Board of Supervisors.

The judge sentenced her to three years in prison, suspended the prison term, and placed her on probation. One year later on November 18, 1998, the judge terminated Mrs. Slater's probation.

For the reasons stated in my veto message for House Bill 1713, I must veto this bill.

Respectfully submitted,

KIRK FORDICE
GOVERNOR