Crisis on Sumner’s 5th day in office 

By John Howell
On Como Mayor Judy Sumner’s fifth day in office — Friday, June 6 — she found herself facing another municipal crisis.

During a routine survey of the municipal gas system, workers found a gas leak at a Main Street business connection through which 78 percent of the gas flowing through the line was escaping.

Tri-State Meter Service ordered the gas shut off and ordered an immediate repair, the mayor said.

Sumner contacted the City of Senatobia Gas Department, which sent workers to repair the leak, she said. Como buys its natural gas from Senatobia.

“It was a very dangerous situation; this was as serious as the toxic waste and sewage runoff,” Sumner added, referring to two incidents that had occurred earlier during her first week in office.

Sumner said the inspectors told her that the leak had been there “for a long time” and that they “had not been shown the connection” in previous inspections.

Sumner was sworn in as mayor on Friday, May 30, after a court battle of almost three years over the seat with Azria Bobby Lewers, who had taken office in July, 2005 and remained as mayor until his removal last week.

Also on Friday, June 6, Como officials received notice that Lewers’ appeal of the May 16, 2008 decision by Judge Kenneth Burns which declared Sumner the winner of the May, 2005 municipal election had been denied.