Supporters Rally for Womble
campaign.
We dont have to create Larr>
Womble. he said. Little said
because of Womble s name recogni
tiop. the campaign will have a
broad base of support."
However. Little said, because
of Wpmble s defeat in the alder
manic race, w e ve learned some
thing and 1 think we re prepared."
The campaign won t take anything
for granted."
Womble was publicly pilloried
for a letter he wrote earlier this year
to the All-American City officials
that detailed the city's shortcomings.
His supporters felt he told the
truth, while his detractors blamed
him for the city being denied the
All-American City designation.
? The controversy may have cost
him the aldermanic election, which
Womble lost by just over four per
centage points.
North Ward Alderman Nelson
Malloy Jr.. who was also at the
news conference, said that if
Womble wins the election, he
shouldn t have to change his politi
cal style to be an effective legisla
tor.
"I don't think he'll have to
change anything," he said.
Malloy. who will serve on
Womble s issues committee,
described the former alderman as
"hardworking, dedicated and sin
cere. and very "iithful."
Larry has always demon
strated his ability to represent all the
people, he said.
He called Womble s November
defeat an act of fate."
One door was closed and a
bigger one was opened for him." he
said.
County Commissioner Earline
Parmon said that because Womble
does things differently doesn't mean
that it's bad.
People may not agree with his
"aggressive stand," Parmon said.
She felt, however, that it was his
approach to issues that made him
so effective on the board."
Rep. Warren C. "Pete" Oldham,
the county's other African-Ameri
can state legislator, who represents
the 65th District and who was not at
the news conference, pointed out
that there s a difference in serving
on the board of alderman and serv
ing in the General Assembly.
"You have to expand your
thinking," he said. Womble, he said,
may have already adjusted to that.
"I think he would make a very
good representative." former East
Ward Alderman Virginia Newell
said. "I don t sec how he can lose."
Charles Wallschleger. chairman
of the Republican Party, said a GOP
candidate will challenge Womble.
"We will certainly have some
body in the race." he said. He
declined to say who the person
would be. or when he will
announce. "I hope the Democrats
run somebody against him." he
added.
Wallschleger praised Kennedy
and said she will be missed.
To political insiders, Womble's
announcement on the heels . of
Kennedy's decision was apparently
no surprise.
Little said that it was well
known that Kennedy' didn't want to
run in 1992.
Little intimated last month that
he and other Womble supporters
had something in store for the for
mer alderman.
Womble said his retirement
from the school system will allow
him to have more time, if elected, to
devote to his legislative duties.
"I have the energy. ... I have
the interest and the dedication." he
said.
Liberian Organization
Elects New President
The president of the Liberian
Organization of the Piedmont,
Mathu H.Gjj>sxm^witnes,sedhis ?
campaign pledge of two years ago
become a reality when a new presi
dent to succeed him, William P.
Ross, was elected on Dec. 5.
Gibson had pledged to serve
only one term and step down to
allow other members within the^
community to step up to the plate
and assume the leadership, so as to
ensure that all Liberians duly quali
fied under the organization's consti
tution receive an opportunity to
serve.
Despite a resolution from the
people to succeed himself, he
respectfully maintained his grounds.
James Y. Hunder Sr, executive vice
president and former administrative
vice president of the Union of
Liberian Associations in the Ameri
cas (ULAA), former president of
the Liberian Organization of the
Piedmont, was narrowly defeated
by Ross, who received the endorse
ment of Gibson.
Gibson praised Hunder for
being the first president and one of
the founders of the organization,
coupled with the strong coalition
they formulated over the last two
years which has further strength
ened the organization.
However, he said, it would be
counter productive to his campaign
pledge and toward the enhancement
of ensuring new leadership for the
organization if he didn't endorse
Ross and. as he put it. "no single
person is indispensible to any orga
nization."
Dempster P. Mason also
defeated Clavenda Clarke as vice
president.
After the election, Gibson
embraced both Hunder and Ross as
he called for unity, dedication and
commitment toward not only our
organization, but also to our coun
try.
Hunder strongly pledged to
work harder than ever before to
ensure the continuity of a strong
organization. Hunder further stated
that his entrance into the race was
not driven by greed nor his lust for
power, but it was due to the fear
which many members shared with
him that Ross was not the right man
for the job and that the organization
may fail under Ross's administra
tion.
Ross thanked the people and
promised to work alongside all
members within the community by
sayinl "let the exile rejoice."
"me election results are as fol
lows! William P. Ross, president;
Dempster P. Mason, vice president;
Velma Hoff, general secretary; Jes
tine Hunter, assistant general secre
tary; Kweta Dolo, financial secre
tary-; Yelda Bartu, Treasurer, Angie
Johnson, social secretary; Donald
MacThompson, parliamentarian;
Romeo K. Johnson, public relations
officer; Lerine Gibson, program and
planning chairman; and Nancy
Woazeah, chaplain.
The installation ceremonies are
scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 22.
The venue and . time will be
announced later.
Jackson Speaks
LOS AMGELES (AP) ? The
NAACP entered the Michael Jack
son fray, saying the singer accused
of child molestation had been vic
timized by the news media.
Jackson, believed to be
secluded at his Neverland ranch,
made a statement yesterday.
The NAACP also held news
conference to discuss "the media
bashing of entertainer Michael
Jackson" and other prominent
blacks. Shannon F. Reeves, West
Coast Region Director for the
National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People,
^aid in a news release. .
Reeves did not answer a
request for further comment made
through her publicist.
Jackson's attorney. Johnny
Cochran Jr., said last week that the
singer would break his weeks-old
siience with a statement about the
allegations against him.
Jackson is accused of sexu
ally molesting a 13-year-old
accused boy whom he had
befriended. Jackson has denied the
allegations through his representa
Out On Charge
tives, and has not been charged
with a crime.
He has not publicly discussed
the allegations except to deny them
on an audio tape that was released
when he canceled his world tour
Nov. 12.
Soon after releasing the state
ment in Mexico City, Jackson went
to Europe, where he reportedly was
treated for an addiction to
painkillers.
He returned to Southern Cali
fornia on Dec. 10.
Statements by former Jack
son employees, his relatives and
depositions taken by attorneys in
the case has kept the Jackson story
in the news.
Jackson's deposition in a
civil suit filed on the boy's behalf is
scheduled for Jan. 18; trial is sched
uled for March 21.
Activities around Jackson's
ranch in Santa Barbara County
seemed routine Sunday, other than
the departure of a chimpanzee who
rode out of the compound in a
pickup with two men.
Larry Womble ( seated in middle) is surrounded by supporters last week as the former alderman announced
that he would run for a seat in the N.C . General Assembly. Womble will run in the 67th District that will
become vacant when Rep. Annie Brown Kennedy retires after her current term expires in December.
WE GAVE BACK BY NOT GIVING UP
The Chrysler Corporation made retraining a primary focus in the
rebuilding of the Jefferson Plant. Built right across the street from the former
Jefferson Plant, it is part of an on-going commitment to African Americans and
other minorities.The Chrysler Corporation is proud to invest in the one thing
that makes everything worthwhile... people.
The new Jefferson Plant is another example of the Chrysler Corporation's
commitment to people. -And not just through new jobs for the thousands of
Jefferson Plant workers called back to build the award-winning Jeej3 Grand
Cherokee. Demonstrating a responsibility to the surrounding residential area as
well, the Chrysler Corporation carefully designed the plant to have a minimal
environmental impact on the community This effort has been acknowledged
by the Environmental Protection Agency honoring the plant with its Fbllution .
Prevention Award.
A caring attitude is the foundation for the Chrysler Corporation's high
level of commitment? the kind also seen in the Fair Share agreement with the
NAACP By giving back, the Chrysler Corporation continues to receive returns
that can be measured in more than economic terms.
Jeep is a registered trademark of the Chrysler corporation
FAIR SHARE/GOOD BUSINESS
4^ CHRYSLER
W CORPORATION
CHRYStER PLYMOUTH DODGE DODGE TRUCKS JEEP? EAGIE