Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / April 14, 1988, edition 1 / Page 3
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Democrats cast vote in favor of ward system Thursday, Anril14, 1988 VWnston-Sa/em Cferonide Page A3 Ij-'* By KENNETH RAYMOND Chronicle Staff Writer The Forsyth County Demo- j cralic Party voted to support the change of the current county-wide I election system to a ward system, I which would give Afro-Americans I more voting strength to elect offi cials to the Forsyth County Board ! of Commissioners and the Board *\ of Education. I The issue was debated during ' the annual Forsyth County Demo- I cratic Convention at Parkland High j School last Saturday. The proposal was submitted by the 14th Street Democratic I Precinct Committee. Harold I Kennedy HI, who made the presen tation, said that it has been difficult I for Afro-American candidates to I be elected in the past because of I the current system. "We need to have more equity I in the voting process so that all I segments of society will have a I chance ud win and not just a chance to run for office,” he said. Kennedy, a member of the law firm of Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy, and Kennedy, also said that history supported the view that the present election process was unfair. "During the past 20 years, most black candidates running in a county-wide race for those posi tions have lost because of the cur rent system," he said. "From a his torical viewpoint, blacks do better in the city than out in the county," Kennedy said. ’’Because so few blacks live out in the county, the black vote is very weak.” Kennedy said that, not only would the ward system make the elections fairer, but it would encourage more Afro-Americans to run for county offices. "It's important that the black community be represented, but they won’t be with the current sys tem," he said. "The opportunity to win would not only exist, butjpore might gel involved and try for an office." James Jones, who represented precinct 12-3, opposed the resolu tion. He said that a ward system would allow Republicans a better chance to win the positions. "If we change to a ward system the Republicans would u.se it to slip through the back door and take these offices," he said. "We'd have them silting on the Board of Education and the Board of Com missioners and they'd have a firm hold on them in the long run," "It was the black vote through our current system which allowed Democrats to win the offices we have in the past," Jones said. "Using a ward system would weaken the democratic vote as a whole and allow more Republicans to seep in." Jones' comments infuriated some of the Afro-American party members and many of them wanted to challenge his statements. 'To present such an argument to intelligent people is ridiculous,” said Flemming El-Amin. "Apathy stems from lack of interest and if the party doesn't show any interest in the black community, then it’s on the verge of becoming absolutely indifferent to it." Alderman Vivian H. Burke said that it would be wrong for the party to oppose the resolution because of the support given by the Afro- American community. "Blacks have been loyal, dedi cated, and committed to the Demo cratic Party and it bothers me that it would even consider not supporting the resolution for such a ridiculous reason," she said. "If you want us for Just our votes and not the contri bution we can make, then you don’t want us at all." Mike Wells, parly chairman, said that he believed minority rep resentation on the Board of County Commissioners and the Board of Education was very important and that some would be elected this year. "I think black representation on these boards should be top priority," he said. "I think it's great that the resolution was passed and I believe there will be some blacks elected (his year." The party members voted on the resolution and it was passed. The proposal now must go through slate legislation to be established. Open Government & For The People County Commissioner DEMOCRAT Look No More -- "The Ultimate” Justice nominee criticized for aii-white club membership WASHINGTON (AP) - Attor ney General Edwin Meese's choice to become the No. 2 official in the Justice Department is under fire for his membership in an all-male ath letic club and an all-white country club. "It makes it hard to imagine he’ll be able to administer justice in government in a way that's non- discriminaiory when in his own personal life he doesn't live up to that," Patricia Ireland, executive vice president of the National Organization for Women, said of John C. Shepherd. Thc^enate Judiciary Committee will vote on whether to confirm Shepherd as deputy attorney gener al, if j|resident Reagan goes ahead and nominates him. Committee members said Thursday that it is too s^n to comment on Shep- herd'spembership in the Missouri Athletic Club, which has no female jmembers, and the Bellerive Country Club, which has no blacks.'Both are in the St. Louis Shepherd, 62, a St. Louis attor- Ky, could not be reached for com ment Diursday. He was not in his office, and his home phone num ber is flnlisied. But on Wednesday he told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he had not yet decided whether he should resign from the clubs. T haven’t made up my mind on whether that would be necessary," he told the newspaper. "I am going to Washington for nine months to help the attorney general as his deputy." Shepherd said he told Meese and other Justice Department officials about his club memberships in convasations in Washington earli er this week. He added that the FBI "is aware of this." In the same interview. Shepherd Iffie: diainM peoplB: iPoilrways to buyii.Caan.^Kay Cnareafi;;? SankcaTl. IrULvost-Ffee LasWi“!»' ■ NORTHSIDE - . •HANES MALL also said he was confident he would be cleared by the FBI of allegations that he had an affair with a former bookkeeper at his firm and that he had authorized her to write $147,000 in checks to her self. He added that the allegations by Denise Sinner, 29, of St. Peters, Mo., "are absolutely untrue and unfounded." Sinner was convicted last month in St. Louis Circuit Court on charges of making false state ments and stealing more than $100,000 from Shepherd’s law firm. Shepherd, Sandberg & Phoenix. Sinner's attorney, Darrill S. Beebe, said Thursday he was sur prised when he heard that Meese had chosen Shepherd for a lop Justice Department post. Howev er, he said he and Sinner would testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee about Shepherd "only if we're subpoenaed. We're not volunteering." Shepherd was tapped by Meese on Tuesday to fill the deputy attorney general’s job following the resignation of Arnold Bums. 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