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FORUM ^ David or Goliath for sheriff Nigel Alston M o t i v a t i o iMt'l Moments "In life, we have either rea sons or results..." - Peter McWilliums Read ine. Read me. it said. I complied. The headline had done its job. Like the one above, I hope. It invited me It) 6 read the column for additional information. On Tuesday. Sept. 17, on the front page of the metro section of the daily newspaper - the Winston Salem Journal - my attention was held in custody by this headline: "Schatzman is gain ing support." The story was written by Journal reporter Vic t. toria Cherrie. The headline itself was no surprise as Schatzman was the leading vote-getter in the Republican primary for sheriff with 42 percent of the vote. If at first you don't succeed, try. ? try again. In his second attempt for the office, he now gets to move on to the general elec tion. It also isn't a surprise that my attention was lured into the article. I have learned that the top half of the newspaper - above the fold - is where important news is placed in a paper. "Former opponents endorse Republican candidate in his race for sheriff of Forsyth" appeared in a smaller, bold" font size, large enough to give you an indication of the momentum being gained. "The Republican candidates are ral lying around their man." I thought. That would not be a sur prise either. You want to beat Ithe oppo sition. I was partially right. I Polite* uon I know Schatzman person ally. only through what I have read in the paper. I am sure he is a good man and qualified for the job. What surprised me was the support from three Democ ratic candidates. I shouldn't be surprised: however, this is poli tics - with strange bedfellows. It. politics, isn't fair and the best man- or woman does not always win. "Well. well. well. If I didn't know any better. I would think they are trying to gang up on John Polite," I thought to myself. Polite is the Democrat ic candidate for sheriff. With 45 percent of the vote, he beat out a fellow contender, former assistant sheriff. C.C. McGee. who now supports the Republi can challenger. He knows both men and believes Schatzman is the better man - an opinion to which he is entitled and one I respect. I just don't agree. I do agree that it's time for a change. Voters do too. Of the people who took the time to vote, they clearly picked two noticeably different voices to square off against each other in November. Now, barely a week after a much delayed primary, I h e Republi can can didate for sheriff holds court with, a news confer e n c e . Schatzman Five white men stand with him - former Republican and Democratic candidates - who lost in the recent primary, pledging their support. "Isn't this interesting?" I thought as I saw them standing at attention, lined up behind their man on the morning news. "Surely, someone will trail the Tom Joyner Morning Show' and report this as a hidden racism." Hmmm! It looks like David versus Goliath to me. That alone makes me want to vote for Polite. The fact that I know him and believe he will do an excellety job should be enough. Now, however, there is some fuel on the fire - a reason to get up and go vote! According to Journal reporter Victoria Cherrie, Schatzman says he is the only candidate offering change without ties to the current sher iff, Ron Barker. I found that statement interesting. Two for mer assistant sheriffs and a for mer captain, under Barker are now among his supporters and are on his team. Their names were listed in the paper and I saw them on television. That qualifies as a connection, does it not ? Like most candidates, including Polite. Schatzman wants to bring about change. He is an outsider, a former FBI man who brings another per spective to the position. He'll run the department like a cor poration and eliminate waste at the top, first. That's inconsis tent with the opinion of the people who ran against him and Polite, and now support him. They wanted change too. That's why they were running. Now, why the change in heart? "These are gentlenjcn who have been in the highfekt posi tions of authority (in the sher iff's office), and they believe 1 can bring change," Cherrie quotes Schatzman as saying. I am trying not to let my bias show, but it still feels like a gang up to me. What do you think? Whatever you think or feel, one thing is certain about the November election for sheriff. We will have anew face in the position. There" will be change. The question remains: Will it be David or Goliath? The power of change is in your hands. Use it or continue to lose it. No excuses, we need results! Nigel Alston is a radio talk show host, columnist and moti vational speaker. Visit his Web site at www.motivationalmo ments.com. Is the big sellout a good thing ? k Armstrong Williams Guest Columnist I More than 30.000 people joined The Congressional Black Caucus last week for its 31st annual Legislative Conference. Among the events hosted by the caucus was an idea forum that considered whether the corporate takeover of several formerly black owned media entities would affect the integrity of their mes sage. The event featured Kweisi Mfume and Rev. A1 Sharpton. each of whom expressed concerns about the level of control that cor- ? porate money now exerts over an independent black media. Recent buyouts or mergers involving minority businesses include Essence Magazine by Time Warner. Africa.com by Time Warner, and BET by media giant Viacom. The BET acquisi tion. in particular, elicited deeply personal feelings of anger and sadness from members of the black community. Since its incep tion in 1979 by Robert Johnson. BET has endeared itself to the black viewing audience as a unique expression of black popu lar culture. Critics equated the purchase of BET to the purchase of a uniquely black experience and accused BET founder Bob Johnson of selling out his original intent. At bottom, critics are wonder ing whether companies like BET. Africa.com. etc. will continue to reflect the needs of the black viewing audience now that they are no longer black-owned. After all. large corporate entities don't take over other companies because it's so much fun. They do it to make money. And critics rightly worry whether these for merly minority owned companies will retain their voice amid the profit squeeze. After the BET buyout, John son remained optimistic, saying that the deal would provide BET with the resources to better fulfill its mission. He added that he planned to stay in a high level position. Of course. Viacom had just made Johnson one of the rich est men in America, so his buddy ing up was understandable. Most of the participants in the black caucus forum were more cynical, voicing concerns about w hether this trend of media con solidation w ould serve the interest of the black community. And indeed, with the media giants sue cessfully pushing into the ethnic markets, it is worth considering whether the smaller black owned entities will even have the neces sary resources to compete. Even those who wish to keep their companies minority owned may be forced to sell out. So the par ticipants in the Congressional Black Caucus raised some very legitimate concerns, not least of which being whether media con solidation will spell the demise of an independent black media. However. I would suggest that such critics are missing the big picture, which is that the assimila tion of minority owned businesses reinforces the viability of those entities in the minds of potential investors. When Johnson sold out to Viacom, he demonstrated in no uncertain terms that minority business could command signifi cant value in the marketplace. That perception had a ripple effect, driving up the value, stock prices of minority owned busi nesses across the board. As Publil ius Syrus once observed, "a repu tation is more valuable than money." The moment Viacom decided to back a truck full of money up to Johnson's driveway, investor expectations regarding minority owned businesses sky rocketed. This increase in value will only create more - not less - opportunities for black entrepre neurs. So I say kudos to all of those minority owned media outlets that achieve success, then promptly sell out. Ip the big picture, this level of profiteering creates more opportunities for us all. WMwa.rmstnmgwilliams.com s File Photo Essence officials sign papers last year that made the magazine a property of Time Warner. Everybody needs a HOME! Open your heart and home as a FOSTER PARENT! ? Single and married adults over 21 may apply. ? Financial compensation provided. ? A special need is homes for teens. ? Training begins September 9. ? Also needed are volunteers Caring individuals and families, please contact: THE CHILDREN'S HOME (336) 721-7699 or Email: lcoleman@tchome.org Drugs. Alcohol. Problem? ARCA! Addiction Recovery Care Association 784-94?0 ? i Louise E. Harris ? Bankruptcy ? Consumer Problems ? Traffic Tickets & DWI ? Divorce ? Social Security I 102 West Third Street. Ste. 485 Call 24 Hours , Winston-Salem. NC (336)761-0222 | Practice Areas: ? Child Custody ? Traffic Tickets ? Child Support ? Personal Injury ? Divorce ? Misdemeanor Criminal 515 West 2nd Street *? Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Phone: (336) 723-6626 ? Fax: (336) 723-7372 FAIRWAY HOME CARE "Quality Service Is The FairWay" Helping The Elderly Keep It Together After Retirement L Kir J WE STRIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER ONE CLIENT AT A TIME. _i OFFICE: (336)724-3390 545 NORTH TRADE STREET, SUITE 1-L f WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27101 The Chronicle The Choice for African-American News 617 N. Liberty Street Winston-Salem. NC 27101 The Chronicle was established by Ernest Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974, and is published every Thursday by Winston-Salem Chronicle Publishing Co.. Inc. The Chronicle is a proud member of National Newspapers Publishers Association ? North Carolina Press Association ? North Carolina Black Publishers Association ? Inland Press Asso ciation National Advertising Representative: Amalgamated Publishers, Inc., 45 West 45th Street. New York. NY 10036 212/869-5220 Contact Us: phmrnk: 336 / 722-8624 k 336 / 723-9173 motdK www.wschronicle.com news@wschronicle.com Sports Editor 723-8428 Sam Davis Copy Editor 723-8448 Paul Collins Circulation 722-8624 Soles Staff 722-8628 NIE Coordinator 722-8628 SYBIL LYNCH Business Office Ericka Asbury ? Paulette Lewis' Andrea Moses The Chronicle Home Delivery Subscription Order ? YES. Please send me The Chron cle J 2 years: $40.95 [Thit of t ouni>/si?t? J I year: $30.72 i 12? " 72 J 6 months: $20.48 ?" ,48 3 mov 13.24 Name Aiklress HlQM ? . ' M_ ; . ' Q Cil> ft Stale Zip ? VISA ? Mastercard ? American Express J Check enclosed ? Please bill me Account Number Expiration Date Signature Send to: The Chronicle, P.O. Box 1636. Winston-Salem, NC 27102
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