Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / May 1, 1980, edition 1 / Page 19
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Campaign '80 Special Edition * 12 Black Candidates Seeking Election In Tuesday's Primary Special To The Post Twelve black candidates will be seeking election when voters go to the polls Tuesday, May 6. If they are all successful, this would make the largest number of black elected officials in Charlotte-Mecklenburg history. The name of the late Senator Fred D. Alexan der, who died April 13, will also be on the ballot. If voters elect Sen. Alexander posthumously, a commit tee of the Cabarrus and Mecklenburg Democratic Party will appoint a candi date to take Alexander's place on the November ballot. Monday that same com mittee nominated Rowe Motley to fill Alexander's unexpired term. Gov. Jim Hunt is expected to accept their nomination. If Alex ander is elected, it is ex pected that Motley will be named for the November election. However, Mot ley's name wiH not appear on the May 6 primary ballot. mack leaders are urging their communities to vote for Alexander to assure continued black represent ation in the N. C. Senate. Alexander was the only black N. C. senator at the time of his death. Also running in the De mocratic primary are Ber tha Maxwell, State House of Representatives: T. Michael Todd, District Court Judge; and Raleigh Bynum, L. C. Coleman and Bob Walton for County Commission. Blacks running in the non-partisan School Board election are Phil Berry, John Elliott Jr., Wade Mos ley, Maggie Lamb Nichol son, Ella Scarborough, Sarah Belle Stevenson and Bill White. CANDIDATE PROFILES: Dr. Bertha Maxwell, director and founder of the African and Afro-Ameri can Studies Center at UNCC, is seeking her first elected office as State Re presentative. If elected she will be the first black wo man in the house and the first elected black woman in ΓΚαγΙλΗο "Three-fourths of the hu man race is represented in Raleigh. A fourth is miss ing - the black woman. I represent that missing link" said Maxwell. She sees the key cam paign issues as inflation, the elderly, adult and Ju venile corrections, public education and mental health. "I am concerned that the voiceless people are going to be chopped out when budgets and programs are L. C. Coleman ...County Commission Raleigh Bynum ...County Commission Bob Walton ...County Commission Bertha Maxwell ...State House of Rep Phil Berry ...School Board Rowe Motley .. .Senatorial Nominee Wade Mosley . School Board Maggie Lamb Nicholson .School Board Ella Scarborough ...School Board Sarah Stevenson ...School Board John Elliott Jr. ...School Board I *. mm ir T. Michael Todd ...District Court Judge cut," said Maxwell. She has been a teacher and school administrator, and served as Vice Presi dent for Administrative Af fairs and Planning at John son C. Smith. She is co founder of the Afro-Ameri can Cultural Center, and a member of the boards of the Mental Health Center, the Drug Education Center and the Arts and Science Council. T. Michael Todd is run ning to retain his seat on the bench of the 26th Dis trict Court. One of the youngest judges in the state, Todd was appointed to the new judgeship at age 28. He is the only black district judge. A native of Charlotte's westside, Todd attended Myers Park High School, Duke University and Van derbuilt Law School. He worked for the State Attôrney General's office, Chambers Law Firm, and the Legal Aid Society, be fore being appointed judge. "Because I am young I can serve as a role model for youth who are in trou ble," said Todd. "They can identify with me. Working hard paid off for me. It can for them, too." Dr. Raleigh Bynum, can didate for County Commis sion, is running for his first public office. He sees the main issues as City-County consolidation, the county day care program, con tinuation of the mental health program, and equal izing the benefits of Char lotte's growth. "I favor letting the vo ters decide about City County consolidation, after they have all the facts," said Bynum. He also feels strongly that the 9 county day care centers should be refunded. "If not, the parents of 32S children won't be able to find affordable day care. Moet of them are low income parents, who will have to quit their jobs and instead of being income producers, they will be come income consumers," he said. Bynum, an optometrist, is a member of the West side Professional Associa tion, president of Bethle hem Center, and past pre sident ôf the National Op tometries Association. L. C. Coleman, is running for a third time for County Commission. Two years ago he finished 5th in the Democratic primary. The main issues in Cole man's campaign are health care, balanced growth and City-County government. He thinks the westside needs a public hospital, and that there should be more hospital beds for interme diate care. He also wants free ambulance service for senior citizens living on less than $200 a month. Coleman wants more ci tizen input on Mecklen burg's development, with a balanced growth plan of industry and housing. On the issue of City County consolidation, he favors a referendum. Coleman is a westside businessman and leader of the Northwest Community Action Organization. He is an advocate for senior citi zens' rights Bob Walton is running to re capture a seat on the County Commission which he lost in the November, 1979 election after serving one term. "Experience" is his main issue. "As we face an economic crisis and reduction of state and federal funds and programs, my experience both as commissioner and as a banker will be valu able in examining budgets and resources," he said. Walton favors City-Coun ty consolidation because he says it will stabilize taxes, provide better planning and coordination of ser vices, and make govern ment more representative of all citizens. He has called for a joint study of the issue so that a referendum could be placed on the November election ballot. If this fails, he would push for district representation on County Commission. Other issues in Walton's se<e BLACKS Page 4B
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May 1, 1980, edition 1
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