Charlotte Singles
1989
Lifestyles/ Page 5B
The New Miss America
Editorials/ Page 6A
PUSH EXCEL Pushes For Excellence
Sports/ Page 9B
Alliance
Sickle Cell Benefit
In Gaston County
Page 13B
charlotte BosJt
Vol. 15, No. 15 Thursday, Septenaber 21,1989
THE AWARD-WINNING "VOICE OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY"
50 Cents
Republicans Are Ready For History
By WINFRED CROSS
Post Staff Writer
Since four of the seven Repub
lican candidates running at
large for city council seats are
black, one will automatically be
nominated In Tuesday's pri
mary.
■ Bobby Loweiy, president of the
Mecklenburg Black Republican
Council, said there has never
been a black candidate nomi
nated. He said there Is a chance
that more than one could be
nominated.
"We have four excellent candi
dates running," he said. "They
are very knowledgeable of the Is
sues and they have different ap
proaches to the Issues. That's
what politics are all about."
But Lowery Isn't overly opti
mistic about getting more than
one candidate nominated.
"If you just look at traditional
voting patterns In the communi
ty, the three white candidates
will get the nominations," Low
ery said, "But that's usually
when you're talking about Dem-
Investor
Talks
Business
From Staff Reports
John Rogers, one of the most
successful investment experts
In the nation, spoke to hundreds
of spectators Wednesday about
his business at the Adam's Mark
Hotel.
Rogers's visit was sponsored
by The Charlotte Post and Dean
Witter Reynolds.
Rogers, 31, Is president of Ariel
Capital Management, one of the
top-ranked Investment manage
ment firms In America. The
company, founded two years
ago, now manages $430 million
In Institutional money and Is
one of a few mliiority-owned
firms of Its kind.
By last year, Ariel Growth
Fund, a subsidiary of Ariel Capi
tal, had posted a return of 31.95
percent on its Investment, mak
ing In No. 2 among equity funds
tracked by Mornlngtar Inc,
which ranks mutual funds.
Rogers spoke to a group of
stockbrokers during a noon lun
cheon and later to a general au
dience of investment profes
sionals and would-be Investors
Wednesday night.
ocratlc primaries because we
have never had so many on a
ballot before."
Darryl Broome, Elloree Er
win, Roosevelt Gardner and Jim
Ross wUl compete with Richard
Vinroot, Dick Prlmm and Pat
McCrory. Except for Vinroot,
Loweiy said, in some cases the
black candidates have more
name recognition than the other
three. But he said that may not
be enough.
"The voters are going to be
looking for candidates who are
sensitive to Issues facing the
community," he said. 'The can
didates have to be good, solid
candidates."
Although one of the candidates
Is guaranteed a nomination, all
said they're working hard this
week to get their names In the
community.
Gardner, who lost a bid to
council in 1987 to Democrat
Ella Scarborough, said he Is
"getting out shaking hands and
meeting people."
Broome Erwin
Ross
Gardner has run for office be
fore but this Is the first time he's
had to campaign during a pri
mary. He was the only one of the
four black candidates which did
not receive an endorsement
from the Charlotte-
Mecklenburg Black Political
Caucus, an organization with a
Democratic slant.
Gardner was not bothered by
the snub.
"I've run against two of their
choice candidates, Scarborough
Photo/LaNEY
Investor John Rogers conducted a seminar on long-term in
vesting Wednesday in Charlotte.
Banks Commit Loans
Below-Market Mortgages Going To Low-Income Areas
NCNB Community Develop
ment Corporation has an
nounced a $410 million commit
ment for both new housing and
the refinancing of existing home
mortgages in the Greenville
neighborhood In northwest
Charlotte.
Designed to spur growth and
Increase the percentage of own
er-occupants in the community,
the program has two compo
nents:
• A $4 million loan pool for refi
nancing current homeowners'
mortgages at reduced Interest
rates, with the added opportuni
ty for current owners to borrow
against built-up equity to add
features such as central air con
ditioning:
• A $6 million, first-mortgage
fund to assist qualified buyers in
purchasing newly constructed
homes developed by NCNB CDC
In Greenville.
"With this program, NCNB
again Is demonstrating Its com
mitment to the center city," said
Dennis rash, president of NCNB
CDC, at the project announce
ment at the Greenville Neigh
borhood Center.
"NCNB believes in housing
that will add substance and vi
tality to the center city, believes
in quality housing that Is afibrd-
able, and believes In Charlotte's
west side. To demonstrate the
Importance of this project,
NCNB Is committing the re
sources of Its Community Devel
opment Corporation and $410
million in mortgages," Rash
said.
Most homeowners in Green
ville are carrying FHA mortgag
es from the early 1980s at a 13
percent Interest rate. NCNB Na
tional Bank will refinance those
mortgages at a below-market,
fixed rate of 9-1/4 percent Inter
est on 30-year term loans, and 9
percent on 15-year term loans.
The refinancing will reduce
principle and Interest payments
for many homeowners by as
much as $100 a month.
First phase of the new con
struction will begin In four to six
months. The homes will be built
by FN Thompson Inc. with mi
nority-owned firms participat
ing. Prices will range from the
low $50s to the mld-$60s, before
land and site-improvement
costs.
First-mortgage loans from
NCNB's loan fund will cany a
fixed rate of 8-7/8 percent Inter
est over 30 years.
Features of the new homes In
clude central heat and air condi
tioning, carpeting, washer and
dryer. Insulated windows and
covered front porches.
"Our belief In the Importance
of neighborhoods like Greenville
stems from NCNB's belief that if
we help Greenville become the
best neighborhood It can be,
Charlotte will move one more
step toward being the best city It
can be," Rash added.
Also speaking at the an
nouncement was Dr. Robert L.
Albright, president of nearby
Johnson C. Smith University
and recently named to head the
"Fighting Back" Drug and Alco
hol Abuse Task Force, Albright
said the Greenville neighbor
hood project Is symbolic of a
larger goal.
"This effort by NCNB to en
hance the Greenville neighbor
hood Is part of a much larger,
far-reaching strategy to enliven
and spur development In central
Charlotte as a whole," Albright
said. 'The significance of today's
announcement Is that this pro
ject will touch more than just the
people of Greenville -- It will
touch every citizen of Charlotte."
Wachovia
Announces Plan
For N.C. Cities
Wachovia Bank and Trust Co.
announced Tuesday a new and
specialized mortgage loan pro
gram to encourage home owner
ship and housing renovation by
homeowners In targeted neigh
borhoods of Charlotte and four
other North Carolina cities.
The Neighborhood Revitaliza
tion Program will focus the en-
See WACHOVIA On Page 2A
and Bob Walton, and I supported
Sue Myrlck against Harvey
Gantt," he said. "My beliefs are
not their beliefs. I'm more In
line with the Republican agenda.
They are more In tlie black agen
da, whatever that Is.
"They (Democrats) basically
control 13 precincts. Within
those precincts there are very
few Republicans," Gardner said.
"The Republicans In their pre
cincts know my name, so at this
point I'm not concerned about
their endorsement."
Political newcomer Broome
did get an endorsement
from tlie caucus. He said that Is a
signal that changes are happen
ing In the black community.
"1 was very pleased to have the
Black Political Caucus's en
dorsement. I think It will help
the black communty In that It
will give them access to another
political party that they had not
had before.
"In the '60s we marched for
equal rights and equal opportu
nity," he said. "Now we have the
right to do that in political par
ties and we need to take advan
tage of this."
Broome said he was also doing
mail outs and has plans for
some radio spiots.
Erwin said she was also mail
ing letters to black Republicans
and to unafllllated voters In the
last election. She Is also going
Into neighborhoods In southeast
Charlotte where there Is a high
concentration of registered Re
publicans.
Erwin Is also happy about her
endorsement by the caucus, but
sees It more helpful In Novem
ber.
"Most of the blacks, as you
know, are Democratic," she said.
"The nomination will send a
message to the Republican party
that I have black support In the
general election and that may
insure a seat on the council."
Ross also was pleased with the
endorsement he received from
the caucus.
"I think It's one of those things
that you would rather have than
not have, Ross said. "It says I
have respect from various polit
ical organizations around the
city."
Ross said he was putting up
signs, making telephone calls
and speaking at various func
tions.
He said his name recognition
makes him the front runner In
the primary. Ross said he con
cedes a nomination to Vinroot
because he Is an incumbent, but
he said he would not be surprised
to see two blacks get a nomina
tion.
Democrats Finishing Up
District Candidates Prepare For Primary
By WINFRED CROSS
Post Staff Writer
Incumbents Charlie Dannelly
and Ella Scarborough are ex
pected to win nominations in
Tuesday's primary, but Dan
nelly may have his hands full,
according to an elections offi
cial.
Bill Culp, Mecklenburg County
elections supervisor, said Dan
nelly has a slight edge over
challangers Hoyle Martin and
Steve Barker In District 2, but he
wouldn't be surprised at an up
set.
"One would consider Mr. Dan
nelly the front runner due to
his 12 years on council," Culp
said. "However he did not get
the editorial endorsement
from The Charlotte Observer
and he has an assertive, articu
late opponent (Martin) who has
made an Issue of Mr. Dannelly
being a veiy qulei member of
council."
Martin received The Observ
er's endorsement Wednesday.
Culp said that will help Mar
tin's campaign but an expected
low turnout and the low key
nature of the campaign may
work against him.
'The key element will be who
Is successful in getting his sup
porters to the polls, " said Culp.
He also said the presence of a
third candidate. Barker, may
hurt Martin's chances.
"That divides any antl-
Dannelly vote that may be
In the district, therefore It
makes it difficult for any chal
lenger to defeat him," Culp
said.
Although Martin was en
dorsed by The Observer, he
failed to get an endorsement
from the Charlotte-
Mecklenburg Black Political
Caucus. They endorsed Dannel
ly. Martin didn't seem worried.
"1 think any endorsement I get
is going to help." he said. "I
don't think it's going to be that
effective. 1 don't think the
Black Political Caucus Is the
most astute organization In the
black community with regards
to black political Interests.
"The have by-laws that will
allow an inactive members to
walk In on the day of a vote, pay
their fees and vote," Martin
said. "I question whether that
is an intelligent way to deter
mine how you are going to en
dorse a candidate "
Martin said he Is spending
the rest of the week mailing
thousands of letters and "trying
to meet as many people as we
can."
Dannelly said he was also
out In the community meeting
people, telling them "I'm In the
race, the best person In the
race with the most experi
ence."
He said he was pleased with
his endorsement from the cau
cus but would not comment on
the race's outcome.
"I never try to make predic
tions," he said. "I try to go out,
work hard and tiy to win. Pre
dictions can get you In trou
ble."
The District 3 race between
Scarborough and challenger
Sam Carr Is not expected to be
as tight. Culp said since Scar
borough has been endorsed by
The Observer and has served
one term on council, there
should be no surprises.
"I don't see that there Is
much mystery that the Incum
bent Is likely to win that
race," Culp said. "Mr. Carr has
not been able to mount an ef
fective campaign against the
incumbent."
Carr could not be reached for
comment but his wife said he
"would be out In the cormnunlty
getting more familiar" with
people and letting the people
get more familiar with him."
Scarborough said she will
also be visiting neighborhoods
as well as churches. She was
pleased with her endorsements.
"The caucus has always done
Its homework very well on
candidates that hold the ban
ner for the black community
and who also are astute to the
issues of the total community,"
she said.
Scarborough said she Is ex
cited about the primary.
"I'm facing the voters. I
think my record and my work
will be at stake, she said. "If
the people think I've done a
good job, I will be re-elected. If
not, I won't. It isn't as If they
don't have choices. They do."
King Holiday Plans NAACP
Radiothon
Saturday
, Organizers for Z990 Martin Lu-
' ther King Jr. Holiday Celebra
tions In North Carolina will have
the opportunity to get a head
start In planning appropriate
= programs and activities with the
help of four mini-conferences
this fall.
Planning conferences have
been set in "various locations:
Charlotte, September 28 at
First Baptist Church-'West;
Wilmington. October 11, at New
Hanover County Courthouse:
i and Rocky Mount. October 27, at
City Hall Chambers.
The mini-conferences are de
signed for city, county and state
officials, school system person
nel, human rights organization
members, Martin Luther King Jr.
support groups, religious lead-:
ers and other interested per-
; sons.
Charles Sadler, national coor*.
dinator of state holiday com-'
missions, Martin Luther King Jr.
Federal Holiday Commission,
will be a featured speaker. The
theme is "North Carolinians
Networking for the Dream."
Workshop topics will Include
human service projects, educa
tional initiatives, planning a ceh’
ebration. principles of nonvio
lence and rdle of the N.C. Martin
Luther King Jr. Holiday Com*3
mission.
Monday, January 15, 1990, will
mark the 61st anniversary of Dr^
King's birthday, and it also
marks the first time the birthday
and holiday will fall on the same
day.
Each mint-conference will
convene at 10 a.m. and adjourn
at 4:30 p.m. The registration fee
is $7,
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg
chapter of the NAACP will host
its annual radiothon Saturday
at the Adam's Mark Hotel from
10 atm. to 6 p.m.
The local event coincides with
the civil rights organization's
national radiothon. which is de
signed to encourage new mem
berships.
The radiothon will be broad
cast by WPEG emd WGfV radio.
Inside This Week
Editorials
. Pg. 6A
Obituaries...
. Pg. 4B
Entertainment.
. Pg. 8A
Sports
Lifestyles
. Pg. 1B
Classifieds..
.. Pg. 13B
Church News.
. Pg. 3B
Alliance
.. Pg. 14B
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