Gerald Johnson’s
TOP TEN
Leaders For 1989
Editorials / Page 4A
IQ.
I
$
James "J.T." Taylor
Speaks At
Piedmont Middle
School
Entertainment / Page 6A
Wedding Bells:
New And
Golden
Lifestyles / Page IB
Dana Elliott
Shows His Stuff
For N.C. A&T
Basketball Aggies
Sports / Page 7B
Cljarlotte
Vol. 15, No. 28 Thursday, December 14,1989
THE AWARD-WINNING "VOICE OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY"
50 Cent?
Walton's In, WillMajeed Follow?
By WINFRED B. CROSS
Post Staff Writer
Mecklenburg County Commis
sioner Bob Walton said Tuesday
he will run for a seventh term In
1990.
Walton could find himself In a
rematch for the p>osltlon with
Charlotte businessman Naslf
Majeed, who outpolled him In
the Democratic primary tn 1987
but lost In the runoff. Walton
said he was not aware of Ma-
jeed's Intentions.
Filing dates for the primary
are Jan. 2 to Feb. 1, 1990. The
primary will be held In May.
"I'm not speculating on who
may be running for the position.
I don't base a decision on wheth
er to run on whose running,"
Walton said . "I have no Idea who
may be Interested In the seat.
Everybody has the right to make
a decision to run. We will cam
paign as vigorously whether
there Is an opponent or not."
Majeed said he has not made a
decision about running but said
"statistics show Walton is vul
nerable.
"Right now we re looking at It.
I've had a lot of people encourage
me to run," Majeed said. "I'm
talking to people In the commu
nity and exploring the possibili
ty in that method and I'll make a
decision."
Majeed would not give the
names of his current supporters,
saying that would be premature
before he makes a decision. He
did say they were civic and com
munity leaders as well as some
Martin Builds Roads
To Constituents In
Council District 2
Plans Networking Committee
By GWENDOLYN DANIELS
Poat Staff Writer
Hoyle Martin, Charlotte city
council District 2's new repre
sentative, says he will start
1990 oflF with the formation of a
networking committee to keep
himself In touch with the needs
of his district.
Martin, who has been on coun
cil one week, said he plans to
stay abreast of Issues In the
community by forming a 40-
member networking committee,
which will consist of people
from precincts and neighbor
hoods. He said the purpose of
the committee wUl be to share
concerns and get feedback on
actions taken by the council.
"I will be more In tune with Is
sues as the voters see them,"
Martin said. 'This Is crucial to
helping me maintain a sensitiv
ity with the people In the dis
trict."
The committee will meet at
least every 60 days to discuss
Issues of the district. Martin
said It will be difficult for con
stituents to reach him at times
so he wants the committee to
serve as a clearing house of In
formation for the community so
p>eople can get answers whenev
er they need them.
"I'm a public servant, not a
pwlltlclan," Martin said.
Other Issues Martin wants to
address are Hugo cleanup ef
forts, housing. Project Catalyst
In the Johnson C. Smith Uni
versity area, and transportation.
Getting the cooperation of the
community and businesses wUl
make a difference in the Char
lotte public transportation sys
tem, Martin said.
"The government can't solve
the transportation problem
alone," he said.
Martin said flex time and car
pKolfng would be helpful to the
transportation problem. Flex
time Is a system that would al
low employees to report to work
at different Intervals Instead of
everyone reporting to work at
the same time.
Building more roads would not
be a good solution to the trans
portation problem because that
would encourage the communi
ty to drive Instead of taking the
bus.
Martin's concern with housing
Is that It remains decent, safe
and affordable. He said he
wants to be Instrumental In set
ting a workable housing policy.
Being able to manage the the
growth of the Queen City Is an
other priority for Martin.
"We must have orderly, man
aged growth that won't destroy
the quality of life. We would be
. opposed to [growth coming in
like a tidal wsfve."
As councilman, Martin said he
looks forward to a good working
relationship with other council
members.
"I am committing myself to
work with a council that has
enthusiasm and talent."
Robert Reid Is Back In
Charlotte Hornets Teal
By A.C. TURNER
Post Staff Writer
One thing the Charlotte Hor
nets need right now Is a shot in
the arm to lift them out of an
eight-game losing skid heading
Into tonight’s game against the
Washington Bullets.
Maybe Robert Reid Is the
player that can rejuvenate the
team. At least the Hornets' front
office hop>es so after signing him
to a one-year deal with incen
tives Wednesday.
Reid was waived last week by
the Portland Trlalblazers, three
months after he was traded In
exchange for 6-10 forward Rich
ard Anderson. After he was re
leased by the Trallblazers, Reid
did not attract an overwhelming
amount of offers from the NBA's
27* teams.
The Chicago Bulls were re-
p>ortedly Interested In Reid but
made no substantial moves to
sign him. Charlotte, the other
team reported to have an Inter
est, decided to make Reid an of
fer.
Charlotte fans were upset emd
confused when Reid was traded
by the Hornets. He was one of
the players that produced fairly
consistently In the team's Inau-
guaral season, which saw Char-
Rcid
lotte go 20-62.
The Hornets have struggled
this year with a 3-16 record and
one loss away from a team stan
dard for most losses In a row.
To make room for Reid, Andre
Turner, a 5-10 guard, was re
leased from the team and placed
on weitvers.
Last year Reid averaged 15
points and was a co-captain
along with Kurt Rambls, who
was traded In a surprise move.
Rambls, a 6-9 forw^u•d, was
shlpp>ed to the Phoenix Suns for
6-9 Armon Gilliam. Both players
average nine pwlnts a game. The
only distinguishing factor be
tween the two Is age. Rambls Is
31 emd Gilliam Is 25.
Majeed
ministers.
"1 have a little more time and I
have to do a little more research
before I can make a decision," he
Walton
said. "It's a process you have to
deal with before you make an
announcement."
Majeed said If he does run he
will probably use the same cam
paign strategy.
"1 don't see us doing a whole lot
different," he said. "We have a
quantifiable base out there. We
would use basically the same
campaign but we would be wis
er."
As an Incumbent with six
terms behind him, Walton ap
pears to have an upperhand on
anyone who runs against him.
But the political climate may be
changing in the African-
American community, especial
ly with the defeat of Incumbent
city council member Charlie
Dannelly. Some say there may
be a changing of the guard -- out
with the old and In with the
new.
Walton said he does not see
Long Gets Legislators' Award
Former New Hampshire State
Representative Linda Long re
cently received an award from
the National Black Caucus Of
State Legislators. Now relocat
ed to the Charlotte area former
Rep. Long attended the National
Black Caucus of State Legisla
tors annual convention In Mia
mi, Florida, earlier this month.
Representative Long served
two terms as New Hampshire's
first African American female
legislator. Rep. Long's New
Hampshire constituency con
sisted of 99 percent white voters
and less than 1 percent minority
voters. As a State Legislator she
worked during her two terms to
create a state holiday honoring
Martin Luther King, Jr,, co
sponsored and supported bills
for, college tuition savings bond
program, curtail domestic vio
lence, pro choice. Inter-state
banking, and divestment In
South Africa. Because of her
commitment to the Issues and
support from both political par
ties Rep. Long was appointed to
the Assistant House Minority
Leader position In the spring of
1989.
The Award presented by the
National Black Caucus of State
Legislators was given to honor
her service to the organization
where she served on Its execu
tive board and vice chairman of
the New England Region. The
award was presented by Repre
sentative Dave Richardson of
Philadelphia, Pa. the organiza
tion's national president.
The 13th annual convention of
the National Black Caucus of
State Legislators Included legis
lators from 44 states. National
guests IncludeuU.S.Representa
tive Ron Delluios. Miss Ameriea
Debbie Turner, HUD Secretary
Jack Kemp, Rep. Micky Mlchaux
chairman of N.C. Black Legisla
tive Caucus, Rev. Jesse Jackson,
and Speaker of the California
House of Representatives Willie
Brown.
The former Representative re
Long
signed her position last summer
when her husband transferred
to the Charlotte area. Long,a na
tive of Georgia and her husbanvl
a native of North Carolina,see
Charlotte as the ideal location
to further their ambitions. Jiep.
Long is presently observing the
political environment and ad
justing to the Charlotte area.
Young Next To Test Theory
BY WALTER R MEARS
AP SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON (AP) — Looking
back, black political analysts
see two threads linking the ma
jor victories of 1989 - seasoned
candidates who came up the
Democratic ladder the methodi
cal, old-fashioned way, and
campaign thenies that de-
emphaslzed race in favor of
broader, mainstream Issues.
Looking ahead, they see An
drew Young.
The two-term mayor of Atlanta
will test that strategy next year,
a black candidate in quest of
white votes to become governor
of Georgia.
A month after the elections in
which Virginia chose a black
governor, and black mayors
were elected for the first time in
New York and three other cities
with white voter majorities, the
Joint Center for Political Stud
ies sponsored a forum on what
those contests may tell future
candidates.
"The next test is going to be
Andy Young," said political sci
entist Joseph P. McCormick II of
Howard University.
Young's style and strategy re
flect some of the winning ways
shown by L. Douglas Wilder in
Virginia and David Dinkins In
New York this year. But political
campaigns are not portable, and
there are major differences, too.
Young plays down the compari
son, saying that except for the
fact that all three of them went
to Howard, "and we all happjen to
have the same skin color, there
isn't a lot we have in common."
One thing they have in com
mon is a record to run on, px)liti-
cal apprenticeships the Joint
Center analysts saw as vital in
gredients in the black victories
of 1989. Wilder has been in Vir
ginia px)lltics for 19 years; Din
kins has a 23-year record in New
York.
that as a precedent, however.
"There will always l>e those
who appreciate your service and
those who question your service.
There will always be a small
group of people who feel there
needs to be change," Walton said.
"My record sp>eaks for itself."
Walton's past may also do
some sp>eaklng. He was convict
ed of assaulting an 18-year old
man in 1986. The convielioii
caused a considerable oulciy in
the community and Walton was
removed as pastor of St. Paul
Presbyterian Church.
But Walton was able to over
come all of that by winning a
sixth term in 1987. He said that
part of his p>ast should have no
bearing on his next campaign.
"That's a battle that has al
ready been fought and won," he
said.
Sorority
Pushes
Literacy
By MILLICENT LINK
Post Staff Writer
The Gamma Lambda Chapter
of Delta Sigma 'I'heta Smority
Inc. is striving to re establish
literacy as a family value in tie
American home.
Delta Sigma Theta, a national
pjublic service organi/ation with
more than 175,000 members,
has initiated a literacy piojeci
called School Amer ica.
Dellas will be respronslble for.
registering persons to serve as
official readers. 'lire registered
readers will be required to read
at least one story a week to a
child between the ages of 1
through 10 continuing through
1990.
The sorority, wlilch was found
ed in 1913 on the campus ofHo-
/ard University, exprects to reg
ister over 1 million readers.
In order to complete this goal,
nationals is encouraging each,
chapter to Join in a partnership’
to kick-off the program.
Regetta Darden, a member of
the Gamma I.ambda Chapter of
John.son C. Smith University,
said, 'We hopre that by reading to
these children this will peak
their Interest to read more.
"Children are our future and
we need to begin molding them
at an early age."
Darden hop>es that the project
will encourage young people to
pursue a college education and
become future leaders.
"If this happ>ens we've got our
future px>Ilticians, lawyers, and
doctors," she said.
• The Gamma Lambda ’Chapter
is recruiting other smdal, civic,
professional and fraternal
groups to partlclpjate in the pro
Ject. These organizations in
clude Zeta Phi Beta Sorority,
Kappa Alpha Psl Fraternity, the
Delta Gents and Students of the
North Carolina Association of
Educators (SNCAE).
"Delta Sigma Theta strives on
community service," said Susan
Marrow, a member of Gamma
Lambda. We are working for the
good of our children. After all,
they are our future."
Marrow said that reading is an
Important part of our everyday
lives. "Reading is Involved in
everything we do, which may in
clude anything from reading a
menu to recognizing your street
address," Marrow said.
"Reading Is fundamental," add
ed Darden. "If you read to chil
dren it stimulates them to read
more."
See DELTAS On Page 2A
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