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October 26, 1995 AUGUSTA FOCUS
Plénty of activity in Hamilton camp
M 1,000 Man Rally
open to all candidates,
races and genders.
Sconyers casts doubt -
on debate possibility.
By Rhonda Y. Maree
AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer
AUGUSTA
Called by Augusta-Richmond
County mayor-chairman candi
datethe Rev. C.S. Hamilton, the
1,000 Man Rally is planned to be
an evening of atonement, reju
venation and civic renewal.
But unlike the recent Million
Man March in Washington from
which the concept was born, the
rally embraces the total commu
nity: men, women and children
% Black/White i
Post Registered Voters Candidates
County-wide Mickey A. Flowers, 30, Occupation: none given
Rev. C.S. Hamilton, 68, Minister
Mayor/Chairman 58.6% White Larry E. Sconyers, 54, Restaurateur, Richmond County Com
-41.4 % Black mission Chairman
Claude E. White, 51, Occupation: none given
Kenneth R. Winters, 52, Disabled Veteran
District 1 63.33% Black Margaret C. Armstrong, 59, homemaker, City Council Ward 2
Lee Norris Beard, 59, radio station owner, City Council Ward 9
Charles Freeman Jr., 70, physician
District 2 63.52% Black Kathleen Beasley, 50, personal care owner, City Council Ward 4
Freddie Lee Handy, 52, electrician, County Commission District 2
David L. Johnson, 68, real estate and insurance salesman
: Beaurine Wilkins, 47, school bus driver and limo-service owner
- Willie W. Law IV, 27, accounting director,. Planned Parenthood.
District 3 79.74% White 11:;:; I:eel 111, 60, real estate broker, County Commission Dis-
Carolyn Usry, 68, merchant,City Council Ward 11
Robert William Zetterberg, 57, transportation company owner
King Morris Singleton Jr., 26, business owner
District 4 72.62% Black Moses Todd, 45, pipe fitter/plumber, County Commission
District 4
£ Brian Wilson, 29, automotive service center asst. manager
Rev. Minnie P. Davis, 46, minister
Henry H. Brigham, 66, retired educator, Couhty Commission
j District 5
District 5 59.87% Black Charles Evans, 53, teacher
Kenneth A. Cone, 60, plumber and steamfitter
William Oscar Baker, 69, State Court bailiff, City Council
Ward 6
oot W RePe Oe S eeNl s D e
James B. Powell Jr., 33, electrical contractor, Richmond
i ; County Commission District 6
District 6 60.32% White Elmer R. Singley, 50, medical supply technician
-Charles N. Utley, 48, counselor
Johnny L. Wilson, 38, U.S. Army
sl e e S D o o il ee e e e e hen e L
District 7 . 87.44% White Jgrry Brigham, 48, accountant, Richmond County Commission
. District 7
W Charles A. Dutch, 48, salesman
Rodney Keith Elkins, 31, music writer, director
Paul D. Webster 111, 65, physician
John Albert Ribock, 45, property manager/ painting contractor
e e e e e
Thomas L. Atkins, 49, phone technician -
Bobby L. Carroll, 61, assistant director Richmond County
Inspections Department :
o : Ulmer Zack Bridges Jr., 42, accounting controller - :
District 8 83.03% White W. Curtis Cumbee, 66, restaurateur
Hardie Davis Jr., 26, engineer
: Martha B. Sherrod, 44, secretary/treasurer
Paul Douglas Shockey, 37, maid service owner
Larry C. Stephens, 65, retired state employee
. Jesse 0. Green, 41, retail golf store owner
esLR RS R L AL AR i
o Andrew E. Garnett, 38, restaurateur
District 9 64.98% Black Brian S. Green, 32, car salesman
: A.K. Hasan, 40, Realtor
gti);::cxz:sl 245 Davida L. Johnson, 41, paralegal
s Willie Mays, 44, mortician, Richmond County Commission
District 1 a 0
e oot Bes LR e Bl e et L D R e R e
District 10 " 80.05% White 2 Bill Kuhlke Jr., 57, real estate developer | -
Céntbinies ' { Fred Ancil “Andy” Cheek 111, 39, senior research technician
Districts 3,6,7,8 :
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The Rev. C.S. Hamilton at
news conference this week.
Photo by Derick Wells
of all races, Mr. Hamilton said.
LLocalNews
“They started in Washington
asking the men to come back
home and do whatever needs to
be done,” Mr. Hamilton said.
“We're trying to give them the
opportunities and avenues to
make sure they can carry out
their mission and make a differ
ence.
“I think this is a good idea and
we should not kill it because (Na
tion of Islam leader) Louis
Farrakhan was the one who
thought of it and had the man
power,” he said.
Therally is planned for Oct. 26
at 6:30 p.m:. at Tabernacle Bap
tist Church, where Mr. Hamilton
has pastored for nearly 40 years.
“It is time for personal respon
sibility and self-respect. In the
spirit of harmony, I am asking
for people of all races to come
together... who are committed to
change and want to work hard
for it,” Mr. Hamilton said at his
Tuesday press conference in the
Augusta City Council Chambers.
“Together we can build a new
Augusta and a new opgortunity
for all. We must rebuild our
faith in the system. We must re
establish trust and mutual re
spect,” he said.
All candidates for the Nov. 7
election are invited to the rally
to give the public a chance to
meet them, Mr. Hamilton said.
To further familiarize voters
with those seeking the top seat
in the new. government, Mr.
Hamilton challenged his four
competitors to three public de
bates at Paine College, Augusta
College and Augusta Technical
College.
“This campaign is about build
ing bridges. This campaign is
not about race, but qualifica
tions. I put my experience, edu
cation and dedication against
any candidate in the race. I
invite the media to examine the
education and training of all can
didates,” Mr. Hamilton said.
Richmond County Commis
sioner Larry Sconyers, who is
thought to be Mr. Hamilton’s
main competition, told Augusta
Focus he is unsure if he could fit
a debate into his schedule, but
would “be happy to debate Mr.
Hamilton if I have the time.”
Topping Mr. Hamilton’s moti
vations for running was to be in
a position to bring people closer
together as acommunity, hesaid.
“We have an opportunity to
change the face of our communi
ty for the good of all. We can no
longer maintain the status quo
which has the city and the coun
ty locked in competing interests
District 4 contest
too close to call
By Rhonda Y. Maree
AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer
AUGUSTA
The only district to have all
black candidates for a seat on
the Augusta-Richmond Coun
ty consolidated government,
District 4,isn’t aconcern for its
incumbent, Commissioner
Moses Todd.
Instead of campaigning
heavily for himself, Mr. Todd
said he’s focused on securing
black representation in as
many of the other districts, as
well as the top seat, as possi
ble.
“Basically, I've been spend
ing my time working to assure
that we don’t lose some of the
seatsthatl feel may be atrisk,”
Mr. Todd said.
“In the 4th District, there is
not a white person running,
therefore the minority commu
nity is going to have that seat,
but it will be a sad day in
Richmond County if we wind
up with just one seat out of 11
in this new government....
“I’'ve got to think in terms of
what’s in the best interest of
the minority community, not
just what'’s in the best interest
of Moses Todd,” he said.
To beat out competitors King
Singleton, Brian Wilson and
the Rev. Minnie Davis, Mr.
Todd said he will rest on his
record of performance and ef
fectiveness as a commissioner.
“As far as I know everybody’s
pleased with their representa
tion, and I look forward to rep
resenting them for another four
years,” Mr. Todd said.
A main concern for Mr. Todd
is having an informed voting
population for the Nov. 7 elec
tion.
“If you go to the street and
talk to folks about the new gov
ernment — when to vote and
who they will vote for — you’d
find that most folks know very
little about what’s going on as
far as this election goes,” he
said.
“Alack ofknowledge can dev
astate this community. It can
destroy this community. If we
wind up losing seats that have
pretty much been reappor
tioned to be minority commu
nity seats, to folks that are not
qualified to be dog catcher, God
help us if they should win,” Mr.
Todd said.
Mr. Wilson, who has run for
the District 4 seat before, said
the only legitimate contenders
intherace arehe and Mr. Todd.
“l have a 50-50 chance of
New ! Saturday
breakfast buffet at BL'’s
| Restaurant =
1117 Laney Walker Blvd.
even as we move toward consol
idation,” he said.
Mr. Hamilton said he will work
for a fair transition to the merged
government without distinctions
between city and county employ
ees. He also pointed out that he
would have a professionally run
administration.
“Dr. Hamilton intends to cam
paign for this position by putting
decision-making back in
grassroots government,” said
campaign chairman Hansel E.
Johnson Jr.
Mr. Johnson mentioned Mr.
Sconyers’ published statements
about having a $60,000 cam
paign chest.
“Dr. Hamilton is preparing to
win — not by spending $60,000
—but by winning the confidence
of 60,000 voters who are ready
for change and direction and
leadership in government,” Mr.
Johnson said.
B 8 Moses
o &”;;‘ Todd:
“F R “V'vegotto
|SRpo Pl think in
L ;fi;_ o~ & i terms of
& the best
¥ W interest of
the minori
-3
£ ty commu
& z. .
"¢ | Brian
: \. Wilson:
i 3 ’:" Y. “lhavea
?8. | chance of
A It's be
‘43 iV tween me
D Y,
> Moses,” he
hy said.
winning. It’s between me and
Moses,” he said.
Mr. Wilson said he offers the
4th District strong leadership
and negotiation skills.
“I'm a businessman, and be
ing an effective commissioner is
all about making money for the
community,” Mr. Wilson said.
Mr. Wilson said he has plans
to bring major commerce to
South Augusta.
“I want South Augusta to be
just like West Augusta. I plan to
turn Tobacco Road into another
Washington Road, and when I
do that, people will see what I
can do for the whole county,”
said Mr. Wilson, who plans to
run for mayor-chairman in four
years.
Mr. Wilson said he would also
contribute directly to public
schools in his district by donat
ing all of his commissioner’s sal
ary to them on a rotating basis,
with the exception of schools’
summer breaks.
Ms. Davis views the race to be
between Mr. Todd and her. De
spite complaints that her inter
ests aren’t strong enough in her
district or Richmond County be
cause she pastors at two out- of
town churches, Ms. Davis said
she’s right for the job.
“I live in Augusta, so surely
I'm concerned about wherellive,”
she said.
Included on Ms. Davis’ plat
form are unemployment, crime
and transportation issues.
Telephone calls to Mr. Single
ton’s home weren’t answered.