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LEGENDARY ENTERTAINER JAMES BROWN denies charges
that he beat wife Adrienne. She needs help with sub
stance abuse problem, Mr. Brown said.
By Rhonda Y. Maree
AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer
j AUGUSTA
At a press conference Wednes
day afternoon, superstar per
former James Brown gave a
brief statement denying charg
es that he beat his 45-year-old
wife, Adrienne, early Tuesday
morning.
According to Mr. Brown, it
was the noise of barking dogs in
the rear of his Beech Island
home that awoke him from a
deep sleep at about 4 a.m.
At that time, he also heard
sounds from his wife in her bed
room, the 62-year-old soul sing
er said.
“I heard my wife saying
‘James, James, and I ran back
to see what she was doing. By
the time I got back there, she
was lying on the floor,” he said.
Mr. Brown said his wife was
passed out with saliva dripping
from the corners of her mouth.
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He quickly revived her by
holding alcohol under her nose,
he said.
“She looked at me glassy
eyed... and said ‘why’d you do
it? “ Mr. Brown said.
“I said, ‘do what?’ She said,
‘why’d you hit me?” ”
Mrs. Brown, who has a histo
ry of drug addiction, was high
on drugs and fell and hurt her
self, Mr. Brown said.
“I said ‘baby, you know, you
made me a promise. You said
you were going to leave it
alone,” the Godfather of Soul
recalled.
According to Mr. Brown, he
gave his wife 24 hours to check
into the Betty Ford Clinic for
drug rehabilitation and threat
ened todivorce herif she didn’t.
Duringthe course of their 12-
year stormy relationship, Mr.
Brown said he has spent more
than sl/2 million trying to help
See JAMES BROWN, page 3
DISTRICTS 2 & 4
Tempers flare
B Candidates trade insults
and sling mud as the '95
election campaign winds
down.
By Rhonda Y. Maree
AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer
AUGUSTA
A political forum Wednesday that
began with a commendable display of
courtesy among candidates plunged into
a show of mudslinging.
The name calling began with brief
speeches given by District 4 candidates
the Rev. Minnie Davis, Brian Wilson,
King Singleton and Moses Todd.
At the Senior Citizens Council on 15th
Street before a full audience, Mr. Sin
gleton blasted sitting commissioners’
performance and professionalism, and
Mr. Todd took it personally.
“We can no longer suffer the embar
rassments that we’ve had in our govern
ment,” Mr. Singleton said.
“We must show that we are profes
sionals. We must show that we pay our
bills on time. We must show that we put
Augusta first,” he continued.
Exceeding histhree-minute limit, Mr.
Todd rebutted. : ’
“If I embarrassed you — I assumed
my opponent was talking about me since
Your local newspaper sponsored by your local grocer.
e
November 2 -8, 1995 VOL. XV NO. 723
FOCUS:-
e
Metro Augusta’s Finest Weekly Newspaper
ELECTION 95
Sconyers all wrong on
minority biz initiatives
Article of Analysis
and Interpretation
B In his opposition to
clearly justified busi
ness initiatives on
behalf of women and
minorities, Larry
Sconyers has proven
that he is not fit to
lead this community.
By Frederick Benjamin
AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer
AUGUSTA
The November 7 vote for the
position of mayor-chairman
should be an exercise in electing
the most qualified person to lead
the new government into the next
century. Unhappily, though, it
may turn out to be a referendum
on the willingness of the local
government to correct decades of
exclusion of women and minori
ties from lucrative government
contracts.
Larry Sconyers is not the per
son to lead this community for
ward. On every measurable in
dgx, he is far the inferior candi
date.
If one considers education,
years in government service,
yearsincommunity service, lead
ership experience, dealing with
government funding agencies
and intellectual abilities, the Rev.
“ 5/i v
.
Brian Wilson
questions
political affilia
tions of the Rev.
Minnie Davis.
og¢ ' ;
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Moses Todd
questions work
history of
candidate King
Singleton.
I'm the incumbent — by uncovering
corruption, by uncovering mismanage
ment ... I can assure you if you elect me,
I will continue to embarrass you in that
way,” Mr. Todd said.
Although Mr. Todd said from the on
set that he would not engage in mud
slinging, he publicly questioned Mr. Sin
gleton’s resignation from the Richmond
County Sheriff's Department, suggest
ing that he was forced to resign.
Mr. Singleton wouldn’t discuss the
grounds of his resignation with Augusta
Focus.
After assuring potential supporters
that he had plans for job promotion and
crime reduction, Mr. Singleton was
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Candidates seek to gain
ground for minority businesses
On January 1, a
newly created posi
tion, director of
equal employment
and minority busi
ness opportunities,
will be created.
Some candidates
vow to make the
post effective.
By Rhonda Y. Maree
AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer
: AUGUSTA
Of the many controversial
points in the consolidation bill
used as a blueprint for a newly
in political forum
C.S. Hamiltonis thelogical choice
for Richmond-Augusta.
The public record of Mr.
Sconyers on the issue of minority
business initiatives is revealing.
In the spring of 1994 in re
sponse to minority businessmen
who had complaints, the county
voted to fund a study to see if
Larry
Sconyers,
mayoral
hopeful.
merged Augusta-Richmond
County government, perhaps a
plan to boost minority business
received the loudest opposition.
According to the bill, which
becomes cffective Jan. 1, specific
goals will be implemented to in
crease local government’s use of
black and women enterprises to
a level comparable with their
availability.
A newly created position, di
rector of equal employment and
minority business opportunities,
will oversee such participation
goals.
Several political contenders
have vowed they will work to see
that these goals — which aren’t
to be confused with quotas — are
realized.
District 9 hopeful AK. Hasan
said at the root of the county’s
grilled by an audience member on his
recentinvolvementina weapons charge.
Mr. Singleton said the charges will
likely be dropped and wrote it off as a
political attack on his reputation.
“It’s just one of those political ploys to
put dirt on a candidate,” he said.
As he addressed the audience, Mr.
Wilson implied that at least one of his
opponents was paid to run and be a voice
for a prominent elected official.
“I'have no hidden agenda. I’'m not tied
toany politicians in office. I'm not doing
anything but what I think is good for the
people,” Mr. Wilson said.
Ms. Davis, who obviously thought the
comment was directed at her, explained
that she was an independent voice
unbought by any politician.
District 2 has also seen some charac
ter bashing. In a press conference Mon
day, political newcomer Bill Law ac
cused incumbent Freddie Handy of be
ing a “self-serving politician who won’t
take me up on a debate for one simple
reason — he doesn’t know the issues.”
“Freddie Handy is not close enough to
his constituents to know what they want.
He’s not close enough to his constitu
Editorial: Tight races characterize
the '95 campaign. Many runoffs expected. See p.B
7. 808 HENNERERGER '
GEORGIA NEWSPAPER 4
.NIVERSITY OF GA
ATHENS GA 30602 12/31/99
ine
Buffalo Room
Attempts
Comeback
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District 2 Candidate Freddie Lee
Handy (L) sees no reason to de
bate opponent Bill Law (R). Mr.
Law accuses Mr. Handy of being a
self-serving politician.
ents to serve them properly. He’s not
willing to face his competition head on
because the truth will be seen,” Mr. Law
said in front of the Municipal Building.
Mr. Handy said he hasn’t been for
mally challenged to a debate.
Away from the crowd at Wednesday's
forum, Mr. Handy advised Mr. Law
against bashing him because although
some 'people are dissatisfied with his
performance, they still respect him, he
said.
. U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
NO. 302
AUGUSTA, GA
minority and female contractors
have been facing racial and/or
gender bias. Kevin Mack, Rich
mond County Economic Devel
opment Director addressed the
need for such a study.
“There have been several com-
See SCONYERS, page 2
poor track record for doing
business with minorities is
its monopolistic nature.
“We need to take a look at
the overall bidding process
and make sure it hasn’t be
come a system oriented to
ward monopolistic business
rather than opportunistic
business,” Mr. Hasan said.
“Participation should be en
couraged to enhance the bid
ding process,” he said.
By being more inclusive of
minority businesses, the
county canreap a higher qual
ity of service at a lower price,
Mr. Hasan said.
Richmond County Commis
sioner Freddie Handy, whois
seeking election in District 2,
See BUSINESS, page 3