Willie Belle Boone
9211 Dulcimer Street
Houston, Texas 77051-3019
Tel. 713-733-5825, Fax 713-733-4065
E-mail: wbboone@swbell.net
May 21, 2002
Mr. Charles X. White, President
Sunnyside/South Park Super Neighborhood
4302 Reed Road
Houston, Texas 77051
Dear Mr. White:
Thank you for the opportunity to be the Election Coordinator at the May 20, 2002 election at the Sunnyside Multi Service Center. It was one of the smallest elections I have been involved with in my 20 years but one of the most interesting and eventful elections. I would like to take this opportunity to explain what happen, inasmuch as I asked you to leave the voting area after the stakeholders began gathering at 6:45 p.m. and Mrs. Bessie Swindle stated she had a copy of a letter that she wanted me to read to the stakeholders that had been sent to you from Mr. Stephen Tinnermon, Deputy Director,
I read 2. “…..All Super Neighborhood stakeholders will be invited to participate in the election and will permitted to nominate candidates for office from the floor”. After reading this to approximately 20 stakeholders present at the time, I stated that you had given me a slate prior to the election and was printed on the ballot, however, if it was their desire, any slate could be nominated at this time and copies of the other slate could be given out at this time to be included on the ballot and the space provided on the ballot for write-ins could be used. I asked for the stakeholders to decide what was their preference. The stakeholders present agreed that the nominations could be used as write ins – the other slate was passed out to each stakeholder before the election commenced. If I had known about the other slate, it would have been included on the ballot.
I attended the May 10th candidate’s forum and wrote down each candidate’s name, I was not aware of any other slate until the eve of the election. Written election procedures and categories for stakeholders were given to each stakeholder before the election began at 7:00 pm..
To keep down any confusion, it was allowed that even if the person’s name was not on the list, they were permitted to vote if they said they were a designee and had attended meetings. Every stakeholder had the opportunity to view the list of stakeholder permitted to vote- the sheets were placed on the table in view for everyone to see. Larry Marshall of HISD , Willie Dunn, George Dillard, Pamela Graves, John Campbell and I tallied the votes and each signed the sheet certifying that the tallying of votes were correct.
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(Sunnyside/South Park Super Neighborhood (page 2 of 2)
In order to comply with the written by-laws I called the City Attorney’s office and Mr.Stanley Ipko called me and we went over the by-laws. I asked if there were any written election procedures, who was entitled to vote and if I could get a complete list of stakeholders. Mr. Stanley Ipko stated he did not have the updated list but referred me to you, Officer Chamberlain and Mrs. Bessie Swindle. I referred to the Robert Rules of Order and Texas Statutes for holding the election. Truly, I did what I knew about elections, even though I permitted stakeholders of the other slate to wander around the voting room, which would not have been permitted in a regular election. The persons who assisted and I did everything possible to promote a harmonious election.
Stakeholders voting – 39 Slate on ballot –25 Nominated/write in slate – 14
Officers Elected:
President – Charles X White
1st Vice President - L. E. Chamberlain
2nd Vice President - Margaret Jenkins
3rd Vice President - Miller Ray
Secretary -Lydia Stewart
Asst. Secretary - Charles Cave
Corresponding Secretary - Rev. Andrew Burks, Jr.
Treasurer - Rodney Jones -
Parliamentarian - Rev. Marvin Delaney
If I may be of assistance or service to the Sunnyside/South Park Super Neighborhood at any time, please call on me.
Warmest personal regards,
Willie Belle Boone
Cc: Stakeholders
Mayor Lee P. Brown
P.S. – Several people have called and wanted to know how they could become part of the Super Neighborhood. Will you please send me the information or shall I refer them to you?