Board: No evidence students coerced

By REGGIE PONDER
Staff Writer

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

The Pasquotank County Board of Elections dismissed the election protest filed by an unsuccessful City Council candidate Wednesday after the board determined there wasn’t any evidence Elizabeth City State University students had been coerced to vote for specific candidates in last month’s 4th Ward election.

In his protest, Lennard Bartlett Sr. had claimed that ECSU students were coerced to vote for particular candidates in the Oct. 6thelection. Bartlett’s protest had also alleged that false and defamatory statements had been spread about him — specifically, that he favored changing the name of Elizabeth City State University.

At a hearing in the Pasquotank County courtroom Wednesday on his complaint, Bartlett called a series of ECSU student leaders to testify, each of whom denied being coerced or manipulated to vote for a particular candidate. The students also denied that they had been told which candidates to vote for, had been given a list of candidates to vote for, or had been told they had to register to vote — or vote for a particular candidate — in order to join a fraternity or organization.

Bartlett finished third in last month’s 4th Ward election, behind top vote-getters Lena Hill-Lawrence and Johnnie Walton and ahead of fourth-place finisher Volanda Watts, an incumbent city councilwoman.

To prove his point that students were coerced, Bartlett presented as evidence at Wednesday’s hearing a printout of an online comment post on The Daily Advance Web site. The author of the post claimed to be an ECSU student and stated students were told the candidates endorsed by The Daily Advance were “Uncle Toms” who wanted to change the name of the university. The Daily Advance had endorsed Bartlett in last month’s 4th Ward election.

Rogelyn McLean, an attorney representing the students on behalf of the NAACP, told the elections board that there was no evidence the comment actually was posted by a student.

Board member Ramona Gilbert asked Bartlett how he found out about students being coerced.

He replied he found out about it through The Daily Advance blog and also heard it circulated around town that certain things were said about him — particularly that he wanted to change the name of ECSU.

“I felt strongly about that because I’m proud of Elizabeth City State University,” he said.

Bartlett said he felt it hurt his reputation to be accused of wanting to change the name of the university.

A study committee currently is exploring whether ECSU’s name should be changed. State Rep. Bill Owens, D-Pasquotank, among others, has suggested a name that includes “North Carolina” might build recognition for the school.

However, the idea of a name change is controversial among university alumni, many of whom say a name change would obscure ECSU’s history as an historically black college and university.

Bartlett said his protest was not an attempt to reverse anything that happened in the election. He also told the elections board his aim was not to stop students from voting.

“That’s how I got to where I am today is because of that university,” Bartlett said, explaining he found it “appalling” that anyone would say he favored a name change or was against the university in any way.

Even so, Bartlett said he believes students can determine the outcome of 4th Ward elections, and for that reason organizations target students to try to influence the outcome of the election. Bartlett said he doesn’t want students at his alma mater being used or manipulated by any individual or organization.

“These students should be allowed to make up their own minds,” Bartlett said.

Bartlett said he also wanted to use the hearing to clear his name.

After hearing Bartlett’s case, Pasquotank Board of Elections Chairman Michele Aydlett said there was no evidence students’ votes were coerced.

Gilbert said she understood Bartlett’s desire to clear his name. But she agreed there was not substantial evidence that votes were coerced or defamatory statements were made about him. She told him he could continue his effort to get at the truth through other avenues.

A motion by board member William Skinner to dismiss the protest passed unanimously.

Because state election law allows other candidates to testify at protest hearings, Walton, who was in the courtroom Wednesday, told the elections board he wanted a chance to clear his name as well.

Aydlett asked Walton if he circulated false or inflammatory remarks about Bartlett’s candidacy.

“No, I did not,” Walton replied.

Despite losing his protest, Bartlett said after the hearing that he had had a chance to protect his reputation and confirm his support for ECSU. He said he would not appeal the board’s decision.