News

Democratic Party Subverts Wilmington Election Law, says Green Council Candidate

2004-10-22

The Wilmington Democratic Party and especially its Chairperson, Mr. Theo Gregory, are subverting city election law by publicly supporting Republican candidate Michael A. Brown Sr. for an at-large seat on the City Council. This arrogant move threatens the city of Wilmington with just the kind of one-party rule that election law clearly prohibits.

City election law limits political parties to three candidates for the four at-large seats. It specifies that a minority party must hold at least one seat, using the language "is not of the majority party." Voters can cast three votes for the four candidates.

(In his October 19 News Journal article Ron Williams mistakenly asserts that election law requires selection of at least one Republican. The law specifies that at least one minority party must be represented, and does not mention a particular party.)

If Mr. Brown is elected due to the efforts of Mr. Gregory and other Democrats, city election law is rendered null and void. Though running as a Republican, Mr. Brown is in practice a Democratic candidate, and not independent of the Democratic Party.

"How could Brown be independent?" askes John Atkeison, the Green Party Candidate, "He is running with the Democrats, not against them. His campaign literature does not identify him as a Republican; the only endorsements he lists are Democrats such as Mr. Gregory."

Fair and democratic elections are how the people control their government. Laws and regulations to ensure that elections proceed democratically are vital to securing the rights of citizens.

The laws governing election of Wilmingtons at-large City Council seats do a good job preserving an independent voice in city government and preventing total domination by one political faction. Citizens interests are better served if the Council includes representatives who are not part of the group controlling city government.

Unfortunately, all the good laws in the world do no good if majority parties fail to respect them and are allowed to do so.

In this year's election, the Democrats are attempting to ensure that their hand-picked Republican wins, subverting the intent of our election law and seeking to keep independent viewpoints off the City Council.

Mr. Gregory himself admitted in the October 18 New Journal that "I'm trying to get the Republican who looks the most like a Democrat elected."

No matter how you dress it up, this statement clearly seeks to circumvent Wilmington election law. It is a blatant attempt to choose the winning candidate for a seat that is expressly set apart from the majority party that Mr. Gregory heads.

If he is successful, Mr. Gregory not only ensures that no one on the council will rock the boat, but also maintains the status quo by blocking the Green Party candidate, Mr. John Atkeison.

John Atkeison is the one candidate who would provide an independent voice on the City Council. He is running on a platform for the city to spend its money where citizens live, to put police on the streets in high-crime areas, and to develop job programs rebuilding our streets and sidewalks. If elected Atkeison will only be responsible to the city residents who voted for him.

By accepting Mr. Gregory's support, Mr. Brown has shown he will not be an independent voice in city government. He will have to go along with whatever Mr. Gregory's group prioritizes on the City Council.

Mr. Gregory and other Democratic office holders behind Mr. Brown's campaign would rather support Republicans than allow a truly independent representative onto the City Council.

That is bad for democracy and bad for Wilmington. Mr. Gregory and his faction should immediately stop manipulating this election and apologize to the people of Wilmington.

(JOHN ATKEISON is the Green Party's candidate for Wilmington City Council)