What could have been a quick conversation among gentlemen turned into a circus of race and politics Friday at the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors meeting. Approving an appointee to replace George Swales to the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau turned into a highly contentious issue, particularly between longtime sparring partners District Five Supervisor Leroy Brooks and District One Supervisor and Board President Harry Sanders.
“George Swales has tendered his resignation (from the CVB Board),” said County Administrator Ralph Billingsley. “It is an at-large position. It will expire February 2014, which would be the end of Swales’ term.”
Of the six applicants for the position, two were nominated by the board — Keith Worshaim, who is retired from the Columbus Police Department, and Leon Ellis, former owner of Ellis Construction. Worshaim, who also serves on the E911 board, was nominated by District 4 Supervisor Jeff Smith, and Ellis, who has served on the Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority board, was nominated by Sanders.
During discussion on the candidates, Brooks, who said he personally asked Worshaim to submit his resume, was quick to turn the discussion to the color of the applicants’ skin.
“Speaking on the nomination of Keith Worshaim, Keith is a very conscientious person — a retired police officer,” said Brooks. “I asked Keith to apply because he has no agenda. There are some real issues with the CVB that don’t serve the community well. If we fail to appoint Worshaim, this will be the first time since the inception of the CVB that we haven’t appointed an African-American. I’m calling on the board to not let us go backwards with four white board members. It’s an insult to the African-American community and the community at large. I think for this board to appoint four white members is reprehensible. I ask the board to vote its conscience, not its political agenda.”
With the appointment of Ellis, the board will be composed of six whites and three blacks.
Sanders said his nomination of Ellis was not politically motivated.
“I don’t think appointing Mr. Ellis would be a political thing,” said Sanders. “I think (Leroy Brooks’) motives are more political. I think Mr. Ellis is qualified. I’m going to vote for him. He has an excellent business background. I don’t think there’s a political agenda for my support for Leon Ellis.”
Brooks challenged Sanders on his statement and continued his tirade against both “business people” and Sanders, and possibly suggesting African-Americans should be exempt from the two-percent restaurant tax that is used to fund the CVB.
“I take acceptance (sic) with (Sanders) calling Leon Ellis the most qualified,” said Brooks in front of an audience of mostly African-Americans, who cheered and applauded. “We all always like to talk about business people on boards. This country is in a hell of a mess because of business people. Black people go to restaurants and hotels and pay the taxes. We are going back to the days of Jim Crow laws. How do we sit here in 2012 and appoint four white members to the CVB to replace an African-American? When the CVB or the Link wants something, y’all want us to jump. There is no one in this room, from the Ku Klux Klan to a Black Panther to a Muslim, that would say it’s OK to appoint four whites to the board.”
Jeff Smith defended Worshaim and his qualifications.
“Whether we appoint Leon or Keith, the vote is for a qualified person,” said Smith. “At the end of the day, I want it to be known we have two qualified people. If Keith Worshaim doesn’t get the vote, it’s not because he isn’t qualified.”
The board voted 3-2 to appoint Ellis to the position. Brooks and Smith voted against Ellis.
Swales resigned from the CVB board Aug. 15 and he has remained mum on his reasons for resigning. The CVB board is composed of nine members — four are appointed by the county and four are appointed by the city. The ninth member is a joint-appointment between the county and city. Harvey Myrick is currently the joint appointee. Ellis will join Mark Castleberry, Rissa Lawrence and Bart Wise as the county appointments. The city appointments are Dewitt Hicks, Nadia Dale, Whirllie Byrd and Bernard Buckhalter. Buckhalter was the city’s latest appointee. He was re-appointed on a 4-2 vote in July.
Ellis, who could not be reached for comment, will be sworn in Monday prior to the CVB board’s monthly meeting.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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