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REVISED: Was the possible first black Mayor of Annapolis pushed out because of race?
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Zina Pierre gives thumbs up to supporters who elected her in a September 15th Primary Election
Democratic nominee resigns days after historic election
It had all the makings of a great and historic election. A six-person field of Primary candidates vying to be Mayor of small town America; a non-incumbent race, with little to know attention given except the odds-on favorite of a current councilman. Yet with only approximately a 12% turnout, winning by a little over 100 votes, an unknown maverick rose to the top to become possibly the town’s first African American Mayor ever!
However the victory remained short lived as days later the Democratic establishment has seem to have forced her out due to financial indiscretions? A former aide to President Bill Clinton, who supported her through a robo-call endorsement, Zina Pierre has seemingly went from heroic status to possibly being a blip on the map of Maryland elections because of questionable “personal reasons”.
A day after this improbable victory, mysteriously, allegations of financial difficulties were spread throughout the state capital, including revelations of a house in foreclosure, state liens for unpaid taxes and a bounced check. Really, is that it? I mean being as though we are in one of the greatest financial depressions of all time is this really alarming enough to have someone resign a position the voters elected her to hold?
Let’s examine these incidents of financial instability to see their extent:
1. Foreclosure proceedings: In February, according to court documents, Bank of America began foreclosure proceedings on a townhouse in the Bowie area of Prince George's County that she bought in 2005. The original loan was for $424,800 but was modified in 2008 to increase the principal balance to $443,691, according to foreclosure documents filed in Prince George's County Circuit Court. She stopped making mortgage payments last October, the documents showed. (Info via the Baltimore Sun)
2. Bounced check: The bounced check, for $1,498.83, had been given to an Annapolis mechanic last year for the maintenance on her Range Rover. When she did not answer two letters asking for payment, the mechanic filed suit. Pierre ultimately paid the original bill plus penalties, totaling $2,523.83, according to court documents. The suit was dismissed in April. (Info via the Baltimore Sun)
3. State liens: She twice had lapses in her car insurance, on a 1995 Toyota and a 2003 Range Rover, according to Motor Vehicle Administration records in court filings. In 2007, the state attempted to garnishee her wages through her firm, but the state's inquiry was not answered and her company was threatened with contempt of court. In January 2008, she paid more than $3,500 in fines for the lapses. The state also placed two income tax liens against her - in 1990 for $257 and in 2004 for $653. (Info via the Baltimore Sun)
The majority of these alleged “problems” seem to have been taken care of by Ms. Pierre, therefore one must ask, was this the “real reason” she was asked to bow out of this contest? Now before some come back with the quote used by Annapolis Democratic Central Committee Chairman Nick Berry that "we in no way pressured her or gave her advice. We left it up to her," realize that NO independent non-establishment candidate such as Ms. Pierre who wins a historic election such as this, would ever resign such a prestigious position based on no pressure from an outside entity, unless possibly damaging themselves, family or intimate friends.
Therefore the question remains, in a town that is still known as the gateway of slavery, who has NEVER elected a black to the “top spot” with a Democratic machine essentially controlling every aspect of state politics, with a golden child favorite basically given the nod before the election ever happened, why have we not heard more from the black Democratic community on why? Can you evaluate this situation and honestly tell yourself that race did not play a factor in its outcome?
After initially announcing on Friday, of her decision to step aside as the Democratic nominee for Mayor in Annapolis, Zina Pierre seems to be set to continue her run for the seat into the General Election, announcing a Press Conference scheduled for Wednesday September 23 at 4:00PM.
For more info: On this article and more please email me at brothahassan@yahoo.com, view the Reporters' Roundtable, follow me on Twitter or Friend me on Facebook.
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