The Greenwood Voters League endorsed Democratic candidates down the line in most state and county elections Wednesday night, but the District 4 Leflore County supervisor race between Wayne Self and Sylvester Hoover wasn't among them.
The omission came because of the Voters League's reluctance to choose sides in a contest between two black candidates, state Sen. David Jordan said. He acknowledged the disappointment evident in the room, mainly from the appeals of Hoover's supporters.
"I know there are questions about the things we do, but we've always tried to discourage African Americans from running against each other in the final stretch," Jordan explained. "But that's their decision to make."
A puzzled Hoover questioned the decision not to endorse him as the Democratic candidate.
"But I'm a Democrat. My opponent is an independent," he interjected during the announcement.
Self could not be reached for comment by phone this morning.
Some of the audience echoed Hoover's displeasure, saying the black political organization has endorsed Democrats running in a similar situation before. Willie Williams, a Hoover supporter and longtime friend, said Hoover suspected that the league might not take sides over the issue.
"I was kind of looking for it because he told me earlier in the day that he didn't think the Voters League would make an endorsement," Williams said. "I think they should have" endorsed the Democratic candidate, he said.
Party labels, though, were not the issue, according to Jordan.
"The Voters League is not partisan anyway," he said. "I know we're all Democrats, but we don't represent one particular party."
Hoover said he thought the Voters League would support all Democrats. But as he prepared to drum up support door-to-door in Itta Bena today, he said his campaign will roll on regardless of Wednesday night's meeting.
"I don't think that will interfere with me at all," he said. "I think I'll win."
Only Democrats received Voters League endorsements.
The group passed on other races, including one for insurance commissioner between Democratic incumbent George Dale, Republican Aaron DuPuy III and independent Barbara Dale Washer and another for Senate District 14 between Republican incumbent Bunky Huggins and attorney Mark Burton of Kosciusko.
Burton, a Democrat, was not endorsed because he disregarded invitations to speak to the Voters League, Jordan said.
"We tried to get Mr. Burton here two weeks ago, but he didn't show up," he said.
In the governor's race, the Voters League picked incumbent Ronnie Musgrove, a Democrat. Jordan discouraged members from voting for Republican challenger Haley Barbour because of his support for voter identification, the reorganization of the Head Start program and the state flag.
Endorsements went out for Democratic candidates for most other races, including:
- For lieutenant governor, Barbara Blackmon.
- For secretary of state, Eric Clark.
- For attorney general, Jim Hood.
- For treasurer, Gary Anderson.
- For agriculture commissioner, Lester Spell.
- For public service commissioner, Bo Robinson.
- For highway commissioner, Bill Minor.
- For district attorney, Joyce Chiles.
- For state Senate District 30, Robert E. Huddleston.
- For tax assessor, Leroy Ware.
- For tax collector, Annie M. Conley.
- For circuit clerk, Elmus Stockstill.
- For Southern District Justice Court judge, Larry "Blue" Neal.
- For District 5 supervisor, Larry "Kite" Johnson.
Also making appearances in the meeting were Stockstill, Ware, Johnson, Conley and Jacquelyn Haley, an independent running against Neal for Justice Court judge.
