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(Geraldine) Sam (Galveston) County's First (Republican) African-American Female Mayor
Galveston Daily News ^ | May 10, 2009 | Chris Paschenko

Posted on 05/09/2009 11:45:28 PM PDT by anymouse

Saturday, for the first time in the history of Galveston County, an African-American woman was elected mayor.

Geraldine Sam, 57, a lifelong resident of La Marque and an educator, edged two challengers to take her place in history by the narrowest of margins.

“I cannot even describe how I feel,” Sam said, while celebrating with family and friends at a restaurant. “I was trying to eat earlier, and I can’t even eat. It’s amazing. Just awesome.”

Sam received 355 votes, outlasting challengers James Osteen, 316 votes, and Bill Charbonneau, 289 votes, according to complete, unofficial results.

Sam, who will serve a three-year term, didn’t receive a majority of votes in the three-way race, but in La Marque there will be no run off. By the city’s charter, the candidate with the most votes is elected.

Osteen congratulated Sam on her historic victory.

“I appreciate the fact that everybody ran a clean race, not like some other cities,” Osteen said.

“I wish her the best. She cares about this city like the rest of us. I think she’ll do a good job.”

A message left for Charbonneau wasn’t returned.

Sam, who has taught school for 24 years and instructs first-grade students at Sims Elementary School, said she wouldn’t be retiring and has the blessing of school Superintendent Ecomet Burley.

“He congratulated me, and the school board congratulated me,” Sam said.

“I have the blessing of the superintendent that if there are any meetings, I’ll be able to attend. And then I’m off during summertime. That’s not going to be a problem at all.”

Beverly Mitchell, one of Sam’s campaign managers, spent Saturday evening savoring the moment.

“We had (President Barack) Obama, and now we have Sam,” Mitchell said. “Geraldine is a visionary. She has been a fighter for our community for many years.”

Sam said her first order of business would be seeking community input about crime reduction, affordable housing and economic development.

“First I’ll have to take a nap, then at Monday’s city council meeting, we’re going to start there, working with the citizens, listening to them more,” Sam said. “They know more what the city needs.”

Leon Evans Sr. became the county’s first African-American mayor in Hitchcock in the late 1990s.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: black; blackrepublicans; galveston; lamarque; mayor; republican
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Congratulations to Geraldine, one of our fellow Galveston County Republicans, on her victory.

(Geraldine is shown in red on the left.)

1 posted on 05/09/2009 11:45:29 PM PDT by anymouse
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To: BellStar; GulfBreeze

Galveston County Republican victory ping.


2 posted on 05/09/2009 11:46:22 PM PDT by anymouse (God didn't write this sitcom we call life, he's just the critic.)
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To: anymouse

> Beverly Mitchell, one of Sam’s campaign managers, spent Saturday evening savoring the moment.

“We had (President Barack) Obama, and now we have Sam,” Mitchell said.<

Well good for Mrs. Sam. Congrats. Now IMHO, no level-headed/sane Republican would use a Dem president as a yardstick for winning. Unless...


3 posted on 05/09/2009 11:58:06 PM PDT by max americana
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To: anymouse

For those of us outside Galveston County and outside this state, is she a Republican? Or another RINO?

Not meaning to be critical, but as we have seen, many claim to be Republican and are more liberal than anything else.

Regardless, congratulations on winning the election.


4 posted on 05/09/2009 11:58:14 PM PDT by DakotaRed (Don't you wish you had supported a conservative when you had the chance?)
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To: anymouse

The fact that she even use the phrase “affordable housing” is cause for concern.

If you want to see Professor Thomas Sowell spit nails, just use that phrase around him...


5 posted on 05/09/2009 11:58:32 PM PDT by sinanju
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To: anymouse

What’s her Reverends’ name?

Sorry, the word Republican just doesn’t finish the deal for me anymore.... I need much much more.

Powell is black, Powell claims to be a Republican.... about 4 years ago, Powell could have won in a Republican race.

After Obama, the test has become far more difficult for any black candidate.


6 posted on 05/10/2009 12:54:42 AM PDT by Gator113 (Weak-coward-racist-white hating-lying-traitor= Surrender Monkey in Chief-B. Hussein Obama...)
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To: anymouse

Good for her, it is however disconcerting that BHO’s name was invoked. Does it mean we must keep an eye upon her?
Methinks we should keep an eye on everybody.

Prediction: Rhino

Not based upon race or gender, but strictly upon her claim of “affordable housing”.

We’ll see.


7 posted on 05/10/2009 1:51:07 AM PDT by ChetNavVet (Build It, and they won't come!)
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To: ChetNavVet

She says she wants to hear from the “community” about it. What does that “community” tend to think? Do they want special low priced areas?


8 posted on 05/10/2009 2:01:17 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Beat a better path, and the world will build a mousetrap at your door.)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

As long as someone else is paying for it, they will go first class all the way.


9 posted on 05/10/2009 2:08:23 AM PDT by monocle
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To: Gator113
After Obama, the test has become far more difficult for any black candidate.

That was not part of the Change we were Hoping for...

10 posted on 05/10/2009 2:19:27 AM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
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To: HiTech RedNeck

La Marque was a little train stop that became a suburb of Galveston in the 50s. Nice homes, good local school.

And, no, “affordable housing” was why they didn’t want to live in Galveston.

Oh, well, time to move the suburbs out a bit further...


11 posted on 05/10/2009 3:14:45 AM PDT by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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To: D-fendr

I lived in LaMarque as a little girl in the 50s..my father was one of the few Rs around back then....very few...


12 posted on 05/10/2009 4:38:24 AM PDT by Molly Pitcher (We are Americans...the sons and daughters of liberty...*.from FReeper the Real fifi*))
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To: anymouse; GulfBreeze

I recall only meeting her one time, and that was a while back...I do not know that much about her...

GB, you’ve been awfully quiet...But I know why you are busy this morning...;-)


13 posted on 05/10/2009 4:45:45 AM PDT by stevie_d_64
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To: anymouse
Judging by what we have as our Prez, She is definitely qualified.
14 posted on 05/10/2009 6:00:58 AM PDT by seemoAR
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To: seemoAR
Hope she doesn't believe in bipartisanship.
15 posted on 05/10/2009 6:21:46 AM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: max americana

City elections in Texas are theoretically non-partisan. I’m sure Geraldine Sam recruited both Republican and Democrat campaign workers, especially given the demographics of La Marque being skewed towards lower income blacks, who usually vote Democrat. Not surprising that they identify with Obama.


16 posted on 05/10/2009 7:04:41 AM PDT by anymouse (God didn't write this sitcom we call life, he's just the critic.)
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To: DakotaRed

Not everyone lives in bright red Republican country. Considering the high percentage of Democrats in La Marque, Geraldine’s victory is a miracle*.

* Geraldine has been a long time Republican precinct chair, election judge covering at least 4 precincts, and a delegate to the county, Texas state and the national Republican conventions.

She has ensured the Galveston County Republican Party’a involvement in the local Junteenth celebrations for decades. This being significant, because it was in Galveston where word came to Texas slaves of their emancipation by President Lincoln, thus the reason for the Junteenth celebration.

She might not be Republican enough for some, but she has been the face of the Republican party in a very blue part of Texas for a long time. I cut her a lot of slack for towing every plank in the GOP platform, though she is very solid on the important ones.


17 posted on 05/10/2009 7:18:36 AM PDT by anymouse (God didn't write this sitcom we call life, he's just the critic.)
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To: max americana
"Now IMHO, no level-headed/sane Republican would use a Dem president as a yardstick for winning. Unless..."

Note carefully that you're quoting one of her campaign workers here, not Miz Sams herself.

Makes a big difference; a mayoral candidate can easily have Dimocrat friends, neighbors, and campaign workers without being a Dim herself.

18 posted on 05/10/2009 10:01:53 AM PDT by Redbob (W.W.J.B.D.: "What Would Jack Bauer Do?")
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To: anymouse

Gee — a new variant on “Name That Party.”

If it’s bad news you know it’s a Democrat when they leave the party name off.

If it’s good news you know it’s a Republican if they leave the party name off.


19 posted on 05/10/2009 1:29:36 PM PDT by No Truce With Kings (The opinions expressed are mine! Mine! MINE! All Mine!)
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To: anymouse

She is a conservative as far as I know, it’s because of her the affirmative action plank failed to make it into the Texas Republican party platform...although I don’t think she did that on purpose. Maybe shoulda learned Roberts Rules instead of clicking that mop back Ms. Sam.

GIVING HONOR TO CONDOLEEZMA RICE!!! ROFLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!


20 posted on 05/10/2009 10:35:48 PM PDT by Def Conservative (Obama is a joke.)
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