Blacks back Oliphant, blame others for voting woes

The Miami Herald ^ | 09.28.02 | BRAD BENNETT

[~Vor~]

Broward's first black supervisor of elections is the victim of a racist plot to undermine her authority and dignity, according to several members of the black community who attended a community forum on Friday.

Over the past two weeks, critics have repeatedly lampooned and blasted Broward Supervisor of Elections Miriam Oliphant for mishaps in the Sept. 10 primary election. They cited shoddy poll worker training, no-show poll clerks and incorrect voter registration cards.

But those who attended Friday's forum, offered support for Oliphant and blamed other factors for the troubled election.

They cited county commissioners who would not purchase the proper voting machines, biased media accounts, and poll workers who willfully neglected their duties.

Faced with possible removal from office, Oliphant has relinquished most of the control over the Nov. 5 election to the county.

''It's a setup, and don't you believe anything else,'' said Yvonne Thomas-Tunnage, 62, of Lauderhill, one of more than 70 people at the meeting, adding that Oliphant started her job with two strikes against her.

''First, she's a woman,'' Thomas-Tunnage said. ``And second, she's a black woman. We're going to do what you do for any person who makes a mistake. We're going to support.''

Oliphant formed an advisory board to develop recommendations for a trouble-free Nov. 5 election. Friday's forum, at the Golden Heights Church of Christ in Lauderdale Lakes, was the fourth and final one organized by the advisory board.

Members of the board will take the recommendations back to Oliphant's office.

Black activists called on members of the community to rally around Oliphant at next Tuesday's County Commission meeting, and urged each other to roll up their sleeves and volunteer to help Oliphant's office get it right in the next election.

Many at Friday's forum expressed resentment over the treatment of Oliphant.

''The mission [of Oliphant's critics] has been accomplished. The mission was to get rid of Miriam,'' said Keith Clayborne, editor of the black-oriented Broward Times.

But Clayborne also chastised members of the black community for supporting Oliphant too late.

''We do not stand up at the right time,'' he said.

Broward isn't the only county suffering a hangover from this month's primary.

As many as 18 Miami-Dade elections trainers walked off the job Thursday night just as classes began for next week's two municipal elections.

Their abrupt departures forced Miami-Dade Elections Supervisor David Leahy and his deputy, Gisela Salas, to personally conduct training classes for the North Miami and Palmetto Bay elections.

Disgruntled trainers said they were not provided with any new ballot information or reprogrammed iVotronic touch-screen devices for Friday's training sessions.

Not for commercial use. For discussion and educational purposes only.

[~Vor~]

I apologize if this article was posted earlier. A search on the exact title name did not indicate that it had been.

[goldstategop]

Well I won't bet they'll find McBride's name in November. Be grateful the Democrats in Florida are too politically illiterate to cast their votes.

[blam]

Rampant incompetence.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

this woman was interviewed yesterday am on 1040 here in tampa bay my mark larson and he took her to town she complained she did not have any technical training in the machines. so larsen asked her why she went to one state meeting and sent her underlings to the rest of them she got so pissed of she hung up she is an incompetant boob who make 122,000 dollars a year

[NautiNurse]

That's an interview I hate to have missed. I would have been howling with laughter.

[NautiNurse]

Read the article twice, and still didn't find what Mim did with all the funding she received. At least the story didn't whine about the extra $4 million she wanted for the home stretch to November 5.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

''First, she's a woman,'' Thomas-Tunnage said. ``And second, she's a black woman. We're going to do what you we do for any person black woman who
makes a mistake has fouled something up beyond all recognition. We're going to support.''

[dennisw]

Just another case of the white power structure trying to destroy a proud, strong Black woman. (/sarcasm)

[goldstategop]

Yes... its Da Man's fault and yo we need'un reparashuns.

[Shooter 2.5]

They're complaining about white male racists from the democratic party?