Tyrone N. Butts
APE Reporter
Racism Charge Spices Rowdy DOT Board Meeting
ATLANTA -- The state Department of Transportation board haschanged chairmen for the third time in 10 months after a rowdydebate that included accusations of racism.
DOT Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl called in Capitol police justin case anyone got out of hand Thursday during bickering overwhether the board could replace chairman Brad Hubbert, who isblack.
When the smoke cleared, there was
new, white chairman -- DavidDoss of Rome.
Hubbert, who is from Decatur, said he will would seek a rulingby the state's attorney
general on whether the board oversteppedits bounds.
Long known for good ol' boy politics, the board in recent yearshas[/col
or] new members interested in more aggressive leadership. Thetension has led to the leadership changes.
Hubbert took exception to the board's decision last month toelect officers in June instead of March, saying it was a maneuverto kick him out of office. On Thursday, he refused to hearnominations, saying the chair had the power to ignore the agendaitem.
Proponents of the change said they wanted new members who t
akeoffice in April to help choose the board's officers. Hubbert saidsome board members have disagreed with his push to hire moreminor
ity road contractors.
"This entire matter will remain on hold," Hubbert said beforequickly asking for a motion to adjourn.
The motion failed and confusion ensued. Board members arguedover whether they even had to vote to adjourn. They argued overwhethe
r Hubbert could be overruled. No one knew.
Board member Emory McClinton of Atlanta asked several times toadjourn but was called out of order by other members.
Some suggested a 30-minute recess to let the lawyers study theboard's bylaws. Board member Mike Evans of Cumming urged a vote:"Our bylaws are absolutely clear," he said, "we're
to have anelection today."
Hubbert supporter Joe Beasley, Southeast region director for theRainbow/PUSH Coalition, chimed
in from the audience. "It's a lynchmob mentality is what it is," he said.
Board members finally voted to call a recess. Linnenkohl calledin officers, who waited in a stairwell.
When the board returned, the lawyers told them they couldoverrule Hubbert by a majority vote. They did and elected Dosschairman. He was the only candidate nominated.
********************
One has to wonder if a
negro wrote this article.
T.N.B.
ATLANTA -- The state Department of Transportation board haschanged chairmen for the third time in 10 months after a rowdydebate that included accusations of racism.
DOT Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl called in Capitol police justin case anyone got out of hand Thursday during bickering overwhether the board could replace chairman Brad Hubbert, who isblack.
When the smoke cleared, there was
new, white chairman -- DavidDoss of Rome.
Hubbert, who is from Decatur, said he will would seek a rulingby the state's attorney
general on whether the board oversteppedits bounds.
Long known for good ol' boy politics, the board in recent yearshas[/col
or] new members interested in more aggressive leadership. Thetension has led to the leadership changes.
Hubbert took exception to the board's decision last month toelect officers in June instead of March, saying it was a maneuverto kick him out of office. On Thursday, he refused to hearnominations, saying the chair had the power to ignore the agendaitem.
Proponents of the change said they wanted new members who t
akeoffice in April to help choose the board's officers. Hubbert saidsome board members have disagreed with his push to hire moreminor
ity road contractors.
"This entire matter will remain on hold," Hubbert said beforequickly asking for a motion to adjourn.
The motion failed and confusion ensued. Board members arguedover whether they even had to vote to adjourn. They argued overwhethe
r Hubbert could be overruled. No one knew.
Board member Emory McClinton of Atlanta asked several times toadjourn but was called out of order by other members.
Some suggested a 30-minute recess to let the lawyers study theboard's bylaws. Board member Mike Evans of Cumming urged a vote:"Our bylaws are absolutely clear," he said, "we're
to have anelection today."
Hubbert supporter Joe Beasley, Southeast region director for theRainbow/PUSH Coalition, chimed
in from the audience. "It's a lynchmob mentality is what it is," he said.
Board members finally voted to call a recess. Linnenkohl calledin officers, who waited in a stairwell.
When the board returned, the lawyers told them they couldoverrule Hubbert by a majority vote. They did and elected Dosschairman. He was the only candidate nominated.
********************
One has to wonder if a
negro wrote this article.
T.N.B.