This funky “maneuver” has placed the power of leadership on the Board of Elections non-diverse, meaning “all White” and, in no way, represents the population it serves.
In a stunning turn of events at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, what should have been a simple election of the very qualified Christopher Nash as its deputy director, ended with the two democrats splitting their vote and one siding with the Republican board members to vote down Nash in favor of Anthony Perlatti.
It would seem as though board member Sandy McNair, a White woman, reached across the Democratic Party choice, of which McNair is a democrat, to vote against Nash, an African American, in favor of the White candidate favored by the two Republican board members.
Incredibly, McNair second the nomination of Nash. At that point, it should have been voted in with Nash becoming the board’s deputy but was quashed when McNair, herself, proceeded to vote against the man that she had second its notification.
Yes, we are saying that McNair second Nash’s nomination and then voted against him!
With a state-wide election that had all the trappings of obstructing Black voters from casting ballots, it is particularly disappointing that such shenanigans would take place at the Board of Elections and with party members breaking ranks in something that would appear to be a racial dispensation.
The board’s director, Pat McDonald, is a White republican. With the board’s normal compliance toward diversity, Nash, a Black democrat, would seem to be a just and fair selection as deputy director. And just to be clear, Christopher Nash had previously served as the assistant Ohio Secretary of State, supported by Congresswoman Marcia Fudge and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.
This funky “maneuver” has placed the power of leadership on the Board of Elections non-diverse, meaning “all White” and, in no way, represents the population it serves.
Unfortunately we have returned to a time when shady dealings can prevail even in the light of day! This is unfortunate and we expect better than this from the Board of Elections and its members.
