WS Chronicle

In photo above: During the elections on May 26, state NAACP board members, who conducted the elections, only allowed members who were eligible to vote in the original elections inside the NAACP Enrichment Center, 4130 Oak Ridge Drive. (File photo)

By Tevin Stinson
The Chronicle

After months of waiting and uncertainty, on Tuesday, May 26, the Winston-Salem Chapter of the NAACP finally had its elections to choose new officials.

The local chapter has seen several months of uncertainty while trying to elect new officials. In November 2014, incumbent president S. Wayne Patterson called in the N.C. NAACP to oversee the election after candidates were submitted after the nomination process was closed.

Another election was held in January of this year but results were overturned, because ballots were not printed on paper and a number of other violations.

On May 7, Patterson, a local attorney, announced that he would be withdrawing his name from the ballot. In a phone interview this week, Patterson explained that, although he will no longer be running for president, he will continue to support the chapter.
“I have a lot going on right now,” Patterson said. “I am opening a new law firm in Georgia, but I will continue to support the Winston-Salem chapter in every way I can.”

During the elections on May 26, state board members, who conducted the elections, only allowed members who were eligible to vote in the original elections inside the NAACP Enrichment Center, 4130 Oak Ridge Drive.

Bernard Byrd, who is also a member of the Forsyth County Board of Elections, said during the first two elections he could see a number of violations, but was pleased with how smoothly these elections went.

“I am very pleased with how things were handled this time,” Byrd said. “I believe if Ike (Isaac Howard) wins, things will be headed in the right direction.”

Howard was elected president during the election held in January.

Other current members of the chapter are not looking at the past but more focused on the future. Tonya McDaniel said that the discrepancies from past elections will not hold the chapter back, and believes the future is bright.

“I am proud to be a member of the Winston-Salem Chapter,” McDaniel said. “I know that no matter who is elected, the future is bright.”

Members of the state NAACP board declined to comment on the election or past elections, but did say that winners would be notified in a matter of days. It is unclear when the public will know the results.

Patterson did not attend the elections on Tuesday, but did leave a few words of advice for whoever the new president will be.
“To whom much is given, much is required,” Patterson said. “Just because one person made this job look easy, it is not. This job takes a lot of hard work.”