Memphis, TN: Wilbun (d) asks churches' help, cites GOP 'evil plan' (IT's RACISIM)

Wilbun asks churches' help, cites GOP 'evil plan' By Marc Perrusquia perrusquia@gomemphis.com July 10, 2002 Cloaking himself in racial imagery, Juvenile Court Clerk Shep Wilbun is launching an early-vote effort to counter what he calls an "evil" Republican plan to defeat him in the Aug. 1 election.

"I have been attacked . . . (in) an all-out effort to stop the first African-American Juvenile Court Clerk from continuing to be there for the people," Wilbun said in a letter his campaign circulated Tuesday.

The letter, dated July 1, asks ministers of predominantly black churches to transport voters en masse to polls for early voting that begins Friday. Wilbun in the letter said he met "some weeks ago" with Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association members seeking help in transporting voters to early voting sites.

The letter mentions a target of 30,000 voters - 100 churches with 300 members each - to "guarantee that your candidate will win."

The letter advises pastors to take care the effort "not be related to any political party of any specific candidate" and avoid having "any candidate's representatives or literature either at the pre-event or on the transportation." "However . . . I can see to it that your members are met at the site by the right people to ensure that who you want gets the votes."

Asked about the letter at a press conference Tuesday, Wilbun told reporters: "Whoever they want the right person to be we can ensure that they get voted for by just having them do their civic duty and early vote their own people . . . they have a right to do that."

Wilbun said black churches historically have played an important role in politics, before dismissing further questions.

State elections coordinator Brook Thompson said although the letter's precise meaning wasn't clear, the scenario it described wouldn't seem to violate election laws. Candidates can influence and advise people how to vote provided campaigning is done 100 feet or more from the polling place.

But Thompson said he believes the letter makes careful admonitions against distributing campaign literature on buses because of federal regulations prohibiting tax-exempt organizations such as churches from engaging in partisan politics. IRS regulations note that churches may jeopardize their tax-exempt status by "engaging in any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office."

Tax-exempt organizations are allowed to engage in voter education activities and get-out-the-vote drives provided they don't "evidence bias" favoring one candidate over another. Tuesday's press conference marked Wilbun's third meeting with reporters outside Juvenile Court since news last month that a federal grand jury is investigating his office's spending and personnel practices.

Last month, Wilbun contended the federal probe is focused on the activities of his predecessor, former clerk C. R. 'Bob' Martin.

As he has previously, Wilbun said Tuesday the true scandal involved Martin, who is managing the campaign of Wilbun opponent Steve Stamson.

Wilbun declined to take any questions in a June 21 press conference. Following a speech Tuesday in which he again blasted Martin for not trying hard enough to locate parents who are owed some $3 million in child support collections that accumulated over three decades, Wilbun told reporters he'd take three questions. He then brushed aside several when questioning turned to the grand jury probe.

"I'm not going to stand here and be interrogated," he said, with his wife, children and lawyer at his side.

Wilbun did acknowledge a primary concern of the probe involves Darrell Catron, whom he hired in December 2000 as his top aide. Wilbun said he fired Catron last fall following evidence of county credit card abuse by Catron.

Wilbun declined to answer when asked if he had approved cash payments Catron allegedly made to the family of a female employee who had complained of improper sexual advances. </>

wilburn like many minorities caught with their hand in the cookie jar has resorted to crying racisim. And blame the white guy who held the office before you. NOT one hint of wrong doing was ever lodge against Mr. Martin in all the years he has run this office.

You can only do so much in order to locate people.

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