The Ranger (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 60, No. 23, Ed. 1 Friday, April 18, 1986 Page: 8 of 16
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ELECTION '86
April 18, 1986/IkE Ranger/8
Candidate charges board with election conspiracy
Smith said the delay will help his
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Eric Williams
Bruce McDougall
Incumbent Trustee Joshua Smith
“I was able to receive the support of City Coun-
to a nursery school where they distribute my cam-
I
good.”
Warrick’s campaign manager, Don
opponents for a City Council seat, alerted Smith
to the board’s interest in him.
“This invitation gave me an emotional lift.
Cynthia Warrick, dressed in a white jacket,
greets customers who enter her East Side
pharmacy.
She calls them by name as she fills their
prescriptions.
This candidate in the runoff election for Place 6
on the district board of trustees grew up on the
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Warrick also protested Smith’s
presence on the board. He had serv-
last May, but when he ran for a dif-
ferent seat and Lee Trevino won elec-
tion to Place 2, the board re-
appointed Smith to Place 6 so he
could continue serving.
“I just don’t feel he as a candidate
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By delaying a
runoff election
until Aug. 9, the
district board of
trustees is delib-
erately attemp-
ting to keep her
off the board, a
candidate charg-
ed Wednesday.
Cynthia Scott Warrick made the
allegation during a press conference,
while her opponent, incumbent
Trustee Dr. Joshua Smith, said in a
press conference later Wednesday
the delay should help his chances
for election.
The board delayed the runoff for
Place 6 between Smith and Warrick
from April 26 to Aug. 9 at Tuesday’s
special meeting.
At a press conference at her East
Side pharmacy Wednesday morning,
Warrick said, “The board of trustees
last night deliberately broke the law,
trying to keep me off the board.
“The board has wasted taxpayers’
money by canceling it the night
before the election.”
Absentee voting for the runoff was
to have begun Wednesday.
By Jerry Gemander
Editor
Incumbent Smith
feels rejection
from community
By Jerry Gemander
Editor
Warrick’s father, East Side political
figure Joe Scott, will use a “proxy
vote” if Warrick is elected.
"The board of trus tees deliberate-
ly broke the law, trying to keep me
off the board... Citizens can see
that this board is up to no good.”
Cynthia Scott Warrick
Ji
Personal community ties help
Warrick gain campaign support
By Cathy Leigh
Staff Writer
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Cynthia Scott Warrick at the East Side pharmacy she owns
Second, he said, he would “make a first-hand in- <
a
Joshua Smith, that her father, Joe Scott, will be the
eighth trustee on the board.
“A lot of people have criticized me by saying that
my father will be the eighth member of the board.
I just get advice from him.
“He is just like any other father; he is going to
do all he can to help me. Just like any child, I want
to make my parents proud. But he is not running
my life,” Warrick said.
vxxuxxx^x xzvzxxxvx wx xxvx«x^« x„„ »x wxx xxx^ Warrick has drawn endorsements from com-
EastSid'e whereThe has owned her pharmacy?or Jeaders such as Mary Alice Cisneros^wife
two years.
Many of her customers have known her family
for more than two generations.
ing point in the election race for Place 6 between
Smith and two other black candidates, Warrick
and the Rev. L.A. Walker.
“I think it’s still an issue,” Smith said. “I don’t j
think they’ll ever forget I voted to abstain. I have J
said under the same circumstances, with the same
background, in the same time and in the same I
place, I would vote to abstain. 1
“I was not a politician at that point. I saw it in 1
terms of fairness and equity. I voted as a moralist. I
To say no would have been the ordinary thing to I
do. I did the extraordinary thing.”
But when pressed to name the issues for the
— ———— — — — vx w xxxrxx, xxx* xxxx*xx VXXXXXIX XXXXX x* V/llVlX L O I11 I I II >'
Joe Scott, a longtime political force on the East
Side.
“There is
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“We look at Joe Scott becoming
the eighth member of the board.
What’s happening with the War-
rick movement is ... politics first.”
Dr. Joshua Smith
the board of trustees.
“At Howard University, we had a student trustee, that could come out of the East Side, we listened first-hand look. I’ve done it in bits.
The entire student body would elect a student to
satisfy us.’ But the board said, ‘We don’t want your independent.
But Smith disagrees, asserting Scott will try to
’ ’ . x ” area.
“The central issue is one of trust, confidence and
were Smitn maintains the community leaders held integrity. I ask readers and listeners, who do you
transferable, I know a lot more students would go the- selection against Smith when he abstained trust—Joshua Smith or Joe Scott? I have a record
the past four years. Because of his job, he was
unable to become too involved in my campaign.
He did vote for me though,” she quipped.
Warrick said her children, a 5-year-old boy and
a 4-year-old girl, joined the campaign. The entire student body would elect a student to to noises and bellicose statements from a number “I would also intend to get closer to the actual
“They have both been out politicking. They go be on the board of trustees for one year. \ \ : 71 ‘ F
to a nursery school where they distribute my cam- “I don’t think the student should have voting totally neutralized my statement. It was a free-for- seem to know a little bit more than I know about
paign handcards. They tell all the kids to make privileges, but they should be able to work on com- all. the situation. I would like to get closer so I too can
sure and vote for their mom,” the amused mother mittees,” she said. “The other members of the board felt under have this type of familiarity.”
said. The concern for education cannot come through siege. When they had gotten through making their Smith also said he would like “to have an ad-
.1.1 1 . LCJxi --------• > 1 .1 . 1 . . 1 . .11.1 • - ’ ’ ’ * -
lege District for the campaign.” top and filter down; the board must be concern- what they were going to do anyway.”
She responded to a charge by her opponent, Dr. ed, Warrick said. • But it was Smith’s vote which became the stick-
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made of Texas limestone, she said.
“I was the general contractor for the renovation. ~
My husband did some of the hard labor on the the curriculum while helping students with their tify themselves in the way they felt about my selec- district, but named different priorities for himself
house. The rooms are so big, and there is so much schedules. x,_ i » •
space. I just fell in love with the house,” Warrick ‘ '
said. problems. I think there should be a standardiza-
She also talked about her family. tion of courses so that the courses are transferable
“Alan has been an environmental court judge for to all the four-year colleges in San Antonio,” she
the past four years. Because of his job, he was said.
Warrick also favors a student representative on polarized that night,” he said. “After I made my
should be on the board,” she said. “We (Smith and his supporters)
“When you run for any office, you look at Joe Scott becoming the eighth
can’t seek another political office. I member of the board,” Smith said,
don’t like the idea that six members “He will use a proxy vote through his
of the board are going to be doing daughter.”
Both Scott and Warrick have
denied Scott will influence his
daughter’s vote.
He continued, “These are political
vve had a opportunists—dealers. They will take
vacancy and would have had a six- this opportunity to extend their in-
member board at a very critical junc- fluence. People have come along say-
ture, because soon we will choose a ing, ‘We’re for education first,
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business without any opposition.”
Later that afternoon at Smith’s of-
fice, both Smith and board Chair-
man Sue Oppenheimer, who attend-
ed the press conference, disagreed.
“What happened was 1—1
member board at a very critical junc- fluence. People have come along say-
ture, because soon we will choose a ing, ‘We’re for education first,
chancellor,” Oppenheimer said. “We politics last.’
felt we needed a seven-member “What’s happening with the War-
board, so he became the incumbent, rick movement is the opposite. I
I think that’s perfectly normal.” think it’s politics first. This is not just
Smith said, “I do intend to abstain rhetoric. I think this is the prospect
(from voting) in anything coming we’re looking at.”
before the board that will affect my Smith also responded to criticism
being elected. voiced by representatives of Warrick
“I don’t think the board needs a after Tuesday’s board meeting that
gadfly. I don’t think the board needs signs left from the ticket Smith ran
somebody on the board to monitor with for the April 5 election when he
the board’s performance. I think the did not receive a majority vote have
board needs somebody who acts not been changed.
ed in Place 2 since being appointed reasonably.” “The people I ran with are
Smith stressed the issue in the members of my team,” Smith said,
campaign is one of “trust, con- “They will see me through to victory,
fidence and integrity,” explaining I was proud being listed with them
’ at that time. I’m glad they’re still
with me, and I hope those names
stay (on the signs).”®
He calls himself the outsider.
Despite being involved in community projects
and organizations for more than 20 years, and
although he is an incumbent trustee, Dr. Joshua
Smith still thinks he is an underdog and has not
been accepted by the East Side community where
he lives and works.
Smith, who faces Cynthia Scott Warrick in a
runoff election Aug. 9, was born in Trinidad, West
Indies, but became a naturalized American citizen
in 1959.
He explained, “In the black community, there is
a complex that makes natural-born San Antonians
look at people like me as outsiders. The question
is whether you can ever close that gap.
“I’ve poured time, means and service into this
community. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t count. I’m
still an outsider.”
Smith, a surgeon in private practice, has been in-
volved in the Economic Opportunities Develop-
ment Corp., the United Way, the Chamber of Com-
merce, the Good Government League and
numerous other organizations.
He is involved in the United Negro College Fund
and the United Nations Children’s Fund, is a
lifetime member of the local branch of National
Association for the Advancement of Colored Peo-
ple and is a Democratic precinct chairman.
But Smith says that involvement means nothing
to the leaders in his community. “A lot of what I
have done in this town has been in defense of this
community that says, ‘He doesn’t belong.’ ”
And he says his appointment to the board of
trustees last May to fill the vacancy created by runoff election, he mentions his opponent’s father,
Oliver Sutton Jr.’s departure came despite the com-
munity’s rejection of him.
“They held their own meetings to pick who they “There is one focal, primary issue in this
wanted to be named to that board seat. Nobody election—trust, confidence and integrity. The op-
ever mentioned to me that they were looking for ponent I have happens to be the daughter of Joe
someone on the board,” he said. Scott, who is an acclaimed political power broker.
But a call from former Trustee Delia Acosta, The other names I use are wheeler-dealer,
shortly after Smith had lost in a race against two opportunist.
“If Mrs. Scott Warrick gets to be a trustee, I
believe strongly her father, Joe Scott, will become
the eighth member of the board and will exercise
Somebody felt this guy had something to offer,” a proxy vote, which there is every reason to believe
he said. “In selecting me, the board passed over he will use. As far as I’m concerned, that will spell
several candidates sent to them by the East Side havoc and danger ahead.”
Scott said last week he will not influence his
“The group said, ‘Any of these candidates would daughter if she is elected, maintaining she is
selections; we want Dr. Smith.’ That didn’t help me F F " o , o
transferable to help students. (in relations with the community). I was looked at extend his political power to the college
“I am interested in the quality of education at with jaundiced eyes.” i"":: iz zf t“zt,
Smith maintains the community leaders held integrity. I ask readers and listeners, who do you
from voting in the controversial selection last Ju- of trust.
preservation grant that matched the money we put “Ever since I worked at HEB, I have always had ly of Dr. Stephen Mitchell to the presidency of St. “You’re looking at an effort to extend political
into the house,” Warrick said. students who worked around me. I would try to Philip’s College. Mitchell is the first Anglo presi- control of East Side black San Antonio. I hope the
The 101-year-old home is a Louisiana cottage promote education in an attempt to get many of dent of the college, and 300 people crowded the voters will look into this matter.”
them to try college. board headquarters in July to protest the selection. Smith said low enrollment, budget problems and
Warrick said she started seeing problems with 1 1 ” ’ 1 ' ’1 ’ ”
Warrick contended the 1965 Civil
Rights Act sets a time limit on runoff
elections, implying an August elec-
tion would break the law.
Warren Weir, the college district’s
attorney, said the runoff would have
to be held April 26 under the state
election code. However, he said the
1965 federal statute requires federal
approval for consolidating precincts,
which the district does not have.
In such a conflict between state
and federal law, he said, federal law
overrules state law.
Warrick said her attorney, Willie B.
Snell, would file an injunction to
hold the runoff election, but instead
the local branch of the National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People filed an injunction
Thursday.
A hearing will be held in the
magistrate’s court at 9:30 a.m. today
to consider holding the runoff elec-
tion April 26.
“What we want is for the election McClure, added, “Their dragging
to be held as scheduled,” she said, this election out is an effort to dilute
With the election delayed, Warrick Our political momentum.”
said, “It would slow the momentum Smith said the delay will help his
down because everybody’s excited I election hopes, however.
made it to the runoff. Citizens can “it gives me time to regroup and
see now that this board is up to no catch my breath,” he said. “We will
further fine-tune the type of network
we have been working on.”
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“The other members of the board felt under have this type of familiarity0
“They also learned to say Alamo Community Col- the students or teachers. It must come through the position, the board members were ready to do visory group ofcitizens that would help to broaden
_x r__ „ i r.i. , 1 i.i . . , my view to help me be a little more aware and be
a little more perceptive.”•
of the mayor, and City Councilman Joe Webb.
“The reason I have been able to do this is
because these community members know me per-
“I wanted to live on the East Side where I grew sonally. I received support from Mary Alice
up. After my husband and I finished college out Cisneros because I know her. I have worked on
of state, we decided to come and live in San An- Henry’s campaign since his first election.
tonio,” Warrick, a graduate of Sam Houston High ‘
School and Howard University in Washington, cilman Joe Webb because we worked at an H. E.
D.C., said. Butt Grocery store together. I have known most of group.
After moving back to her hometown, Warrick, 32, these people most of my life,” Warrick added,
and her husband, Alan, a municipal court judge, Warrick said one reason she wants to be a
found an old home in the neighborhood where she trustee is her interest in making more classes
was reared.
San Antonio Monthly recently featured the cou-
ple because of their renovation of the aging home. the schools. If more of the classes
“The house needed everything. It took us two 1
and a half years to finish. We got a historical to the district’s colleges,” she said.
“Ever since I worked at HEB, I have always had ly of Dr. Stephen Mitchell to the presidency of St. ‘
students who worked around me. I would try to Philip’s College. Mitchell is the first Anglo presi- control of East Side black San Antonio. I hope the
board headquarters in July to protest the selection. Smith said low enrollment, budget problems and
“The demagogues used it as a symbol to iden- declining morale are tangible, real issues in the
house. The rooms are so big, and there is so much schedules. tion,” Smith said, referring to the matter’s being if he is elected in August.
“I decided I wanted to do something about these made an issue during the campaign. “If I get elected, the first thing I would want to
“If I had voted no, I still would not have been do is heal some of the perceived damages that ex-
a hero because I’m an outsider.” ist with the East Side,” he said. “In order to
Smith recalled the event with bitterness. enhance my usefulness, I will attempt to mend
“I was totally disgusted. The situation was totally fences and establish some dialogue.”
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statement, which I felt summarized the feelings spection of the facilities of the district, and get
to noises and bellicose statements from a number ‘ “ ' : 2 „ o Z ________
of people—good people and rowdy people—which operations. There are certain board members that
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San Antonio College. The Ranger (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 60, No. 23, Ed. 1 Friday, April 18, 1986, newspaper, April 18, 1986; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1350536/m1/8/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting San Antonio College.