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Election 08 Coverage

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ARIZONA INFORMANT NEWSPAPER ONLINE

Parker Selected Mayor Of Paradise Valley

By Danny L. White

Attorney Vernon B. Parker, has been selected mayor of the Town of Paradise Valley. Parker, a former special assistant to the president of the United States (1992-93) and the first assistant secretary for civil rights at the United States Department of Agriculture, is the first African American to serve on the town council and as mayor of Paradise Valley.

“Being elected mayor in a town with an African-American population of less than 1 percent says a lot about the town,” Parker stated in response to a series of questions posed by this writer.

When asked if the constituency of PV might have been influenced by the popularity of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, Parker responded: “I truly believe the citizens based their decision on my qualifications. I know there will be challenges, yet I am well equipped to take them on.”

Paradise Valley is one of the few cities that entrust the selection of its mayor, town manager, town attorney, municipal judges and members of the town’s various committees and boards to those elected to the Paradise Valley Town Council.

“The residents of Paradise Valley scrutinize those running for office. Check them from
head to toe, and trust those that are elected to the town council to select the most qualified to serve the town.

“One election and it is done,” shared a political pundit who studies city and state government.

Parker was elected to the town council on March 11, and on June 19, his peers selected him mayor and Ronald B. Clarke, vice mayor. Paradise Valley’s Town Council is composed of seven members, who serve four-year terms. Parker is president and CEO of the VBP Group, LLC, a consulting firm with a stated, “matchless network of talented professionals to serve clients with diverse needs.”

Parker earned his law degree at Georgetown University and his bachelors from Cal State Long Beach. On June 17, 1992,
Parker was appointed by George Bush, Sr., as special assistant to the President and associate director of presidential personnel, a position that charged him with boards and commissions. Previously Parker had served as general counsel of the Office of Personnel Management; counselor to the director of the OPM and as director of Policy OPM.

The 47-year-old Parker began his political career with the Fund for America’s Future and during the 1988 presidential primaries, chaired a key research team by serving as the GOP national director of Democrats for Bush-Quayle during the general election.

What is the biggest challenge facing Parker and the new town council?

Parker foresees the need to bring about institutional change as far as town policy is concerned, especially in the areas of budget and resort development.

“I am tremendously blessed to be able to take on the responsibility of serving as mayor of PV. I look forward to working with the other council members and the town manager to bring about changes to benefit our community and its residents,” Parker said.

 

Smiley Softens Position On Obama

NNPA

RICHMOND, VA. - Political commentator and national talk show host Tavis Smiley seemingly has softened his position on Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
In an exclusive interview with the Richmond Free Press, Smiley lauded the Illinois senator for his historic achievement in becoming the first African-American to run for president under a major party banner.
He also denied that his departure from the hugely popular Tom Joyner Morning Show was linked to his stance on Sen. Obama.
“I don’t allow people to run me away from anywhere,” he said in a phone interview from his Los Angeles home. “I start and leave on my terms.”
Smiley, who was set to speak in Richmond June 14, became the subject of much speculation in April when it was announced he would be quitting Joyner’s radio show after 12 years of offering twice weekly commentaries on politics and a range of other subjects.
It was rumored that he is leaving because of his tough posture on Sen. Obama, particularly among throngs of listeners who fervently supported the senator’s historic nomination quest.
Joyner said at the time that Smiley quit because he couldn’t handle the criticism from listeners upset because “he’s always busting Barack Obama’s chops.”
But, Smiley denies it.
In the past, the 43-year-old Smiley has criticized Obama for not attending the State of the Black Union for the past two years. Smiley has convened the event – a national conversation on issues pertinent to the Black community – for eight years. In February 2007, when the televised convocation drew 10,000 people to Hampton University, Obama was announcing his historic bid for president from the statehouse in Illinois that very weekend.
Smiley explained during the interview, as he has in a commentary, that his contract is up with Joyner’s show. He said he is fatigued with rising at 3 a.m. everyday to meet the show’s 6 a.m. start on the East Coast. He said there are other things he wants to do.
His last commentaries on the show will come at the end of June.
“You mentioned empowerment. Well, I want to move on and do other things,” he said.
While Smiley said that Obama – and all elected officials – must be held accountable to the people who put them in office, he noted that Sen. Obama’s history-making nomination “releases progressive possibilities and portends for us – people of color and for women – the opportunity to do things that we heretofore have not had a chance to do.”
But, he cautioned, the general election campaign against Republican John McCain will be a bruiser.
“We have to brace ourselves for the ugliest, nastiest racist, most expensive campaign ever in this country,” he said. “I don’t think people have really grasped yet how ugly, nasty, racist and divisive this race is going to become.”
Smiley called on people to prepare to defend Sen. Obama “against any and all White supremacist attacks” that are certain to be launched.
“We have to stay informed. We have to stay awake. We have to stay alert. We have to stay aware,” Smiley said. “And we have the obvious call to be involved – in controlling our destiny in every step that we can. So we have to get involved. Whether people support Obama or McCain, you have to be involved in the process.”
 

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