subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Sun, Nov 08 2009 

Published April 30, 2008 11:58 pm - ST. LOUIS — Wallace Wicks thought it was odd Wednesday when a volunteer asked him to sign his name on a petition — not once but three times. Wicks went ahead and did it, thinking the petition was part of an effort to limit the use of eminent domain in St. Louis.

Missouri: Group accused of deception in ballot drive



The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS — Wallace Wicks thought it was odd Wednesday when a volunteer asked him to sign his name on a petition — not once but three times. Wicks went ahead and did it, thinking the petition was part of an effort to limit the use of eminent domain in St. Louis.

In fact, Wicks put his third signature on a petition for a ballot measure to ban most affirmative action programs in Missouri. He said afterward that the volunteer never mentioned affirmative action when asking for his signature.

If he had, Wicks said he never would have signed.

“Why would I do that?” asked Wicks, who is black. “Affirmative action is for minorities to get a chance to get different jobs.”

Wicks’ experience, witnessed by The Associated Press, seemingly bolsters claims made by politicians and political activists in St. Louis and Kansas City. They say supporters of the measure to ban affirmative action have been canvassing black neighborhoods and using misleading practices to gather signatures.

“It’s been a pattern of deceptive practices to do anything to qualify this (initiative) for the ballot,” said Brandon Davis, a member of a group called the WE CAN Coalition that opposes the measure.

The initiative would ban programs that give hiring preference to people based on race, sex, or ethnicity. A group called the Missouri Civil Rights Initiative is trying to gather roughly 140,000 signatures to get the measure put on the statewide ballot in November.

Volunteers for the initiative are told never to deceive voters when gathering signatures, said Tim Asher, Missouri Civil Rights Initiative’s executive director.

“We tell them quite plainly that misrepresentation is illegal,” Asher said. He said he could not confirm Wednesday whether the man who collected Wicks’ signature worked for the campaign because the man refused to give his full name to the AP.

“If in fact this person does work for us, and this did occur, then we want to take action against these individuals,” Asher said.

Asher’s group doesn’t have direct control over everyone gathering signatures for the ballot initiative, Asher said, because it hired Georgia-based National Ballot Access to do much of the work.

National Ballot Access is simultaneously gathering signatures for Asher’s group and for a separate group seeking to limit the use of eminent domain, Asher said. National Ballot Access did not return a call seeking comment Wednesday.

Missouri is just one of five states where supporters of activist Ward Connerly have tried to pass ballot initiatives this year banning affirmative action. Efforts continue in Arizona, Colorado and Nebraska, but the signature gathering fell short in Oklahoma.

The man who collected Wicks’ signature would provide only his first name, which he gave as Joaquin. He was busy gathering signatures during the lunch hour Wednesday at a St. Louis strip mall where the clientele was largely black.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!



Featured Jobs

SERVICE COORDINATOR SUPERVISOR
SERVICE COORDINATOR SUPERVISOR full time, responsible for development and supervision of ongoing activities required to...>MORE

OPIES TRANSPORT
Now Hiring Over the Road Drivers with 2 years experience. 800-341-9963 www.opiestransport.com ...>MORE

TELLER
Local credit union has opening for part time teller 25-35 hours per week, experience preferred. Apply in person Joplin M...>MORE

JOPLIN PUBLIC LIBRARY
JOPLIN PUBLIC LIBRARY - Children’s Assistant. 20 hours per week. Must enjoy working with children, posses excellent cust...>MORE

TRUCK BROKERS
TRUCK BROKERS LANGE LOGISTICS, INC., a 3PL company seeks Account Managers in Joplin. Openings also in Dallas, Nashville ...>MORE

COMMUNITY SUPPORT WORKER
COMMUNITY SUPPORT WORKER, full time, providing support and case management for adults with chronic mental illness. BS/BA...>MORE

MEMBER SERVICES ASSOCIATES
The Freeman Southwest Family YMCA in Neosho, MO has two openings for
Member Services Associates.
These part-t
...>MORE

BUSY LAW OFFICE
Seeking experienced secretary. Good typing, computer and secretarial skills required. Position includes both secretarial...>MORE

HAIR STYLIST
for Carthage salon.
417-388-2074.
...>MORE

SERVICE COORDINATOR
SERVICE COORDINATOR, excellent career opportunity! Fulltime positions available providing case management services and a...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

1989 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD
Low miles, must sell. (417)396-3950....>MORE

1990 FREIGHLINER CAB OVER
set back axle, 400 Cummins, 9 speed over drive, flat top, big sleeper, 10 near new tires, new transmission, new brakes a...>MORE

2005 HONDA PILOT EXL-DVD
4 door, 4x4, red with tan leather, 8 passenger, 89,000 miles, new tires, $14,500. (918)961-8995....>MORE

1993 CHEVROLET SHORT CONVERSION
V6, loaded, cold air, good mpg, great shape, 115,000 miles, $1950. (417)385-7039...>MORE

1984 SUZUKI SAMURAI
4x4, 4 cylinder, 5 speed, 74,500 miles, 30+ mpg, $3000. (620)856-5807 or 620-762-2155....>MORE

2008 HONDA RUCKUS
black, low mileage, $1500. 918-961-8995....>MORE

TOYOTA, 2009 CAMRY LE,
excellent conditon, black/tan, 29,500 miles, bought from Fletcher, warranty, $18,900. 417-793-1613...>MORE

2001 FORD WINDSTAR
Super sharp, loaded, cold air front and rear, extra clean, $3200. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

2007 NISSAN MURANO
All wheel drive, 47,000 miles, leather, excellent condition, received a company car and do not need extra vehicle. $17,9...>MORE

1997 NISSAN MAXIMA
Loaded, 98,000 miles, excellent condition, must see, $4500. 417-438-1609....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

DEERFIELD ESTATES
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

1219 XENIA COURT
OPEN SUNDAY 2-4 P.M. 3 br, 2 ba, $84,000. 629-6135....>MORE

HISTORICAL ROCK FILLING STATION

on Route 66 with lots of updates This solid old building has 1200 sq. ft. on 100x100 lot, on Main Street of Carter
...>MORE

2 BR CENTRAL HEAT/AIR,
gar, $475/$300 appliances 4117 S Pennsylvania 417-389-6737...>MORE

FURNISHED 3 BR
2 ba, 1750 sq. ft. vaulted ceilings, located in S. Joplin, near Shoal Creek, $97,500. Usa Real Estate 417-781-1233....>MORE

3 BR, 2 BA, FIREPLACE
2 car attached, corner lot. Royal Heights area. $103,500. 417-434-0502 or 417-673-5584....>MORE

3 BR, 7 YEAR OLD
like new, all electric, 10 minutes to Neosho, 20 minutes to Joplin. No Smoking, No Pets, $700 Month, $350 Deposit. (417)...>MORE

BRIARBROOK
3 BR, 2.5 ba, 1 year lease $725/$700, no pets. 417-310-0056....>MORE

DOWNTOWN JOPLIN

Commercial buildings.
For sale or lease.
For details phone
Bill Martin,
Quality Real Estat
...>MORE

1617 JEFFERSON CIRCLE
3 BR, 2 ba, gar, fence, updated electric $63,000. 629-6135...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

CHEAP PUPPIES
Border Terriers, Dachshunds, Italian Greyhound, Lhasas, Morkies, Norwich Terriers, Shih-Tzus, Standard Poodles (chocolat...>MORE

TWO LIVING ESTATE SALES, ONE SITE

Saturday, November 7, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
28245 Fir Road, Carl Junction, MO.
Follow signs.
Downsizing
...>MORE

BOW FLEX EXTREME HOME GYM

(417)438-9041
...>MORE

14 WEEK-10 WEEK OLD MORKIE
males, $200. Papillion females, $200. 417-548-2433....>MORE

WANENMACHER’S WORLD’S LARGEST
GUN SHOW -November 14 and 15. Tulsa Fairgrounds, Saturday, 8-6 p.m., Sunday 8-4 p.m. www.tulsaarmsshow.com....>MORE

COUCH
full size, with pillows, light pastel colors, lavender and blue, no cats, no dogs, no kids, $150 or offer. 624-2197....>MORE

COFFEE, END AND ENTRY TABLE
coffee, end and entry tables, Nordic Track Walk Fit, sewing machine desk, (417)206-4958....>MORE

KENNELL REDUCTION
Chihuahua’s and French Bulldog’s, AKC, pups to young adults, very nice, Chihuahua’s $100/up, Frenchis, $900/up. (417)394...>MORE

CHIHUAHUAS
Chorkies, WaPoos, Shih-Tzus, just in time for Christmas. $85 to $250. Registered and shots 417-438-6057...>MORE

YORKIE, POMERANIAN AND SILKY PUPPIES
wanting forever homes. Well socialized. Prices $75-$300. Early Christmas presents (417)652-7510, leave message. ...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition