THURSDAY February 1, 2018
COVER STORY
PAGE 5
So Let’s See What We Can Predict Will Happen Next votes wins. That’s the democracy at its best. No harm, no foul. The problem I have, and it appears I’m not alone, is how she did it. It’s the secrecy, behind closed doors meetings, attempting to play both sides of the fence and worst of all teaming up with an individual known for manipulating Black folks. All this while smiling in folks faces as though nothings going on.
By Wane A. Hailes The Courier
Just as a recap, in our June 22, 2017 issue we published a cartoon that implied MCSD board member, Frank Myers was manipulating Kia Chambers. The caption that accompanied the cartoon speaks to that: “Kia You’re Doing Great! No Need To Worry About What They Say, You’re Part Of The Team Now! Keep Voting The Way I Tell You And Remember You’ll Be Chairman of The Board Come January. I Promise”.
Now I’m not saying I’m a soothsayer, but all I know is on January 16, 2018 Kia Chambers was elected Chairman of the Muscogee County School Board. Those voting in her favor were: Frank Myers, John Thomas, Vanessa Jackson, Mark Cantrell and of course Kia Chambers.
For the record my argument has never been whether Kia has the right to be the chairperson or should be the chairperson. She has every right. The chairman is elected by the members of the school board and like any other election the one who gets the most
As we all know, however, just like the saying goes “what you do in the dark will always come to light”. Here is an interesting tidbit we learned. The plan was for Kia to be Chairman and Mark Cantrell to be Vice Chair. On Monday January 15, 2018 school board member Mark Cantrell sent a text to Pat Hugley Green congratulating her stating it looks like you’ll be the chairman again. This implied that he and Kia didn’t have the necessary votes. Sometime late Monday evening Cantrell received a call from John Thomas allegedly saying, “It’s ok, Kia is on board now”. We have no idea what that meant but we do know how the vote went.
Here’s another interesting tidbit. Notice how Frank Myers kept his hands clean from all of this. Who nominated Kia? Frank, John, Mark? No he made sure someone Black did Vanessa Jackson. Who nominated Mark? another Black person, Kia. That’s what Frank does, he is good at getting Black people to do his dirty work so.
Bottom line-What’s done is done. Once Frank Myers and John Thomas are gone here’s what we think will happen.
Va n e s s a J a c k s o n : There is no way she will run for re-election. Without Frank around to guide her she won’t know what to do, what to say or how to vote.
Mark Cantrell: With their absence and the fear of Frank less threatening we anticipate Mark will grow some “cojones” and make his own decisions. Kia Chambers: Unless someone in this community steps up realizing that anyone who is this easy to be manipulated for personal gain is really not for the kids, and runs against her, she will
the seat.
probably run unopposed and win re-election. In any case I predict she will be a “one and done” chairman of the board. By next January I see Cathy Williams regaining
Again I’m not a soothsayer but my record to date has been pretty much spot on. Check with me next January.
“Sometime late Monday evening something changed. Cantrell received a call from John Thomas allegedly saying, “It’s ok, Kia is on board now”. We have no idea what went on behind closed doors but we do know how the vote went.”