Historic Victory for Pasquotank County NAACP

On Monday, August 5th, the Pasquotank County Board of Commissioners finally approved a plan to restructure the county's election districts to provide the opportunity for more black representation on the board of commission. The original restructuring plan, the 2-2-2-1plan, proposed by the County Governance Committee failed to pass on Monday night, with only Commissioner(s) Perry and Sterritt voting for it. "I could care less about my seat if its going to achieve fundamental fairness for the citizens of Pasquotank County" Commissioner Perry stated. However, after a very impassioned speech by Commissioner Sterritt and a room full of concerned black citizens demanding change and equity,  the 4-2-1 Plan devised by Mr. Keith Rivers, President of the Pasquotank County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), was passed. The 4-2-1 restructuring plan will preserve the four current commissioner districts on the Pasquotank Board of Commissioners while creating two “super-districts,” one roughly made up of Elizabeth City’s city limits and the other taking in the rest of the county. The seventh member of the board will continue to be elected at large.The 4-2-1 plan is part of an joint effort led by  Mr. Rivers, the NAACP and community activists to increase the number of black representation on the Pasquotank County Board of Commission. The crowd erupted with applause when the plan was passed. This is historic because, in the county's over 300 year history there has only been two blacks elected to the county board of commission. One being current member, Mr. Cecil Perry. The plan does not guarantee anything, however another black candidate will now have a much greater chance of winning a seat on the commission based on how the lines will be drawn. I applaud Mr. Rivers and Commisioner Perry for their tenacity and tireless efforts to bring much needed reform and fairness to the Pasquotank County Board of Commission. I also applaud every concerned citizen and communty activist in attendance Monday night. This is an historic victory in the midst of a coordinated effort on the part of NC republicans to suppress the vote of minority, elderly, and college students accross the state.

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