Allegations of political bias have been leveled at the organizers of the Seventh Avenue Heritage Festival.
The Rev. Kenneth McFarland sent a letter dated Oct. 25 to James Tsismanakis, director of the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau, accusing Seventh Avenue chairman and Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem of preventing Circuit Court Judge Place 3 candidate Nebra Porter from speaking at the festival while providing a forum for her opponent, Lee Coleman, to speak.
McFarland ran unsuccessfully against Karriem for city council last year.
“Mr. Coleman was given permission to participate in the Seventh Avenue Heritage Parade and invited to speak from the stage to lobby his District Judge Candidacy to the attendants of the festival. Ms. Nebra Porter another District Judge Candidate was denied permission to enter in the parade and was told that she would not speak to the same attendants on that same stage pay for (sic) with public funds,” reads McFarland”s complaint.
McFarland goes on to accuse Karriem and District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks of attempting to “manipulate the election process” by “instructing Ms. Porter”s husband (Bill) Porter to ask his wife to withdraw her name from the District Judgeship.”
Porter represented Karriem”s brother, Kamal Karriem, on embezzlement charges in 2004. Kamal Karriem accepted a plea agreement and received probation.
Because the Seventh Avenue Festival is funded by the CVB, which does not deal in political events, funding for next year”s festival could be at stake. Tsismanakis said Wednesday he had received the letter that day and sent it to the CVB”s insurance company to notify it of the letter, but had not spoken to his board regarding the allegations.
Karriem maintains the Seventh Avenue Festival has no political component other than allowing candidates to purchase sponsorship booths. He says public comments from candidates was not on the festival”s agenda.
“I don”t know if they were on stage or not, but if you were a sponsor you were recognized for being a sponsor,” said Karriem. “But to single Mrs. Porter out and say she didn”t have an opportunity speak on stage, I can”t answer that because nobody ever asked me could Mrs. Porter speak to the crowd.”
Porter says she was offered the opportunity to purchase a sponsorship booth for $250 but “didn”t feel it was the best use of limited resources.”
“I was not there when Coleman spoke. I didn”t know he had. Other people there told me later on. I assumed his speaking was connected to him having the booth,” she said.
Karriem admits he was “in and out” of the festival area all day attending to guests and artists and wasn”t sure if other organizers had given political candidates a chance to speak.
McFarland claims he was present when Coleman was given 10-15 minutes to speak on the main stage over the public address system to a “couple hundred” people.
Coleman could not be reached for comment.
Karriem and Brooks both admit to telling Bill Porter they would not support Nebra Porter”s candidacy for circuit judge.
“I told Bill Porter I was not supporting that candidate. I have never said to Bill Porter that his wife needs to drop out (of the race),” said Brooks.
“As far as me telling (Porter”s) husband or whomever to get out of the race, that”s not true,” said Karriem. “I never once said that. But I did say from personal experience the hardship that she has caused my family. I don”t think she”s a very good lawyer so I don”t think she”ll make a very good judge. That was the gist of the conversation. I told her husband that on two or three different occasions.”
Karriem and Brooks dismiss McFarland”s complaints as political maneuvering. Karriem defeated McFarland in the Ward 5 race in 2009 and Brooks believes McFarland intends to challenge him for his District 5 supervisor seat.
“I consider Kenny McFarland nothing,” said Brooks. “Anything he says is all because he”s got a personal agenda. If he”s interested in running against me for public office he”ll have his chance next year. He”s sold out to the white establishment and he”s a disgrace to the community.”
Porter, who claimed no role in leveling the accusations at Karriem and Brooks, attempted to distance herself from the situation.
“Whatever this mess is, I don”t want it to overshadow my candidacy. I”m qualified for this and I”m running because I want to make a difference in our community,” she said. “I can”t control what other people do. But I want people to understand that”s not me that”s (making accusations).”
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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