Opinion ID: 770321
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Black Candidates

Text: 71 Appellants have abandoned any claim for damages on behalf of Mary Holmes, see Brief for Appellants 4 n.6, so the finding adverse to her claim will be affirmed.
72 Loretta Page was a candidate for Alderman in the 1996 election. She came into the polling place several times, to assist two voters who had asked her help, and to check on the number of votes. Tr. 315-16, 202. Late in the afternoon, Dixie Carlson told her that she could not come into the polling place again. Tr. 316-17. There was evidence that a white candidate, J.B. Cole, had been in the polling place continuously on one occasion for 20 or 25 minutes without hindrance. Ms. Freeman and Ms. Carlson told Ms. Page that she could stick her head in to check the vote, but then had to leave, and had to remain more than 100 feet from the polling place. Tr. 169. There was evidence that Mr. Cole was passing out leaflets at the front door of the polling place, within the 100-foot zone, on at least one occasion. Tr. 248, 300. 73 Arkansas law prohibits electioneering within 100 feet of a polling place. Ms. Page was allowed to enter the polling place to help other voters who specifically requested her assistance, and also, from time to time, to check on the number of votes. Apparently Ms. Freeman and Ms. Carlson considered the mere presence of a candidate within the polling place, for no particular purpose, to be electioneering. We think this understanding, though arguably erroneous, was reasonable. Crawfordsville is a small town. Many voters would know Ms. Page, and might be intimidated or made to feel awkward by her presence in the polling place. The District Court's finding that no racial discrimination occurred with respect to Ms. Page is not clearly erroneous.
74 Bernice Bates was a candidate. Tr. 446. She had served as an Alderman from 1991 to 1995. She helped five or ten people to vote, at their request, Tr. 461. According to Ms. Bates's testimony, she came in to help a voter and was asked to leave by Ms. Carlson, who took the position that Ms. Bates's mere presence in the polling place was electioneering. Tr. 169. There is a conflict in the evidence about whether Ms. Carlson grabbed Ms. Bates's arm, or merely touched her, Tr. 169, 743. 75 This claim seems somewhat stronger to us than that of Loretta Page, which we have just discussed. Ms. Bates had a specific right to be in the polling place for the purpose of helping any voter who had requested her assistance by name. Ms. Carlson's understanding that Ms. Bates was electioneering was incorrect. On the other hand, Ms. Bates was allowed to assist five or ten other voters, and Ms. Carlson testified that she did not intend to intimidate or harass Ms. Bates. Tr. 743. According to Ms. James, Ms. Bates created a disturbance after this incident occurred, and the police were called. Tr. 205. Although we have some doubts about the matter, we are not firmly convinced that the finding of the District Court was erroneous, and its finding with respect to this claim will therefore be affirmed.
76 Alice Faye Calloway was a candidate for City Recorder. Ms. Calloway's case is somewhat similar to that of Bernice Bates. She periodically entered the polling place, asked for a count, and then left. Tr. 201. She entered the polling place at least four times during the day. On one of these occasions, she was attempting to help her mother, Annie Mae Nathan, to vote. Ms. Carlson approached her and told her that she could not be in the polling place. Tr. 247. Ms. Calloway informed Ms. Carlson that she was helping her mother to vote at her mother's specific request. According to Ms. Calloway, Ms. Carlson put out both of her hands to prevent Ms. Calloway from walking past her and stated, I told you not to come in here. Tr. 248. Ms. Calloway then left, and Ms. Nathan voted without her assistance. Tr. 735. Ms. Carlson denied pushing Ms. Calloway. Tr. 743. 77 Again, we consider this claim somewhat stronger than that of Loretta Page, and perhaps than that of Bernice Bates, since it was Ms. Calloway's own mother whom she was attempting to assist. There is no question that Ms. Nathan had the right to request assistance from her daughter. The fact that her daughter was a candidate, and had already been in the polling place several times, complicates the situation. On the whole, we do not have a definite and firm conviction that the District Court's finding was mistaken. Although this is a close case, we affirm with respect to Ms. Calloway's claim.