Members File Complaint Against Alleged Election Irregularities in NAACP President’s Race

Members of the Pasadena NAACP have filed a complaint with the national branch of the organization claiming multiple irregularities in last month’s election.

In that election, Brandon Lamar appeared to defeat Ron Matthews in the race for the NAACP presidency.

In total 111 people voted for Lamar and 76 people voted for his opponent Ron Matthews.

However, later last week 25 local members of the NAACP filed a signed complaint with the national branch alleging election irregularities according to multiple sources.

According to an article in Local News Pasadena, the complaint cites problems with Lamar’s campaign, including unauthorized public statements that depict the branch in a negative light, an unauthorized vote held by the supervising election committee without the full committee present, breaches of confidentiality and unallowable third-party or non-member involvement.

A representative with the national branch promised to pass on contact information from Pasadena Now to officials at the national level.

So far, the group has not responded to phone calls for comment on the matter.

Lamar discussed problems he had with the election process in articles appearing in the Los Angeles Sentinel and Pasadena Now.

When reached by Pasadena Now, Lamar, who previously sought the City Council seat in District 3, said he could not comment per NAACP bylaws.

According to several members, outgoing president Allen Edson could be asked to remain president until the matter is resolved or someone from the state or national branch could be sent to lead the office temporarily if the election is thrown out.

According to the group’s bylaws, if the national branch finds irregularities in the election, the election could be thrown out and held again, or candidates could be disqualified. Those involved in the irregularities could also be removed.

The national branch in 1987 ordered a new election be held after John Kennedy challenged the results of a December election that saw him lose to two-time incumbent Stephen Mack Jr. by just four points.

Kennedy pointed out that the polls closed two hours early and some votes were not counted.

The results of the election were thrown out and four months later in April, a new race was held.

Kennedy won that race 297-284.

The Pasadena NAACP was the 16th charter issued by the national office in 1919. The branch was started to address the needs of Black people in Pasadena.

In its more than 100-year history, the branch has taken up important causes, including police brutality, segregation of the municipal pool and the lack of African-Americans in top-level positions at City Hall.

“The irregularities that are coming out are very disturbing,” said one member who did not wish to be named. “I think the election should be thrown out and done over again. This group has been around for over 100 years. I joined because I believe in this Black organization bringing together the Black community. But with all the back-biting and division, right now, I am questioning if I even want to be a part of it.”