Pasadena NAACP Election Results Officially on Hold

Pending results of an investigation by the national branch, the results of last month’s NAACP Pasadena election have been held up according to a letter received by members on Wednesday.

The decision comes on the heels of a signed complaint by 25 members of the Pasadena NAACP filed with the national branch alleging election irregularities, according to multiple sources.

“Installation ceremonies should not take place until the branch is notified of the findings of the investigation,” the Dec. 10 letter reads.

The letter is signed by Ericka Cain, NAACP Vice President of governance, compliance and training.

In the November 21 election, Brandon Lamar ran against Vice President Ron Matthews for the presidency.

Lamar received 111 votes and Matthews 76 votes. In total the branch had 475 eligible voters in good standing.

According to an article in Local News Pasadena, the complaint cites alleged 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. The remaining Board positions only contained one candidate running for office.

The candidates will not be sworn into the new positions either, according to the letter.

“Pending resolution of the dispute, the officers whose terms were to have expired with the new election, will have to continue.”

The letter cites Article XI, Section 2 of the NAACP bylaws.

“In the event of an election controversy, all parties thereto shall submit any complaints to the national office through the President and CEO,” according to the letter. “Said complaints must be postmarked no later than five (5) calendar days following the date of the election in question. In branches with memberships up to 1000, such complaints must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) members of the branch in good standing. In branches with memberships exceeding 1000, such complaints must be signed by at least fifty (50) members in good standing.”

According to a published report, the complaint was sent via registered mail on Nov. 25, which indicates, if correct, the five day deadline was met.

The letter from the Baltimore branch is the first official confirmation of the complaint by the national NAACP.

Lamar did not comment on the matter when contacted by Pasadena Now soon after the complaint was filed.

Lamar cited the bylaws at that time.

If the national branch determines that the complaint is frivolous or completely devoid of merit or that the election results could not have been otherwise the national branch will dismiss the complaint as soon as possible.

If the branch determines the complaint has merit, then the matter will be referred to the Chairman of the Committee on Membership and Units of the Board of Directors which will designate a hearing panel.

If the complaint is sustained the election could be thrown out entirely and a new election could be held.

In a local election NAACP election 37 years ago, the late John J. Kennedy complained that polls closed two hours early after a first count revealed he had lost to Stephen Mack.

A new election was held four months later and Kennedy won the presidency.