Ladies behind the throne:

Women play a big role in David Scott’s congressional campaign

Written by Tomi Morris Johnson. Photos by Kurk Johnson

February 25, 2002, Fairburn, GA… Three very powerful women asked Evander Holyfield for a favor: to host a political main event at his palatial, 55,000 square foot bachelor pad for Congressional Candidate David Scott. These women were none other than Billye Aaron, wife of Hank Aaron; Carolyn Young, wife of Andy Young; and Alfredia Scott, wife of David Scott. Together, they hosted a huge fundraiser on newly named Evander Holyfield Highway. They were accompanied by several other fine females and their guests. The price for admission: a whopping $500. Sponsorships went for $2,000 each.

Billye Aaron, wife of Hank Aaron, MPN’s Tomi Johnson with Carolyn Young, and Alfredia Scott, David Scott’s wife.

“You have a candidate that stands above all the others. Open up your pocketbooks, and roll up your sleeves,” said Billye Aaron.

“I am so glad to have so many of you here to support a winner,” said Carolyn Young.

“I will keep the hammer to David,” said Alfredia Scott who is also baseball’s “hammering” Hank Aaron’s sister. And you better believe these women will follow through.

“It’s important to know where you’ve come from,” said the retired boxing champion. “No one makes it by himself. When you don’t know, it’s important for you to go to someone who does know. I’m proud to support David Scott.”

Evander Holyfield hosted main event and is pictured with David Scott, Alfredia Scott and Ambassador Andy Young.

Scott is running a race against William Coit, Clay Cox, Greg Hecht, Donzella James and David Worley. Georgia’s 13^th Congressional District was recently created after the 2000 Census identified a growing population. The 2000 census found that Georgia has a population of 8,186,453 people, an increase of 26.4% from 1990. Georgia gains two Congressional Districts due to reapportionment.

The new district covers a wide area and includes parts of the following counties: Fulton, Fayette, Clayton, Henry, Spaulding, Butts, Rockdale, Newton, Walton, Gwinnett, and DeKalb. The area sweeps around Atlanta's suburbs, carving out Democratic strongholds. The primary will be held on August 20, 2002 with a potential runoff vote on September 10, 2002. The General election will be held on November 5, 2002.

Women voters are strong in Georgia’s 13^th District. (http://www.dogonvillage.com/GCBW/vote.htm)

After 28 years in politics, Scott has a strong chance of winning. He served eight years in the Georgia House of Representatives and was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He owns Dayn-Mark Advertising Company, a small minority business. He is the father of two daughters, Dayna and Marcye. He has charisma, charm, business sense, and practical understanding. He said behind good men are good women.

Despite all the high rollers at the event, Mrs. Scott said they are running a grassroots campaign. “We want everybody involved. Just because the district is predominately designed to elect a Democrat, David crosses all lines. If someone couldn’t pay for a ticket here tonight, we helped them so they could be involved in things like this.”

Mrs. Scott says David is running on his record and experience. “He gets down into the community to find out what the problems are. This is a very diverse community, reaching from Griffin up to the northern part of Georgia. Even though the district represents people with different thinking, David can bring those people together on one accord.”

When asked what her first duties would be as a Congressman’s wife, she remarked, “I’d like to form a more cohesive group of women to get involved. What I’ve seen over the past years as I’ve worked in campaigns, there’s not a good foundation where women can take their problems and get solutions. Usually there’s a man taking that particular problem to another man. When you can get women involved at the grassroots level, they can make their own solutions. That’s what I really want to be involved in – bringing women together.

Nicole Lessard and Christy Ogletree Ocie Swead, Peggy Ray, Merritt Graham, and Marian Moses

David Scott has his own ideas about the Georgia woman’s agenda and what needs to be done in general to help the state and the country.

Tomi Johnson: What is the number one issue facing Georgia women, and how will you respond to it when you go to Congress?

David Scott: There are many issues facing women. The most important is the fight of cancer, particularly breast and lung cancer. Lung cancer is causing 50% more deaths among women than breast cancer. In African American women, it is the number one cause of death. Health care is almost to a point where it’s unaffordable now. We’re going to have to very seriously take a strong look at how we can make health care insurance affordable for every single person in this country.

Sen. Max Clelland was also at the Main Event.

Johnson: What other issues do you think your voters want you to address?

Scott: We have to make sure that women who have significant surgery have their physicians determine how long they stay in the hospital after surgery and the level of medical treatment they receive rather than the insurance company.

Kurk Johnson posed with beauty from Nairobi, Kenya in Holyfield’s foyer.

MPN’s Thomas Brooks posed with wife Dominique at Main Event.

Johnson: I know you have already worked on that at the state level. But when you go to the federal government in DC, you are going to have roadblocks: getting education bills passed, etc. Right now America doesn’t have the tax base. How are you going to do all these things while we’re in a recession?

Scott: I think we’re going to have to have a good stimulus package for the economy. We’re going to have to make sure that there are some areas within the tax structure that we can cut. I strongly believe in keeping money in people’s pocketbooks. Spending is what stimulates the economy and creates jobs. We may have to increase spending in public works.

The way we have gotten out of recessions and the worst depression is learning from Franklin Delano Roosevelt - to increase public works spending. There’s a dire need for massive school construction. We need lower class/pupil ratio. We have a growing, youthful country, but there’s not enough room in our schools to house people. When you use tax dollars to stimulate the economy and spending in public works, transportation is another area...and medical and scientific research like the CDC…

Holyfield posed with Ruth Kimble, Larry Johnson and Johnson’s guest. Michele Jackson Bugg and Tomi Johnson.

Scott: I strongly believe and am an advocate of getting more money and making sure it’s appropriately spent…we need to be good stewards of tax dollars. Prudent tax cuts, targeted public works expenditures, stimulation of the economy, job creation. As a small businessman, we’ve got to concentrate on small business development because that is the future. Large companies are downsizing, and it is the small businessperson who is going to be the key to revitalizing and keeping our economy vital.

Holyfield discussed politics in his indoor bowling alley with DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones during the event.

Johnson: Why are you running for Congress, and why should citizens vote for you?

Scott: I’m running for Congress because I feel that this is my destiny. I have a personal ambition to run for Congress. I want to serve in Congress. I have been preparing myself for this role. People should vote for me because I’m well qualified. I’ve spent 28 years learning the craft, since I was 26 years old. I have the academic preparation, an MBA from the Wharton School of Finance. So, I’m well prepared, well qualified to move. This district is a very unique district and requires a very unique candidate. I believe that I’m that unique candidate.

Click on this link - MPN Metro Correspondent to e-mail Tomi Morris Johnson about this article, any suggestions, or other news stories of like relevance and interest to MPN viewers and subscribers.

A longtime female voter and David Scott supporter posed in front of the David Scott campaign sponsorship list at Main Event.

This information is the opinion of the author and, therefore, should not be construed as libelous.

X X X X