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Coleman does not endorse Smith for Congress
Republican candidate Chuck Smith today released a list of 12 “Third District Churches Backing Chuck Smith”, a list which includes 7th District School Board representative Don Coleman and Bishop Darryl F. Husband of Mount Olivet Church. It turns out, though, that at least Coleman has not endorsed Smith and says that he is “offended” by the use of his name.
When asked about the inclusion of his name, Mr.Coleman said that “I met Chuck, he seems like a responsible person, but I’m not endorsing him”. He summed it all up by saying that “I got elected to be a good School Board member, not get mixed up in the politics.”
A representative at Mount Olivet Church was not able to say whether or not Bishop Husband has endorsed Smith. A phone call and email to the Smith campaign have not been returned.
From the email:
The following twelve spiritual leaders are leading the movement to endorse Chuck Smith, as their choice for the next Congressman from the 3rd District of Virginia:
Bishop Gerald O. Glenn (New Deliverance Evangelistic Church, New Deliverance Christian Academy)
Bishop Darryl F. Husband (Life More Abundant Ministries, Mount Olivet Church)
Bishop Leon Benjamin (New Life Harvest Church)
Pastor Joe Ellison (New Deliverance Evangelistic Church)
Pastor Dwayne Whitehead (World Overcomers Christian Ministries)
Pastor Shawn Nicholson (Beautiful Temple)
Pastor Benjamin Harris (St. Stephen’s Koinonia Church)
Pastor Don Coleman (Commonwealth Chapel)
Pastor Rudolph Jones, Sr. (Holy Ground Refuge Ministry)
Reverend Dean Nelson, Network of Politically Active Christians
Elder Wade Runge, New Deliverance Evangelistic Church
Elder Leroy Hardy, Nottoway Tribe of Virginia
I heard back from Bishop Husband at Mt.Olivet, and he strongly supports Smith. He cited Scott’s lack of support for faith-based initiatives, and a described feeling being taken for granted.
I don’t recognize any of the other names as local – am I missing anyone?
if it is richmond, gerald glenn might be local
Two names ring bells with me as being local to Richmond. Gerald Glenn is a Richmonder – I have some memory of seeing his name in the news at some point, painting himself as some sort of community head of something. I think he was, as some point, an appointee to a board for juvenile justice, too, and something tells me he was appointed as a Republican by a Republican governor but I don’t remember details, it was awhile ago. For some reason I think he’s headquartered somewhere south of the James, but I’m not sure why I think that.
Also, Joe Ellison’s name rings a local bell, maybe something to do with Essex Village, a housing area off of Laburnum Ave. that has had problems with violence.
Hmm, both Glenn and Ellison are listed with the same church.
“It turns out, though, that at least Coleman has not endorsed Smith and says that he is “offended” by the use of his name.”
Donald, you had some kind of conversation with Smith, which made him believe you were supporting him!!! I don’t believe he just pulled your name out of a hat! You should stand up for what you believe in.
#4, I’ve worked in enough campaigns to think that all it took was a meeting, no endorsement from Coleman, and someone just decided to announce the endorsement even though it didn’t happen. I’ve seen that in the past even WITHOUT a meeting.
Knowing Don, I would have to agree with #5, because he is man who does stand for what he believes in. He doesn’t put his responses out there lightly, so if he was “offended”, something happened without his consent. It could very well have been a miscommunication, but I trust Don’s response.
I’m with @crd and @PTG: I suspect there was a mis-communication or the Smith campaign letters are being sent by a fresh-from-college staffer, etc.
I trust that Don did not endorse him or lead him to believe he would.