To the editor:

I personally feel that the voters should give Mr. Clinton Jenkins the opportunity to serve as delegate for District 76 in the state of Virginia. Clinton became a community leader in the 1980s when he served as the president of the Lake Kennedy Civic League.

Mr. Clinton Jenkins has appeared before Suffolk City Council to speak on many issues that concerned the citizens of Suffolk. He has always been the voice of those citizens of Suffolk that could not or would not speak for themselves in reference to health, safety and welfare.

Mr. Jenkins has run in two citywide elections, and he came very close to being the clerk of Suffolk Circuit Court.

A rumor is being disseminated within the city that the mayor has directed city employees to remove Clinton Jenkins’ campaign signs from city property and to allow Chris Jones’ signs to remain on city property. I became very concerned about the matter and spoke with Mayor Linda Johnson on Oct. 17 about this removal of campaign signs, and the mayor assured me that no directive or order came from her office in reference to this matter. I am satisfied with the mayor’s response; however, I must explain my deep feelings about this issue. We black Americans suffered tremendously gaining our right to vote, and now when we run for public office, we can’t place a campaign sign on city property when someone white is permitted to do so. If that is the case, maybe we need a civil rights bill for that too, but I hope not.

As president of the East Suffolk Gardens Civic League with the general consent of the executive committee, I am endorsing Clinton Jenkins for delegate of the 76th District of Virginia. I sincerely believe he will do an outstanding job for us all.

William Goodman, president

East Suffolk Gardens Civic League