Did Boykin overstep his authority in denying challenger information?

A judge will decide tomorrow if the Terrebonne NAACP branch president overstepped his authority in denying membership to supporters of his challenger and blocking access to the chapter’s membership list.

Houma-Terrebonne Housing Authority Manager Troy Johnson was granted an injunction against the branch and its president, Jerome Boykin, on Friday, which stopped Saturday’s scheduled elections for officers.

Johnson is challenging Boykin for president.

“I empathize that a lot of people were diligently ready to do their civic duty,” Johnson said. “I’m sorry the process had to be held up, but I hope they understand that I’m only asking for this process to be done with integrity and fairness.”

“It’s a disgrace for him to stoop so low and do what he did,” Boykin replied. “It doesn’t make sense.”

A hearing will be held in the courtroom of State District Court Judge Randy Bethancourt, Division E tomorrow at 9 a.m. to determine the merits of the case.

Johnson said at the Oct. 23 NAACP meeting where he was nominated, Boykin unjustly refused membership to 16 people who signed up and paid dues through Johnson supporter Richard Thompson.

That night, Boykin claimed he tried twice to verify that the checks were good and both times they were not. He passed around the meeting room Thompson’s check and a pair of letters signed by MidSouth Bank Regional President Troy Cloutier stating the check was not good.

“He took Richard Thompson’s private information – bank account number and funds in the bank – and paraded it around the room, which was just classless and tasteless,” Johnson said. “Those 16 members want to take part in the democratic process, and he knows those 16 members are supporters of mine.

“He doesn’t have the power to exclude any members. If he wants to say they’re not eligible to vote, he’s got to take it to a board of directors or an executive committee,” Johnson added.

He also stated the check was written to the NAACP, not to Boykin. Therefore, he should have deposited the check and let the bank and NAACP decide how to proceed.

“If somebody writes you a bad check and you verify the check is bad, you don’t have to run it through the bank,” Boykin countered.

“Mr. Boykin lied that night and said that letter was signed by the bank president,” Johnson said. “Mr. Cloutier is a branch manager at MidSouth Bank. Mr. Cloutier also signed a letter stating Mr. Boykin never ran the check through the bank.”

Johnson wants to get a copy of the branch’s 500-person membership list. He said he needs the list to effectively campaign for Boykin’s post and that NAACP bylaws allow him access to the list.

Boykin has contended that no office-seeking candidate, not even himself, can get a copy or view the membership list.

“Mrs. Sherry Ezell, who is the secretary, told me if I brought my mailouts to her, she would mail them out for me,” Johnson said. “I think that’s a disadvantage to me not to be able to see the list. There is nothing in the bylaws that says I can’t view the list. That’s what’s throwing me off. I don’t know where they are coming up with all this stuff from.”

“Troy doesn’t understand the bylaws of the NAACP because he’s been to two meetings, and he still won’t get a copy of the membership list,” Boykin said.

NAACP Louisiana Conference President Ernest Johnson will represent Boykin and the Terrebonne NAACP branch at tomorrow’s hearing.

Houma attorney Stanwood Duval of Duval, Funderburk, Sundbery, Lovell and Watkins is representing Johnson.

Both sides expect the hearing to last one day.

Boykin said the Terrebonne NAACP branch election would probably be held within 30 days of the ruling.