Glasper takes credit for calls

• By SARAH CHACKO
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: May 6, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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A former Metro Councilman said Monday he is responsible for recorded election-day telephone calls asking black people to stay home and not vote in the 6th District congressional election.

The state Democratic Party asked for a restraining order and is investigating the “robo-calls” that incorrectly left the impression that a former black candidate was behind the effort.

State Rep. Don Cazayoux of New Roads won the election for the seat vacated by Richard Baker, largely because of the overwhelming majorities of votes he won in predominantly black precincts, according to election returns.

Cazayoux, who is white, made it to the general election after defeating Baton Rouge state Rep. Michael Jackson, who is black, in an April Democratic Party runoff election.

Former Metro Councilman Darrell Glasper, who calls himself a community activist, said Monday he recorded the phone messages under the name “Friends of Michael Jackson.” Glasper said he felt the state party did not adequately support Jackson as a candidate in the runoff.

“They spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in Baton Rouge, all the nine parishes, to help a white Democrat get elected,” Glasper said. “They could not have done this without the help of the minority community.”

Glasper said he was trying to “stir debate” among black voters, who have long been loyal to the Democratic Party, as to what they are getting in return.

He said he sent the message to about 10,000 numbers before Jackson called and asked him to stop. He said he planned to reach 60,000.

Jackson said he had nothing to do with the message. Glasper said he didn’t need to ask or tell Jackson about the message.

“As a taxpayer and a community activist, I think that a person who cares about their community will do what’s best for the community,” Glasper said. “And I think it was best for the community to stir the debate.”

Democratic Party Chairman Chris Whittington said Glasper was not hurting the party.

“That is fraudulent voter participation suppression,” Whittington said. “So who is he hurting? He’s hurting the black community that’s fought so long for their right to vote.”

Whittington said the party did not support either candidate before Cazayoux won the runoff election.