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Sunday, Nov. 08, 2009

"The Walker Effect": Support propels Chalk to runoff, but can it get him mayor's seat?

WARNER ROBINS — Chuck Chalk went from political unknown to serious contender for the city’s top job in less than two weeks time, and it seems he has an unlikely support group to thank.

Chalk, 43, came in second in the Nov. 3 election in a close race between three candidates to succeed current Mayor John Havrilla, who took over for Donald Walker in late September after Walker’s death. Pharmaceutical sales representative Chuck Shaheen, 49, led vote-getters with 2,269 votes. Chalk had 1,941 and Councilman Clifford Holmes Jr., 66, had 1,724.

Chalk and Shaheen now face a second run to the polls on Dec. 1 to determine an outright winner.

GAINED MOMENTUM

Call it “The Walker Effect.”

Chalk, a retired Air Force veteran who still works on base in a civilian capacity, announced his intention to run for mayor Aug. 9 in an e-mail to local news media. Two days later, he was peppered with questions about his experience in politics — and even where he came from — at his official coming-out party in front of City Hall.

When then-Mayor Walker committed suicide on Sept. 28, it meant the city would have a new leader for the first time since 1994. A week before Tuesday’s election, rumblings began that Walker’s widow, Patricia, had endorsed Chalk.

“Families often have animosities for competing candidates,” said Joe Uscinski, an assistant professor in the political science department at the University of Miami. “When (John F.) Kennedy died, his family didn’t have support for (Lyndon B.) Johnson. Robert Kennedy would have run against him, had Johnson sought re-election in 1968.”

The endorsement added momentum — in different ways — to Chalk’s campaign as the election approached.

At one point, a large sign hung on the side of Houston Auto Tech — across the street from Shaheen’s campaign headquarters on Watson Boulevard — displayed a clear message: “Why Change?” It prompted residents to vote for Walker.

The sign has changed. It now tells people to vote for Chalk. Other larger than lawn-size signs, which had been in parking lots at local businesses across the city and disappeared after Walker’s death, have resurfaced as Chalk signs. Walker’s signs, black with yellow borders and writing, can be seen behind some of them.

A digital billboard farther down Watson Boulevard with Chalk’s likeness also popped up. The bottom of the ad notes that it was “Paid for by Miss Patricia Walker.”

“Whenever someone says ‘I want to vote for you,’ I’m so humbled because someone feels I’m worthwhile to vote for,” Chalk said recently.

The vote of confidence by several Walker family members comes as a surprise, especially since Walker himself said before his death that he couldn’t fathom why a political unknown such as Chalk was wasting money to vie for the position.

“I don’t even know who he is, but if any of them feels they will run this city, they’ve got another thing coming,” Donald Walker said in his office on Sept. 21.

Now, his family and several close friends are saying — through donations and endorsements — that Chalk is the future of Warner Robins.

BURST OF CONTRIBUTIONS

According to campaign contribution disclosures, Chalk raked in more than two-thirds of his contributions — just over $12,000 — over a five day period from Oct. 24-28. The majority came from Walker family members or longtime supporters. It began with a $1,640 contribution from Warner Robins Wrecker & Towing, whose owners are longtime Walker family friends and supporters. Then there was $2,400 from Patricia Walker. Donald and Patricia’s daughter, Stephanie, kicked in another $2,400. One of Donald Walker’s brothers, Tommy, donated $1,000 on Oct. 28. Multiple efforts over the past week to reach Patricia, Stephanie and Tommy Walker were unsuccessful.

Also listed during those days are contributions of $1,175 from American Gallery, whose owners are Walker supporters, and $1,500 from Lisa Jaber, listed as a saleswoman with the company. Jaber confirmed the contribution, but subsequent calls about her reasons were not returned.

A $1,000 contribution also came from sitting Councilman Bob Wilbanks. Wilbanks, who said he met with Chalk several times over the last year, said he felt Chalk was best suited among the candidates to run the city.

“(Chalk is) a very smart guy,” Wilbanks said. “He’s very capable, and people are dismissing him because of limited political involvement. We’ve got a similar background there, and I think I function pretty well in the political realm. He’s got an opponent that really doesn’t have the answers.

“I like Chuck Shaheen, but he’s not the best candidate.”

The timing of the donation might infer Wilbanks was among the Walker supporters who took surprise interest in Chalk. Not so, he says.

“You always want to see your candidate win, and you can’t win without money. You’ve got to be able to get your message out,” Wilbanks said. “The mayor and I were not political allies. Most of the times, we were on the opposite ends of things. But we worked really well together. My support has nothing to do with the Walker endorsement ... but I’m glad they’re behind him.

“There’s more to Chuck Chalk than people realize.”

EFFECTIVE, BUT ...

Shaheen, Chalk’s rival in the Dec. 1 election, said he was surprised about the Patricia Walker endorsement. Especially considering he had been approached by several Walker supporters shortly after Donald Walker’s death. He said he didn’t feel the supporters, whom he wouldn’t name, were trying to help steer his political campaign, but questioned their sudden decision to back Chalk.

“I didn’t really feel that way ... until they got Chuck Chalk to agree (to let them back him),” Shaheen said. “They said they were going to support me and write me a check. Then I was told that I didn’t do what they wanted me to.”

Alan Abramowitz, the Alben W. Barkley Professor of Political Science at Emory University in Atlanta, said while the support from Walker’s allies likely pushed Chalk into the runoff, it may not be enough to vault him into the mayor’s office.

“Sounds like this endorsement was critical in getting this relative unknown enough votes to get into the runoff,” said Abramowitz, who authored the book “Voice of the People: Elections and Voting Behavior in the United States.” “It’s an emotional kind of situation. The only situation similar would be where a candidate drops out or finishes out of the top two and endorses another candidate ... and the evidence is pretty mixed on that.

“I’ve never heard of a situation like this.”

To contact writer Marlon A. Walker, call 256-9685.