Hon. Bangalee Trawalley, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

For the first time in OLM history, a Mandingo has been elected on the board of directors of the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota. Bangalee Trawally's victory came as a big surprise to many including those who voted for him.  According to fresh reports, Mr. Trawally disillusioned his contenders with 446 votes.

Following Bangalee closely is Dr. Clarence Yaskey with 419 votes, Magret Toweh 394, Richard Parker 366, Henry Kessely 340, John Tarley 334, Kamaty Diahn 321, Richard Sondah 303, and Zubah Kpanaku 303 respectively.  The nine-member team is expected to spearhead activities of the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota.

When spoken prior to the election, Zubah Kpanaku stressed that his priority is to contribute meaningfully to the well being of Liberian kids throughout Minnesota and elsewhere.  As a professor and a member of OLM board, his quest is to strengthen Liberians kid academically.

Another prominent Liberian, Austin Fallah wants Liberians in the Diasporas learn from community elections and put into practice what they have learned. Consideration the status of the electoral process, Mr. Fallah said “it is going well so far.”

In OLM Election B.T. Thwarts Rivals

Minneapolis-Minnesota: Reports reaching FELMAUSA News Room indicate that Bangalee Trawalley, a one-time underdog within the political spectrum of the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota, OLM is gradually heading to victory.

Based on the 85% of vote count so far, Mr. Trawally leads 390 votes closely followed by Dr. Yaskey.   Bangalee’s lead may be a big surprise not only to his political contenders but his kinsmen as well.

So far there are reports that Bangalee Trawalley might have encouraged his kinsmen to vote for him only, instead of the nine expected board members. According to our source, an observer on the Election Commission had called her and broke the news to her.

Efforts to contact the OLM Election Commission Chairperson on this information did not materialize as he put it, “I don’t want to speak to the press, go and write what you want to write.”  Ideas of voting based on tribal affliliation were very common during the election.

As we visited the election site yesterday, I was given pieces of flyers with instructions telling me who to vote into office. A lady was yesterday denied her right to vote because her address did not appear on the back of an envelope which proves that she is a Minnesota residence but the content of the envelop contained her bills from Wells Fargo Bank with her name clearly printed on it.

Some bystanders attempted convincing the lady to return and vote, but she refused and said that ‘she would not go back to the beginning of the line.’  Another young lady was almost denied her right to vote because she had a student I.D. instead of her State I.D., but she managed to sway her challenger that she used the same I.D. card to vote for President Obama. Subsequent reports will follow soon