The race for the presidency of the Pasadena branch of the NAACP has become embroiled in controversy, with candidate Brandon Lamar alleging procedural irregularities and violations of election bylaws.
Lamar, a respected community advocate with a long history of service, has called for transparency and fairness in the electoral process. An October 3, 2024, article in the Los Angeles Sentinel by Dana Elaine Carroll profiled Lamar’s platform, which highlights his plans to engage younger members, advocate for housing protections, and reinvigorate the NAACP’s role in Pasadena.
Currently vice chair of Pasadena’s Rental Housing Board and a former chair of the Human Relations Commission, Lamar has been a vocal advocate for social justice and equity in his hometown.
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However, his campaign for NAACP president has been overshadowed by claims of improper election practices. Lamar has criticized the process for lacking fairness and transparency, urging stricter adherence to NAACP bylaws.
“I believe in democracy,” Lamar said. “But the process has to be fair for everyone. Anybody who wants to run and serve should have that right.”
At the heart of the controversy is Lamar’s concern over access to the membership list, a crucial tool for candidates to communicate with voters. He stated that repeated requests for the list have been delayed or ignored, while alleging that his opponent has already used the list to contact members directly.
“If my opponent has the list, but I don’t, that’s not a fair process,” Lamar said.
On Oct. 21, Lamar emailed the election committee, then chaired by Prentice Deadrick, to request the membership roster. He raised concerns that his opponent had allegedly contacted members and questioned how this was possible without equal access.
Lamar stated, “I asked, how many active members do we have? When will we see the membership list? And when can we send mailings to the members, so they know about the candidates?”
Lamar also accused Pasadena NAACP President Allen Edson of improperly interfering in the election process. According to Lamar, Edson directed the election committee to cancel a meeting with him to finalize campaign mailings, which Lamar described as a violation of election rules.
When contacted regarding these claims, Allen Edson declined to provide a statement.
“The president’s role is supposed to end after the nomination process,” Lamar said, citing the organization’s election manual. “Instead, he’s inserted himself into every step. He’s told the election committee that their job is done, even though we haven’t even had the election yet.”
Election committee chair Andrea McGraw supported some of Lamar’s claims, describing the process as chaotic and poorly managed.
McGraw said the resignation of the original election committee chair had left both candidates at a disadvantage, stating, “It left both candidates at a disadvantage of what do I do? How do I prepare myself for elections to get all my information out to voters?”
McGraw also confirmed Edson’s interference, saying, “The former president… decided that no longer was he going to allow Brandon to come in and get his labels.” She claimed Edson declared in an email that “the ship has sailed,” preventing Lamar from executing his campaign duties.
Lamar expressed frustration over communication delays. He stated that on November 7, he was invited to view the membership list on November 12, but the information only included names with no contact details.
“I was told I needed to bring my materials that day to mail out,” Lamar explained. “Everything was closed by then, and with a holiday weekend, I couldn’t get my materials ready in time.”
Lamar has called on the national NAACP to intervene, citing bylaws that permit national oversight in cases of election controversy. He said he has contacted the national office multiple times since October 21 but has not received a response.
“The manual clearly outlines that National can take over in cases of controversy,” Lamar said. “I’ve been reaching out to National since October 21 to take control of this election. They haven’t responded, and I just want them to come in and ensure this process is fair.”
While the controversy has cast a shadow over the election, Lamar remains focused on ensuring integrity in the process.
“This isn’t just about me,” Lamar stated. “This is about upholding the integrity of the NAACP and ensuring our members are heard. I’m committed to making sure we have a process that people can trust.”
