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1ST ARMORED DIVISION UNIT HELPS IRAQIS VOTE IN NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL CAUCUS

V Corps Release

Release Date: 12/30/2003

By Sgt. Christopher Stanis 1st Armored Division Public Affairs Office

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Residents of Baghdad's Ameria neighborhood lined the streets near the old Iraqi Airways Club to choose new neighborhood advisory council (NAC) members Dec. 16.

Votes were cast in this caucus-style "refreshing process" after residents determined that the current five council members - selected by the Coalition Provisional Authority in June - did not represent the neighborhood's diversity.

"They are all good people, but I hope (the new council members) provide better service for the (residents,)" said Ameria resident Mohannad Noufal.

The Fort Riley, Kansas-based 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment of 1st Armored Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team organized the event and the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps provided security for the voting location. For security reasons, the location of the event wasn't announced until 8 p.m. the day before voting, but with a turnout of approximately 1,100 voters, it went well, said Capt. Michael Coerper, battalion's civil-military affairs officer.

"The (process went) very smoothly. (Candidates) gave their speeches, the people came in, voted, and left," he said.

The caucus is believed to be the largest democratic convention in Baghdad since Coalition forces liberated Iraq in May.

"It's a good feeling," Noufal said. "I hope the (caucus) is a successful one."

In the selection process, 32 candidates convened and gave two-minute campaign speeches. Following the speeches, residents cast their ballots.

While the original NAC had only five members, the council has been restructured to cover the seven sections of the neighborhood. Candidates campaigned for seats designated for their part of the community and residents of that section voted for those representatives.

"I hope life will be more organized and (council members) will be able to solve problems in a scientific way," Noufal said.

Officials from the 2/70th conducted informal background and security checks on candidates before the election, and planned a more detailed screening after the votes were tallied. The screening process was to determine if candidates held high rank in Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath Party.

"Candidates can't be a level 1-4 Ba'athist -- one of the high-level guys," Coerper said. "They can be lower-level Ba'ath Party members, but they have to sign a form denouncing the Ba'ath Party."

This is the first NAC in Baghdad to completely refresh its membership. Third BCT officials expect to refresh up to one-third of the city's NACs in the coming months, and say the refreshing is another step in the citizens of Iraq determining their own future as they move toward self-governance.

"Council members are being chosen (by the people) rather than being selected (by an outside organization,)" Coerper said. "We are giving everybody the opportunity to express their freedom by electing their own representatives."