'420' Challenger Says VP Made Battle Physical

By MEREDITH KOLODNER

District Council 37 Local 420 member Stanley Morgan, who is challenging President Carmen Charles in next month's election, has accused Second Vice President Togba Port of pushing and shoving him after a confrontation at Jacoby Hospital.

Mr. Port denies the claim.

A verbal altercation between the two men took place Dec. 3 in the basement of the hospital while Mr. Port was meeting with about 15 members. When Mr. Morgan accused Mr. Port and Ms. Charles, who was not present, of failing to properly represent members, an argument broke out. Mr. Morgan said that the vice president asked him to go to an adjacent lounge to talk and that's where the physical abuse began.

'He Roughed Me Up'

"He was irate, cursing and yelling," said Mr. Morgan. "Then he roughed me up. He was pushing me and shouting that I was an f---ing liar and I can't f----ing embarrass him."

Mr. Port acknowledged he visited the hospital that day on union business, but insisted the alleged incident in the lounge never occurred. "I was at Jacoby Hospital to deal with a situation with some of our members," he said. "There was no physical altercation. I am the second vice president of this union. I would never fight with another member."

Mr. Morgan said the vice president became angered when he told him that he had a friend who could cater the union's annual Christmas party for $10,000 and host separate celebrations at each facility. He accused Mr. Morgan and the local of wasting money by spending $15,000 on a planned Christmas party at one location.

Mr. Morgan said he informed Hospital Police of the incident and has filed a police report.