By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A group of English Woods residents Tuesday called for the removal of Dorothy Terry, the newly elected president of the English Woods Civic Association, and a new election.

The residents contend that officials with the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority inappropriately interfered with the May 3 election of officers. Because of the alleged tampering, the residents said they want to postpone swearing in or installing of the new officers until Terry in ousted.

CMHA officials denied the allegations, saying they played no part in the nomination or certification of officers. Those responsibilities fell to a resident-appointed nominating committee. The housing authority's only obligations were to see that residents received adequate notice of the election and that the election process was handled appropriately and fairly, they said.

The dispute over the presidency comes at a time when residents of English Woods are fighting to stop CMHA's demolition of the 700-unit public complex in North Fairmount. The housing authority says significant structural and plumbing problems make the World War II-era, barracks-style housing complex obsolete and unsafe.

The president of the English Woods Civic Association acts as an advocate for residents' rights and concerns before Cincinnati City Council, the Cincinnati Resident Advisory Board and CMHA.

In a 35-page document issued Tuesday, residents of English Woods accused the housing authority of the following violations, among others:

• CMHA interfered with the election process by adding Terry's name to the ballot when she did not meet the federal regulations to become a legitimate candidate for office. (They contend that Terry did not express interest in running within the first 30-day window of accepting nominations)

• CMHA took the designated independent third party individual out of the election process and replaced him with Melvin Carr, a housing authority community relations employee.

Joan Rourke, CMHA's director of communications, said the residents have no substantiation for any of their allegations.

Terry, who has been president of the English Woods Civic Association for more than 20 years, said she believes the process was conducted fairly and that she has no intention of stepping down.

E-mail kaldridge@enquirer.com