The candidacy of Arthur Watson and Georges Wou was on Sunday, August 22, declared winner of the highly contested presidential and vice presidential elections of the Union of Liberia Association in America, ULAA, in NJ, bringing an end to the long leadership crisis that has plagued that organization for the past two years.

Supporters lifted Watson shoulder-high, dancing and embracing each other after he won 110 votes out of the 174-votes cast by Liberian delegates from the various States. His opponent, Morris Koffa, got 64 votes.

Mr. Watson will take over from Roberta Davis Rashid, who has been President of ULAA since the untimely resignation of Sam Mohammed Kromah, who accepted a position in the interim government of Liberia.

Though defeated in the votes count, Morris Koffa gained the respect and admiration of the delegates, when he accepted his defeat courageously without any contest. In a very emotional moment with his wife, who was in tears, Koffa accepted his defeat saying, "Today the battle is won and those who win today will be our leaders we must respect." He assured the newly elected leaders that, "he has no bitterness at heart," and he was willing to work for the betterment of ULAA. Despite his defeat, Koffa is the man most people agreed is the true leader of the people. "This is one of the best election Liberians have ever had, no contest, no complaint, no argument," said one member of the election commission who want to remain anonymous.
It can be recalled that a Liberian community election in Trenton, NJ, last year ended up in court, with the judge serving as monitor, but that wasn't the case this time.

Elected President Watson promised to take ULAA to a new level by making his administration inclusive of all sectors of the Liberian communities in the US. He also assured Liberians that the impact of ULAA will be felt in the life of every Liberian. "We will not forsake you and will not default on our promises," he said."

Other elected officers were Delores Adighibe as National Treasurer over Bernice Momo with 90 to 75 votes; Wilmot Kunney won the General Secretary Position carrying 97 votes over Cleophus Pearson with 66 votes. James Hunter was unopposed as regional vice president in the southern region. Martha Sino was elected Regional vice president for the Northern region. She carried 38 votes over Jusu Hena with 13 votes. And Isaac Zawolo became vice president for the Eastern region with 67 votes over Adolphus Jacobs who had 57 votes.

Benoni Tarr Grimes, chairman of the election commission praised the delegates for respectfully doing their mandates. "You have made the differences and I advice everybody to accept the result with kindness though it has been a very difficult task," he said.