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VO 2020 ISSTIN UE G
Miami
IMPORTANT ELECTION DATES MAYOR OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CANDIDATES
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MAYOR OF MIAMI GARDENS CANDIDATES
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MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES
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MIAMI-DADE STATE ATTORNEY DISTRICT 11 CANDIDATES
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FLORIDA STATE SENATE DISTRICT 35 CANDIDATES
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EDITOR’S NOTE
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ON THE COVER South Florida Remembers Rep. John Lewis and His Message to Vote
IMPORTANT 2020 ELECTION DATES OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CANDIDATES 5 MAYOR OF MIAMI GARDENS 6 MAYOR CANDIDATES MIAMI-DADE COUNTY 7 COMMISSION DISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 3 CANDIDATES 8
BLACK WOMEN VOTERS MAY HOLD KEYS TO 2020 ELECTION 9
MIAMI-DADE STATE ATTORNEY CIRCUIT 11 CANDIDATES
MIAMI-DADE STATE ATTORNEY DISTRICT 11 CANDIDATES
FLORIDA STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 101 CANDIDATES
FLORIDA STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 108 CANDIDATES
DISTRICT FLORIDA STATE SENATE 10 35 CANDIDATES
As a child, I distinctly remember each time election season was upon us, particularly leading up to the U.S. presidential election. I’d be annoyed. For at least a week, as I recall, the Republican and Democratic conventions would dominate network TV, forcing my favorite primetime shows to be preempted. I’d ask myself, “What is all the fuss?” I’d wonder why we needed to watch speaker after speaker at the podium addressing thousands of cheering people in a packed arena as they stood around for hours next to tall signs representing their home state. How boring is that for an 8 year old who’d rather watch “Happy Days,” “Laverne and Shirley,” “Sanford and Son,” or “The Six Million Dollar Man” during primetime? Weeks later would be Election Day. That meant a trip to the polls with my parents where they’d briefly disappear behind a curtain and manually flip a few levers to cast
their vote. Some of you are old enough to remember when voters were only granted one single day to cast their ballot. When I grew up, there was no such thing as the Supervisor of Elections scheduling dates for early voting, something that’s now a welcomed, convenient privilege. In a general election, back then, if you failed to reach the polls between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of November, you’d be out of luck. When I turned 20, that would be my first opportunity to vote during a presidential election. Republican Vice President George H.W. Bush defeated Democratic Governor Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts. For me to finally participate in this democratic process, while matriculating the University of Miami, was a proud American moment for me. It was also the first time I fully understood the importance of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Fifty-five years ago this month, Congress passed legislation to ensure all Americans are able to equally participate in the democratic process. Legally, it removed barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote as guaranteed under the 15th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Today, unfortunately, voting rights advocates are busier than ever hoping to block what they consider to be modern-day forms of voter suppression. North Carolina, for example, has imposed strict photo ID requirements. Some states have eliminated
one week of early voting. While others have ended out-of-precinct voting. Meanwhile, President Trump has made it clear he wants to see an end to mail-in ballots. Organizations such as the NAACP, the National Urban League, and the Divine Nine Black Greek-lettered fraternities and sororities are taking action. For example, my beloved Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. just rolled out its national civil engagement program, which includes securing the right to vote for African American voters and other people of color. And through our “A Voteless People Is A Hopeless People” campaign, voter registration and voter education will be a Fraternity priority. More importantly, we should be advocating for the passage of House Resolution 4: The Voting Rights Advancement Act. This will fully restore enforcement of Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which essentially provides a formula for the federal government to use in identifying jurisdictions with problematic histories of racial discrimination. Protecting the right to vote is the foundation of democracy. It’s the least we can do to honor the legacy of the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis, and the countless other heroes, who put everything on the line for equality. Russell Motley Legacy Editor-in-Chief rm@miamediagrp.com n
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ON THE COVER
South Florida Remembers Rep. John Lewis and His Message to Vote
In April 2017, U.S. Rep. John Lewis captivated a small group of South Florida influencers at the Historic Hampton House in the Brownsville neighborhood. They had gathered there for an invitation-only opportunity to meet Lewis and have him sign his award-winning publication March, a comic-book style trilogy following his lifelong struggle for civil and human rights. This issue’s cover photo shows an audience fixated on Lewis as he shared stories of his extraordinary life—from an Alabama sharecropper’s son to a six-term United States Congressman. Legacy Miami reached out to four people in attendance that day who reflected on Lewis’ message and how he influenced them in their respective lives and careers.
Rodney Jacobs, assistant director of Miami’s Civilian Investigative Panel “John Lewis is one of those people who never need to say a word in order to feel their presence when they enter the room. The night when I met him was an electrifying experience for everyone at the event. He stayed late, signed books, and interacted with everyone at the function. His humble
nature made him relatable. The major take-away from meeting him is that we all have a role to play in social justice. Big or small, this kind of justice is our baby, so it’s up to us to nurture it, raise it, and believe in it. That night reaffirmed in me my unequivocal responsibility to social justice” William Hobbs IV, music producer (Tameka Hobbs’ son) “I really didn’t know his importance to be quite honest— fighting for civil rights and everything. Afterwards is when I started to really appreciate the fact that I met him and got a picture with him and he signed a book for my brother. I do remember when he was making his speech, he was explaining how when he was fighting for civil rights in Alabama and getting beaten by the police and how he was jailed 40-plus times and just the perseverance needed for making change in America. I thought that was so deep because nowadays many people don’t have that ambition. They quit when it gets tough. They wouldn’t go through what he went through at all because who would willingly get beat by the police? I don’t know too
many people who would do that. It’s a sacrifice and based on his actions we got progress for African Americans. For that, I will always be grateful for what he’s done.
Dr. Enid C. Pinkney, founding president and CEO of the Historic Hampton House Community Trust, Inc. “I had nothing but admiration for him. He was so unselfish. It was all about the cause and he wanted to bring young people and everybody along. It’s hard to just find somebody who isn’t just trying to promote themselves and can actually get things done. Even after the [segregation] laws changed, we were still being discriminated against. He had to go through all of that to get where he was. It was everything— voting, transportation, just about everything. Those people were trying to figure out ways to keep you in your place.” Dr. Tameka Hobbs, historian and associate provost at Florida Memorial University “In April 2017, I participated in the
program with Congressman John Lewis during the launch of his graphic novel March in Miami. I was there to share the story of FMU’s role in St. Augustine’s civil rights struggle, and I was very excited for the opportunity to occupy the stage with a civil rights warrior. An added bonus, however, was that my sons and I also had a chance to spend a few moments backstage with this American icon. Congressman Lewis was incredibly gracious as he signed our books, chatted, and posed for pictures with us. It wasn’t until Congressman Lewis’s death that I realized the impact of our meeting on my youngest son, Amiri. He watched the funeral services and grieved the Congressman’s death with a level of seriousness I wasn’t expecting from my fourteen-year-old. We talked about what he was feeling, and about the meaning of service, and the value of leaving a legacy. Without a doubt, John Lewis is a hero to us. Our lives would be vastly different without his sacrifice and leadership.” n
IMPORTANT 2020 ELECTION DATES MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PRIMARY ELECTION: AUG. 18 LAST DAY TO REGISTER: JULY 30 EARLY VOTING: AUG. 3-AUG. 16 GENERAL ELECTION: NOV. 3 LAST DAY TO REGISTER: OCT. 5 EARLY VOTING: TBA LAST DAY TO REQUEST VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT: AUG. 8 VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOTS MUST BE RECEIVED — NOT POSTMARKED — BY THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION’S OFFICE NO LATER THAN 7 P.M. ON ELECTION DAY. You can hand deliver Vote-by-Mail ballots to the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections office: 2822 NW 87th Ave. Doral, FL 33172 or STEPHEN P. CLARK CENTER 111 NW 1st Street, Miami, FL 33128
For more information: Iamelectionready.org
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MAYOR OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CANDIDATES Q: What primary issue affecting the Black community would you address as mayor?
ESTEBAN L. BOVO JR.
DANIELLE LEVINE CAVA
CARLOS DE ARMAS
As mayor, I’m committed to uniting MiamiDade as we move forward on solutions that uphold the dignity of black lives. I’ll create public/private partnerships to attract businesses to create good paying jobs, make housing affordable and increase entrepreneurship. I will continue the work I started as chairman to address gun violence with community partners, and strengthen organizations like the Circle of Brotherhood for them to successfully fulfill their mission.
As mayor, I will lead boldly to lift up opportunities in underserved and left behind communities throughout the county. I will lead with a community agenda to ensure that new reforms and initiatives give Black residents a real voice in the mayor’s office. By taking on true police accountability and systematic underinvestment in Black communities, I am confident we will address key issues from housing, wealth gap, gun violence to transit investments and small-business growth.
“Miami-Dade African-American median household income is $40,162, even lower than Florida’s ($43,268)”. An INEQUALITY issue that must be addressed IMMEDIATELY. For more than a year I’ve spoken with hundreds of African-Americans to nail down this main issue to these aspects: education, employment/entrepreneurship, housing, inclusion. Better quality education/support will qualify African-Americans to access better paying jobs and achieve entrepreneurship opportunities. Home ownership programs will give them a sense of safety. Inclusion campaigns/education builds social tissue.
ALEXANDER PENELAS
XAVIER L. SUAREZ We need jobs and affordable housing. Fully 62 percent of the households in Miami-Dade spend more than half of their disposable income on housing and transportation. I have proposed having all public transportation be free, as has been done by the mayor of Kansas City. I have also instituted a summer jobs program for youth that now employs 2,700 youngsters. Plus 4 apprenticeship centers.
When I previously served as county mayor, I spent eight years fighting for greater equality and representation of the Black community in Miami-Dade. If I am able to return to public service, I will address issues in the Black community that have since been neglected. This means delivering justice to the families of gun violence victims, protecting historically Black neighborhoods from gentrification, building affordable housing, and creating economic opportunity founded on the principle of equity.
WILLIAMS ALFRED ARMBRISTER SR.
DID NOT RESPOND BY PRESS TIME
MONIQUE NICOLE BARLEY
ROBERT INGRAM BURKE
LUDMILLA DOMOND
DID NOT RESPOND BY PRESS TIME
DID NOT RESPOND BY PRESS TIME
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MAYOR OF MIAMI GARDENS CANDIDATES Q: As mayor, how will you address the issue of public safety in your community?
LISA DAVIS
LAVERN DEER Public safety is an important concern. There are several areas that we will address. The hiring of more police officers will help our city stay safe. Resources to make sure officers have the equipment they need to successfully do their job: police cars, shotspotters, body cameras, diversity and mental health training. There should be citizen/officer relationships to have a level of trust in the community. Town Hall meetings to regain the trust of our citizens.
RODNEY HARRIS
Public safety depends on effective crimecontrol and well-communicated social programs to increase safety and civic pride. As mayor, I commit to optimizing resources to ensure safety in Miami Gardens. I plan to solidify a working relationship with our police chief and community and other leaders to review current policies, and quickly implement effective strategies. These include encouraging neighborhood watches, addressing environmental disasters and relief, improving emergency response, and increasing occupation opportunities, especially for youths.
SHARON PRITCHETT As mayor of Miami Gardens, I will continue to support the hiring of quality officers who understands our community. In addition, I will continue to support our Police Citizen’s Academy that allows residents to learn about the policies, procedures and challenges of local law enforcement. Lastly, business development and its sustainability in the city will continue to be essential. Jobs for our youth and young adults provide employability and career pathway to becoming productive.
DID NOT RESPOND BY PRESS TIME
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MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES Q: What key issues affecting the Black community would you address as county commissioner?
SYBRINA FULTON
Before my son Trayvon Martin was killed, I was a dedicated county professional for 24 years. What I learned during that time is that too many people in Miami-Dade County are struggling simply because they never had a fair shot. I look forward to bringing new ideas to the county commission aimed at improving work, wages, and wealth for everyone and addressing the root causes of generational poverty in Black and Brown communities.
OLIVER GILBERT III
Far too often, politicians want you to believe there’s one easy answer. Everything relates and connects to everything else. Economic development impacts jobs. Jobs impact housing affordability. Transportation impacts economic development. Public health impacts public safety. Public safety impacts development. Development impacts quality-of-life. We need an agenda for the community that’s holistic and recognizes that needs are not singular. As a community, we have the bandwidth to change our situation and I’ll lead the charge.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 3 CANDIDATES
Q: What key issues affecting the Black community would you address as county commissioner? BRIAN DENNIS
KEON HARDEMON
MONESTER D. LEE-KINSLER
One key issue affecting the Black community that I will address as county commissioner is poverty. I will address this issue by ensuring proper funding and accountability for community-based organizations. I will also forge equitable economic development strategies coupled with community-led benefits agreement, job creation, workforce training, homeownership, affordable housing and transit mobility options for all.
The Black community suffers most from Miami-Dade County’s dramatic income and wealth disparity. The county uses income to determine one’s economic status and encourage policy decisions. However, wealth variability is a better tool to measure the condition of Black communities because it considers assets that are owned by Blacks instead of simply the flow of money into their household. Using strategies like my Anti-Poverty Initiative, I would foster greater wealth generation for the Black community.
The Black community has an issue of homelessness; a place to “live” with no sense of home. The school system doesn’t teach our children about economic freedom, crippling them mentally in the future. There are thousands of people being displaced and are now physically homeless. Systematic oppression is emotionally keeping the people stagnant. I will change the mindset and instill programs to help the PEOPLE in the community, not just the city, move forward.
EDDIE LEWIS
TISA M. MCGHEE
GEPSIE MORISSET METELLUS
I played a pivotal role in this county that ensured we elected good responsible office holders that would focus on our community needs. I truly understand the role of being responsible, honest and having integrity. The citizens living in our community who are affected by the Miami Dade Board of Commissioner’s Office require quality service, and that is where I pledge my leadership of Eddie Lewis.
While COVID-19 significantly impacted our community and could be considered a key issue, I would argue that the social inequality it highlighted is a far more pressing issue. Data clearly exposed economic and health disparities, and when you add in education, transportation, and public safety, the Black community is at an overall disadvantage. As a commissioner, I will work to address social inequality, to make sure we have more access to needed resources and opportunities.
The issues that affect the Black community are intersectional and must be addressed through their unique intersectionality. Hence, I would prioritize restoring hope in the promise of a better future rooted in safe and secure neighborhoods through reforms in policing and corrections, while also working with community stakeholders to lift up strategies to expand economic opportunities that enable small business owners to prosper while also enabling hardworking households to thrive.
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BLACK WOMEN VOTERS MAY HOLD KEYS TO 2020 ELECTION BY MARCUS BRIGHT
African Americans are reminded every day about the importance of the upcoming 2020 elections as protests continue to erupt across the country demanding justice and a more equitable nation. One of the most pivotal and deciding voting blocs will undoubtedly be Black women. Their potential reach is also very potent as they are often not alone at the polls. “Black women also bring their families along when they are voting,” said Jasmen Rogers-Shaw, a political strategist and candidate for Florida State House District 95. “They are voting for the interests of hundreds of people.” Criminal justice and policing reform, affordable healthcare, racism, and equal rights — they’re all at the top of the list of issues facing AfricanAmerican women voters, according to the “Power of the Sister Vote” survey published by Essence magazine. Experts say this demographic could be a secret weapon at the polls. “One way to address current challenges is to vote,” said Dr. Valerie Patterson, a public administration professor at Florida International University. “You want to vote for the candidate, but you also want to send a message about the importance of inclusion and the importance of representation. I vote in the spirit of Fannie Lou Hamer and Shirley Chisholm.” The level at which Black women will turnout is still very much in question. Dr. Olivia Jackson, a political science professor at Florida Memorial University, points to the decline in the voter turnout among Black women between the 2012 and 2016 Presidential elections as a big game changer in those tight races. The turnout for Black women dropped from 70.7 percent in 2012 to 64.1 percent while the turnout for White women stayed about the same from 65.6 percent in 2012 to 66.8 percent in 2016.
Generations of Black women voters Generational differences are a factor in the motivation of why Black women will vote. Different generations have dealt with varying sets of challenges. Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security are more pressing for older voters. Meanwhile, younger generations are facing burdens that older generations didn’t face at nearly the same level. For example, student loan debt. Younger college-educated Black women are faced with an enormous amount of student
loan debt. They’re potentially faced with a lifelong financially-crippling economic albatross if student-loan debt cancellation is not voted a legislative reality. Unfortunately, this is one of the primary reasons why some highly-educated Black
women from younger generations are in a worse financial position than their grandmothers were under the oppressive Jim Crow laws. According to the 2017 study “Women, Race, and Wealth,” Black women show negative median wealth at different ages regardless of marital status. Single black women in their 20s without a degree have zero wealth. The study also showed that the typical single black women with a college degree is $11,000 in debt. Married, college-educated black women in their 30s are $20,000 in debt. Millennial Ann Marie Sorrell, president and CEO of the Mosaic Group, thinks there are not only generational differences, but differences based on people’s backgrounds and upbringings. “Some issues are going to speak to some of us more than other, she said. “For example, I am an immigrant that spent most of my life growing up in the small town of Pahokee, so I look at things through a different window than others.” Patterson, a member of the Baby Boomer generation, remembers learning freedom songs from the Civil Rights Movement as a student in a segregated school where voting was stressed. “The idea that we are shaped by the major historical events of our respective generations applies,” Patterson recalled. Florida State Rep. Anika Omphroy, D-Lauderdale Lakes, is a Xennial (born between 1977-1983). She believes the primary
concerns among three generations of Black women in her family are the same. “We work at it differently, but it motivates us the same to vote and be actively involved in our community,” Omphroy said. Anna Stewart, a senior at FIU, is a member of the Black Student Union on campus and has been encouraging her fellow students to vote in the upcoming election. She believes her generation prioritizes healthcare, among other issues. “I think Black women voters are looking to be seen entirely by our elected candidate,” Stewart said. “Not only as Black individuals. Not only as women. We are looking to be seen as Black women.” There are several different factors at play. One is whether presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden will choose a Black woman as his vice presidential running mate. Sorrell said that would be a game changer, especially with the current climate of Black Lives Matter at the forefront. “There are a lot of deeprooted issues in our communities like gaps in wealth, homeownership, education, and health that a strong Black woman vice-presidential candidate would be able to bring to the forefront,” Sorrell said.
Black woman as next U.S. vice president? Patterson suggests that a Black woman vice-presidential candidate would galvanize people similar to the excitement and enthusiasm around Barack Obama’s presidency. So would a significant number of Black women stay home if Biden decides to select someone other than who he promised? “Do Black women want to see a Black woman on the ticket? Yes, but will they stay home if it is not a Black woman? I don’t think so,” Jackson said. Still, there is no doubt that the selection of a Black woman as the vice presidential nominee would create an enormous momentum and galvanize a large portion of the Democratic party’s base. It is clear, however, that Black women want much more than just a Black female figure in high political office. They want more than symbolism. They want substantive policy advancements that will create a better
way of life. “We must stop looking at personalities and start looking at people’s policies,” Omphroy said. Sybrina Fulton, a candidate for MiamiDade County Commission District 1, suggests that policing and gun reform legislation are among the issues that will motivate Black women to participate in the electoral process. “Black women will influence this year’s election cycle, not only locally but nationally as well,” Fulton said. “With the current climate of the country, local level voting will be instrumental as it relates to police and gun reform legislation.”
Black and white women voters There is a clear delineation between the voting patterns of Black women and white women. Dr. Marcia Parker, a recent doctoral graduate from the College of Education at Loyola Marymount University, hypothesized that the economic factor was the main one that separated the perspective of Black women and many white women. Parker wrote: “Much of the differences in interpretations of the movement (feminist) were due to economic conditions facing Black families that were different from those facing white families.” Most of the racial wealth gaps that exist are a result of the lack of intergenerational wealth transfers available for Black families. That’s based on an array of reasons ranging from Federal Housing Administration policy, slavery, Jim Crow laws, employment discrimination, and denial of access to capital, to name a few. Ultimately, the priorities of Black women are the priorities of the nation. “There are so many things that are pressing down on Black people that should be in the top of everyone’s priority list,” Rogers-Shaw said. “Everyone should be centering Black women in their policy conversations. If we can address these concerns, we can drastically improve conditions for our country, state, and everyone.” With so much at stake, there is a level of intensity entering the 2020 election. People need a tangible change to their day to day life, not just flowery rhetoric. Voting is just the first step, but it is a very pivotal and essential step for substantial and sustained change to occur. “We have to have a multi-layered plan,” Sorrell said. “There is a place for everyone.” Marcus Bright, Ph.D., is a scholar and educational administrator. n
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MIAMI-DADE STATE ATTORNEY CIRCUIT 11 CANDIDATES Q: What key issues affecting the Black community would you address as county commissioner?
MARK COATS
JOHNNY G. FARIAS
MARLON A. HILL
I’m a homegrown boy with deep roots in our district. I know firsthand the social and economic issues that have been impacting our community for decades. I am aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has been intensifying and multiplying inequalities. As an experienced community leader/builder, I have what it takes to lift our community from economic depression, while creating/supporting the innovative educational and economic programs our community needs for our youths and families.
In my purview as a Miami-Dade commissioner, I will tackle racial disparities in jobs, housing, healthcare outcomes and policing. These disparities destroy the trust between friends, neighbors, families and government. I will move towards the end of residential segregation and invest in education outcomes in partnership with the Miami-Dade Public School System.
I firmly believe that one of the most critical issues and existential threats facing the Black community in South Miami-Dade County is the scourge of violence, especially between young Black males in their teens and twenties. This issue impacts communities across District 9 in disrupting quality of life of residents, threatening public safety, and impeding economic mobility in those neighborhoods. We must engage and confront this challenge without delay.
ELVIS MALDONADO
DID NOT RESPOND BY PRESS TIME
KIONNE MCGHEE
The key issue is the lack of affordability. Our community has struggled due to rising costs of housing and transportation. As we recover from this pandemic, we need to ensure our residents have affordable or workforce housing, reliable transportation options that include rail, and viable businesses that pay decent wages. District 9 will need an experienced public servant to address these issues. As your House Minority Leader, I am ready to lead on day one.
MIAMI-DADE STATE ATTORNEY DISTRICT 11 CANDIDATES Q: In this era of heightened racial issues, how do you see the state attorney position helping to address serious concerns that continue to plague the Black community?
KATHERINE RUNDLE (DEM) Incumbent As the State Attorney’s Office, we will continue our Smart justice initiatives of pre-and post-arrest diversions within the criminal justice system to our therapeutic and rehabilitative pathways. I support greater police accountability and urge that the county reinstate and fully fund a Citizen review panel. As a community leader, we will continue to look for reforms that will eliminate existing social injustices.
MELBA PEARSON (DEM) My platform prioritizes rehabilitative programs that would help reduce crime, reduce the number of people incarcerated, and reduce racial disparities in Miami-Dade. For 27 years, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle has refused to hold bad cops accountable while fueling mass incarceration with a 1990’s “tough on crime” mentality. It’s time for a state attorney who prioritizes the most serious offenses such as gun violence, and is committed to equal justice for all.
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FLORIDA STATE SENATE DISTRICT 35 CANDIDATES
DAPHNE CAMPBELL (DEM)
WILBUR HARBIN
(DEM)
ERHABOR IGODARO (DEM)
SHEVRIN JONES (DEM)
JOSUE LAROSE (REP)
FLORIDA STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 101 CANDIDATES
BRIAN C. JOHNSON (DEM)
ASHIRA MOHAMMED (DEM)
VINCENT PARLATORE (REP)
MARIE P. WOODSON (DEM)
FLORIDA STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 108 CANDIDATES
GEORGES BOSSOUS JR. (DEM)
ROY HARDEMON (DEM)
DOTIE JOSEPH (DEM) *Incumbent
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