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AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO THE MIAMI HERALD
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020
POLITICAL CANDIDATES FACE CHALLENGES CAMPAIGNING IN COVID-19 ERA
County Commission District 1 Candidates Gilbert and Fulton Take to the Internet BY JOSIE GULLIKSEN
Miami-Dade County Commission District I candidates Oliver Gilbert and Sybrina Fulton are facing one major hurdle: How to effectively campaign during the Coronavirus pandemic at a time when shaking hands, visiting residents door-to-door, and hosting large rallies are out of the question due to social distancing. “I have gone mainly digital via social media,” said Gilbert, in a phone interview with Legacy. “[I’ve] placed lawn signs and distributed door hangers and done many radio interviews because we have to get our message out to voters.” In his second and final term as mayor of Miami Gardens, Gilbert said his primary obligation right now is reopening the third largest city in Miami-Dade County, which has been largely shut down since March because of the pandemic. Like Gilbert, COVID-19 temporarily suspended Fulton’s campaign activities. The lifelong Miami Gardens resident was even forced to temporarily close the office of the Trayvon Martin Foundation, which she operates on the campus of Florida Memorial University. “We wanted people to focus on their health, families, career and just making sure they were safe,” said Fulton, who responded to Legacy via email for her interview. By mid-May, parts of MiamiDade slowly started re-opening in Phase 1 of the county’s New Normal Guidelines. Most retailers were given the green light to open with restrictions, eventually followed by restaurants. Fulton said once things started opening up “we began checking on people and their welfare, picking up with the campaign functions once again and I began to have a larger media presence.” On May 29, Fulton kicked off her return to campaigning with an
online fundraiser featuring her friend, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who encouraged
latex gloves and a face mask bearing the Miami Gardens city logo. He said he hopes to reach voters in the district
“We also need to talk about the affordability of housing, not just affordable housing,” said Gilbert, who has been endorsed by the Transport Workers Union, Local 291, AFL-CIO, among others. “There are young teachers, government workers, and many other hard-working people who cannot afford to live here, and that’s basic supply and demand. We have to drive down the price. We can’t price our professionals out of the county.” One of Fulton’s top priorities for Miami-Dade County, if elected commissioner, includes public safety. “People need to feel safe in their own communities and this can be facilitated by building stronger relationships between residents and law enforcement,” stated Fulton, whose latest endorsement includes Ruth’s List Wearing a mask and gloves, Mayor Oliver Gilbert practices social distancing and safety while distributing Florida, the largest organization food in Miami Gardens. in Florida that helps progressive proFulton to run for her first choice women get political office. Supporters elected to office. joining the event via “I also aim to Zoom were asked to increase affordable donate up to $1,000 for housing and the chance to virtually rub homeownership, shoulders with Clinton. as well as “We discussed build stronger Mothers of the Movement, homeowners campaigning for her in associations 2016, how we were fairing and community through the Coronavirus, oversight and police violence and committees.” how those living with bias Fulton and have to recognize it within Gilbert hope to themselves,” said Fulton, succeed four-term who added she worked incumbent Barbara in government services Jordan, who is for more than 20 years being termed out. Sybrina Fulton takes a selfie with Hillary Rodham Clinton who supported her campaign with an appearance during a virtual fundraiser on Zoom on May 29. and was inspired to run Voters in District for office because of her 1, which largely passion to help others. to discuss everything from improving includes Miami Gardens and Opa Whether it’s interacting with public transportation to reduce traffic, locka, will select a new commissioner the public or his staff in the office, to increasing access to housing for in the Primary Election on Aug. 18. n Gilbert is cautious, often wearing average working-class residents.
