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Open Letter from Earl Murry

Toledo Mayoral Race on November 7, 2017: Black v. White

Enough is enough, every African-American registered voter in the city of Toledo should vote and vote early for Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson. If voting early can’t be done then every African American must turn out to vote on November 7 for Hicks-Hudson.

This mayoral race is between a Lucas County Democratic Party endorsed black female and the unendorsed white male spoiler candidate, Democrat Wade Kapszukiewicz, Lucas County Treasurer.  It appears that in Toledo (unlike other major urban cities in Ohio) every time incumbent blacks, or other minorities, seek the office of mayor a WHITE Candidate pops up and is propped up by mainstream local media and other white spoilers.  Enough of politically ambitious whites thinking that African Americans can’t hold the office of mayor. 

This pattern of behavior is shown over and over again in the biased manner in which African-American leaders are portrayed . . . their accomplishments diminished or marginalized or outright distorted when information is reported. Enough of the white media biased reporting.

The current Toledo mayor is a black female, a Democrat, who has successfully served in office as our mayor for almost three years. In just three short years the mayor has accomplished many critically important projects and objectives.  Mayor Paula Hicks Hudson has improved employment levels and retained employers, paved roads and kept the water safe in Toledo. The mayor has provided steady economic growth in the Toledo community.  This outstanding progress has been demonstrated locally and nationally not only by our mayor but by competent performing African Americans who serve in the office of mayor in Ohio cities and nationwide.

Enough in the thinking by whites that African Americans can’t figure out what is said and done against them. African Americans can and should reject the media mistreatments. Such mistreatments that are said or done in a disgruntled and disparaging manner towards African Americans are totally unacceptable.  

The white print and electronic media have not given the current mayor fairness by telling or reporting the facts of what was done under austere conditions. It’s more than ironic that the electronic and print media have ignored these facts. This further raises questions about who’s supporting the opposition against the mayor.  Again, is this a special interest afoot?

The mayoral office challenger, Wade, a white male and an unendorsed Democrat broke ranks from the Democratic Party to exploit the unpublished accomplishments of Mayor Hudson.  Perhaps the “WHITE” challenger, Wade, believes and thinks he's smarter and better than the African-American female? Perhaps it’s just a normal proclivity that Wade and some whites want to control every major Toledo public office.

Whose interest does Wade represent? Let’s examine the facts as publicly known.  Both the current mayor and Wade were members of the same Democratic Party.  The mayor was endorsed by the Democratic Party to run for reelection.  She earned it. Wade didn’t earn the endorsement.  The challenger, Wade, it’s believed, withdrew from the Democratic Party but not until he was endorsed and reelected in 2016 as County Treasurer.  Did the African Americans who voted for Wade realize what they were getting into?  Based on my conversation with people I do not think so.

The Democratic Party Committee Members decide who earned the endorsement. This was decided by the Democratic Party because Paula Hicks-Hudson has a clear understanding about the Toledo community. Let’s look at the challenges against minority mayoral candidates:

In 2001 a black candidate (Jack Ford) sought the office of mayor and he was challenged by a white unendorsed candidate. Both candidates were Democratic. 

In 2014 a Latino candidate (Anita Lopez) sought the office of mayor and she was challenged by a white unendorsed candidate. Both candidates were Democratic.

In 2017 a black candidate (Paula Hicks Hudson) is seeking the office of mayor and she is challenged by a white unendorsed candidate.

These three factual occurrences represent a tormenting and mean-spirited history in which many white candidates spoil and backstab qualified and capable African Americans and an outstanding Latino candidate and try to deny them the opportunity to hold the mayor’s office.  Never in history did any African American or Latino American challenge a white Democratic-endorsed candidate for the mayor’s office. 

The undisputable facts are too many whites think and believe, wrongly, I think, that African Americans are not entitled to hold top offices or to receive respect and cooperation in the arena of politics.  When will whites change their mindset about assigning and pigeonholing African Americans to non-essential public offices.  African Americans deserve and demand to be treated with fairness. The current mayor, Paula Hicks-Hudson, has professional credentials that are impeccable. What’s more, Paula Hicks-Hudson’s positive accomplishment in just three years are so far reaching beyond Wade, the white challenger’s, credentials and accomplishments that I will not waste words detailing such by explanation. What I will offer and repeat as a matter of record is that never before in Toledo and within the Democratic Party has an African American challenged a “white candidate” for the mayor’s office when the candidate was endorsed.

We must show the total Toledo community we will support our African-American mayor for reelection so that she can have continuity to finish a job well done. The current mayor, given the opportunity of another term in office consisting of four years instead of two years, will complete the projects she started in the best interest of the city of Toledo. The African American, Latino American, and white American communities must show their strong support for Paula Hicks Hudson on November 7.

Earl Murry, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus

   
   


Copyright © 2017 by [The Sojourner's Truth]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 08/16/18 14:12:34 -0700.


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