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 |