By Dessalines Ferdinand
Politically, the Haitian-American community has made progress during the last two decades, particularly in the State of Florida. History will constantly remind those who became the first at certain levels within the Sunshine State political arena.
Former El Portal Councilman and Mayor Philippe Derose, former North Miami Councilman Ossman Desir, former North Miami Mayor Josaphat ‘Joe’ Celestin, former State Representative Phillip Brutus, former State Senator Dahphne Campbell, Miami-Dade Commissioner-District 2 Jean Monestime and Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, each made political history in the past.
Dr. Naomi Esther Blemur, a first-generation Haitian-American minister, community leader, author, wife, and mother, is now looking to add her name on this elite ‘political history makers list’ as she recently announced her candidacy for the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture in Tallahassee.
The Commissioner of Agriculture is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of government of the State of Florida that heads the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Elected to a four-year term that is limited to two consecutive terms in office, the Commissioner of Agriculture is charged with supporting and regulating Florida’s agriculture industry, conserving soil and water resources, managing state forests, protecting consumers from unfair trade practices, and ensuring the safety and wholesomeness of food in the marketplace.
In addition, the Commissioner is one of four members of the Florida Cabinet and is fourth (behind the lieutenant governor, attorney general, and chief financial officer, respectively) in the line of succession to the Office of Governor.
If Dr. Blemur triumphs in the upcoming August 23rd Democratic Primary elections, she will have to face the winner of the primary Republican race in the November 2022 general election. The seat is open for election because its current occupant, Nicole Heather Fried, is campaigning for the Democratic nomination for Governor and isn’t running for re-election, so a new Agriculture Commissioner will take office in January, 2023.
Records show that on the list of the 12 people who were elected for this position in the past, 10 of them are or were democrats. As a member of the Democratic Party, Dr. Blemur might be able to reach her political goal. But the road to the Mayo building/Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Tallahassee may not be an easy trip.
Dr. Blemur is facing two opponents in the Democratic primary: Haitian-American Jacques Rene Gaillot, Jr. from Jacksonville and Ryan Morales, Marketing Director for Delpuma. Gaillot has some political battle experience as he ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House to represent Florida’s 3rd District. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 14, 2012, but was defeated in the general election on November 6, 2012 by Ted Yoho. Morales has served as a member of the Lake County Democratic Club and as a member of the South Lake Democratic Club. He previously served as vice president of the Lake County Democratic Hispanic Caucus in 2019.
The chance for Blemur to win the Democratic primary race is possible if she can raise a reasonable amount of money and receive endorsements from some major political actors, businesses and industry groups, such as the Florida Farm Bureau, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and the Associated Industries of Florida.
As a second step to making political history by becoming the first Haitian-American to win this seat, becoming the 13th Commissioner of Agriculture of Florida, Dr. Naomi Esther Blemur must defeat the Republican nominee. Many Florida political analysts predict that this could be Senate President Wilton Simpson. Simpson is a big name in Tallahassee and the business industry. As of the end of 2018, the state senator reported a net worth of nearly $26 million. Most of Simpson’s wealth comes from his egg business, Simpson Farms, and his asbestos removal company, Environmental Services, in Trilby, a small town in central Florida, about forty miles north by northeast of Tampa.
