By Dessalines Ferdinand
— Since Philippe Derose made history in 1993 as the first Haitian-American elected to public office in the United States, his success has inspired a growing number of Haitian-Americans to pursue political careers. While many approach their ambitions with integrity, others appear less concerned with ethical considerations. For this latter group, any means to achieve their goals are deemed acceptable, following the philosophy that “all roads lead to Rome.”
This is apparently the case of Wancito Francius, a candidate who is running for Florida House District 107. He has become a controversial figure as the primary approaches. This district, stretching from Miami Gardens to North Miami Beach, heavily favors Democrats. Francius’ political journey raises serious questions about his motivations and suitability for public office. His apparent lack of political conviction and history of party-switching suggest he may be more interested in gaining office by any means rather than genuinely representing a consistent set of values or policies, making him a potentially dangerous candidate for any political party.
Francius’ recent actions have highlighted a loophole in Florida’s state laws designed to prevent candidates from opportunistic party-switching. According to a recent Miami Herald article, Francius changed his voter registration to Democrat last July, missing the state law requirement by about six weeks. Despite this, he secured a spot on the ballot for the House District 107 primary. A 2022 Florida judge’s ruling determined that courts have no mechanism to remove candidates who switch parties late and still get on the ballot due to vague state statutes. This lack of enforcement invites candidates to exploit the system, undermining the electoral process’s integrity.
Francius has toggled between the Republican and Democratic parties over the years. His political career is marked by unsuccessful runs for various offices, including a failed bid for the District 107 Democratic primary in 2022. His fluctuating party affiliation—switching from Republican to Democrat to independent and back again—raises doubts about his commitment to any political ideology. His most recent switch to the Democratic Party came just over a month after the qualifying deadline, yet he insists he has been a Democrat for years, despite evidence to the contrary.
Francius’ candidacy exposes significant legal and ethical concerns. Florida law requires candidates to be registered members of their party for at least 365 days before the qualifying period begins. However, Francius missed this deadline, yet swore in his qualifying papers that he had been a Democrat for a full year. This discrepancy questions his integrity and the effectiveness of the law itself. In 2022, a Florida appeals court ruled that the courts could not disqualify candidates for breaking this rule, creating a precedent that effectively allows candidates to lie without consequence.
Francius presents himself as a lifelong resident of North Miami, an entrepreneur, an activist fighting for people’s rights, a community advocate, and a devoted father and husband who believes that family is the foundation of a better society. He asserts that human rights are invaluable and that everyone should be counted. In his 2024 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, when asked, “Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?” the 48-year-old stated that he would like to emulate Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Mahatma Gandhi.
Dr. King especially would likely be deeply disturbed if he could hear Francius invoke his name. Perhaps Francius has not read enough to know that one of the fundamental inspirations in Martin Luther King Jr.’s life was his unwavering conviction. Dr. King adhered steadfastly to his belief in the progress of humanity toward the Beloved Community. He never changed his ideology until his assassination. He was a true leader and a passionate man.
The north Miami-Dade district heavily favors Democrats, with more than half of the nearly 100,000 voters registered with the party. Even though Francius is not counted in the public opinion as one of the heaviest candidate in this Democratic primary race, however he complicates the race and could influence the outcome, despite his questionable eligibility.
As voters head to the polls next August, it is crucial to consider not just the policies and promises of candidates but also their integrity and commitment to the values they claim to represent. Francius’ actions suggest a candidate more interested in the title of elected official than in serving the public with genuine conviction.
