NORTH MIAMI (Le Floridien) — An estimated 376,000 Haitians represent 2 percent of Florida’s population. Haitian-Americans are known to be major supporters of the Democratic Party when it comes to U.S. politics.
Since it is the season where political candidates are throwing fundraisers, a group of well-known Haitian-American public figures could not resist the temptation of helping the Democratic nominee for Florida Gubernatorial race, 39-year-old Andrew Gillum, the current Mayor of Tallahassee. Gillum emerged from a crowded field of Democrats to win the nomination on the crest of a late surge, which took him from fourth place in the final two weeks past frontrunners Gwen Graham and Philip Levine and big ad buyer Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene.
Gillum, a liberal who could be Florida’s first black Governor, was the “special guest” at that fundraiser held on September 21, 2018 at the private residence of Dr. Larry Pierre, Executive Director of the Center for Haitian Studies. The event was held in North Miami, with an event chairs committee that included Larry & Michele Pierre , Barbara Stiefel, JP Austin, Rudy Moise, Michael Katin, Jean Monestime, Benjamine & Jennie Lou Reid, Sharon & Mitchell Berger, and Philip & Ellen Freidin. The host chair committee includes Jules A. Cadet, Ralph Patino, and Barbara Schmidt. High-profile attendees included lawyer Kertz Conze and his wife Daphnee Gonzales, a former prosecutor in Miami-Dade County, Broward County District 9 Commissioner Dale V.C. Holness, and former North Miami District 3 Councilman Jacques Despinosse.
More than 150 Democrats were on hand to support and hear a speech from the party’s nominee. In his welcoming speech, Dr. Larry Pierre shared with the audience a little story about how he and other members of the Haitian-American Political Action Committee (HAPAC), including Dr. Jean-Pierre Austin, MD, a radiation oncologist in Aventura, Florida, became involved in supporting Gillum gubernatorial candidacy.
“The first time he told us that he was going to run for Florida governor seat,” said Larry Pierre, “we put him to the test by asking why he wanted to be Governor. He (Gillum) responded that he ‘has a whole plan, just ask me questions and I will give you answers.’ The man was so convincing in the way he sees many issues the residents of Florida are facing, especially in the medical sector where many people who are here are working, that by the third meeting we came to the conclusion that we can do it.” Larry Pierre is the President of the Greater Health Education & Training Center, a medical education company located in the Center for Haitian Studies Health & Human Services facility, which provides medical education and clinical training to medical students, residents, and fellows from local, national, and international universities.
“I have been very happy; it is a privilege to be on board with Gillum early. We are heading to a better Florida,” Pierre added.
JP Austin also addressed the guests, saying good things about the candidate who vows to bring positive change to the state. Austin was mainly charged with introducing the different members of the event committee and most importantly, the special guest Andrew Gillum.
The oncologist explained that after having the opportunity to hear at different occasions the vision Mr. Gillum has for the state, he and other members came to the conclusion that they had to become engaged, to be involved, and make a difference. They felt compelled to do something to help him succeed in his bid because the candidate makes a lot of sense in his approach to how he sees things for the good of the Florida population.
Jean-Philippe Austin -the first and only Haitian to host a fundraiser for a sitting president in his home (in 2011, then-President Obama attended a fundraising dinner at the Coconut Grove of Magalie “Maggie” and Dr. Jean-Philippe Austin, raising over $1 million) recalled that during a meeting, “Gillum said to the group that if he has enough money, he can get people out to vote, he can represent them, and he can win. After all, we said we are going to help; we are going to bring people together to support his candidacy.”
In his introduction speech, Gillum told the audience, “When I went and sat down with this group of people and told them I wanted to run for Governor of the great State of Florida, Dr. Austin said, ‘Why not?’
These people encourage me, and have supported me from day one. They gave contributions at a time when we did not have many contributors, and they are still besides me. Please give them (Austin, Pierre, Barbara and so many others) a well-deserved round of applause.”
“We raised a total of $6 million compared to my opponents who raised a combined $90 million during the primary and we pulled out an incredible victory. The most important things is that we are home together now. We got the right message. And now what we have to do in next several weeks, we have to get more voters to the polls.
“Yes, we have to raise money. Yes, we have to do commercials. But we need to remember that the one who wins is the one who moves more voters to the polls.
“I am running for Governor so that Florida can finally confront the challenges we’ve shrunk from over the past 20 years: rebuilding our economy, revitalizing public education, protecting and expanding healthcare access, and addressing our climate change crisis with a clean energy economy,” the candidate said.
He then added, “I believe this race is about all the people in the State of Florida. I believe everyone deserves good-paying jobs so they can support their families. I believe we have to protect and expand Floridians’ access to quality, affordable healthcare, especially people with pre-existing conditions. I believe we need to strengthen our public schools and end the culture of high-stakes testing. I believe that your zip code should not determine your outcome, your destiny; we need a Governor who actually believes in science.”
“We have to create the same conditions of life for everybody. I cannot go to Tallahassee and do the job by myself. We need senators, we need state representatives, and, of course, we need to send Senator Bill Nelson back to Washington.”
“There is not a party of the state that I am afraid to go to, not a citizen of the state that I am afraid to talk to. We have to go everywhere. To prove that, I even went to the villages where there was not even once face like mine and I talked to the people about my vision for the future of the state. That event turned from a small meet-and-greet to a small-donation fundraiser raking in more than $6,000 in an afternoon—all in one of the strongest GOP strongholds in Florida,” Gillum told the excited guests.
“Again, the one who raises is the one who gets one more vote. And I want you to know that I am going to get that one vote. I believe we are going to be able to raise enough resources to bring more people into the process. With your help, we are going to bring home a win on November 6, flip this state blue and flip this country blue in 2020,” concluded the candidate.
The U.S. is a Republic and it depends on the citizenry of this country to take part in their civic duty to vote. The only way people can truly have a voice is when they vote. Some believe their vote doesn’t matter, that whenever they do go to the polls their candidate loses, but each election is another opportunity to turn the tables, to change the landscape, and to become involved.
Andrew Gillum is running for Governor. He has a vision, a plan to improve Florida for all residents. He asks for your vote November 6. For those wishing to get involved in the campaign for the next few weeks or to donate to his effort, you can visit his website at: www.andrewgillum.com. Here’s to a new hope come November.
Dessalines Ferdinand
Le Floridien