County Commission District 6 Race is Quickly Becoming an old fashion battle of: Us vs. Them
- Details
- Category: Politics
- Published: Saturday, 30 August 2014 18:02
- Written by Hughey Watson
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By Hughey Watson
And then there were two. The battle line has been drawn for the County Commission District 6 election. Victoria Siplin will square off against Derrick Wallace this coming November 4th. Siplin edged out Wallace for first-place in the primary on the backs of her fellow Haitian voters. But now that the other four candidates are out, Wallace will have the double advantage of being the only Orlando native and he will have financial backing. While Siplin only raised $21 thousand, Wallace commanded a $170 thousand war chest. And, he will certainly surpass that amount in the general election.
Siplin, who is the wife of Gary Siplin, will not have the support of campaign dollars that were contributed to her husband in his race. Senator Geraldine Thompson trounced Gary Siplin in the state senate democratic primary. She beat him in a landslide with over 64% of the vote. Thus, Victoria won't have the financial support of her husband's campaign funds this time around. Gary will have the tough task of raising money solely for Victoria. And if her measly $21 thousand take in the primary is any indication, she is in trouble.
Like it or not, money is the mother's milk of politics. Ads, stickers, signs, travel, luncheons, and campaign staff all cost money.
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The other big challenge facing Victoria Siplin is whether she will be able to reach beyond her Haitian roots. Though the Haitian community is growing, it is still minor compared to the overall Orange County population. And it is even smaller when you count citizens and actual registered voters.
Equally challenging for Siplin is the fact that the Democratic Party attacked her husband Gary Siplin in his race. The Democratic Party did several mailings to democratic voters basically saying you can't trust Gary Siplin and we don't want him in Tallahassee. Gary Siplin is known as a republican wearing a democrat mask. Even the republicans don't trust him. Who trusts a double agent? And, Gary Siplin is the senator who introduced the law to criminalize young men who wear their pants to low. Granted, sagging britches is not what most people support. But to give the police another reason to arrest our young men is not the answer.
Against those odds, Victoria Siplin is going to have to find a voice to propel her campaign forward. Most experts are quietly saying that she needs to jettison her husband Gary. He is an albatross around her neck and if she sticks with him her campaign is doomed.
Even if she is able to get from under her husband, she still has to figure out how to appeal to non-Haitian voters. Unfortunately, there are schisms within the African Diaspora. Just as the various Latin communities have their differences, so do the black community. But even worse in the differences between Haitians and others of the Diaspora is the language barrier. The America born blacks and those from the Caribbean nations speak English, while the Haitians speak Creole.
Many non-Haitian blacks consider Haitians to be clannish. They don't share in the struggle, nor do they hire non-Haitians to work in their businesses. Thus, some are saying that if Victoria Siplin wins, the black community can kiss goodbye past gains and any hopes for future participation in growth orchestrated at count hall.
This is an unfortunate development, but one that can't be overlooked by the community.
Derrick Wallace, on the other hand, has to scrutinize his campaign operation. He cannot win by proxy. This is not a construction job where he can stand back and give directions. He must get in the fight. His biggest plus is his biggest challenge. Wallace is a native, but he can't sit back and assume the natives are going to vote for one of their own, if that native doesn't get out there and fight for their votes.
And, his natives are not black Orlando alone. Wallace is one of the very few black candidates who can traverse all communities. He has done well in the construction industry working with every kind of person. He has to get past his tough guy front and show the voters the real Derrick Wallace. He must show that caring Derrick Wallace who helped a lady with her bills after her son died. He must let people see the Derrick Wallace who fix-up senior citizens' homes out of his own pocket. Wallace really is a nice and friendly person who has for whatever reason acquired a tough guy image. He must let it go and get votes.
Wallace other major challenge is that Orange County is not the same Orange County in which he grew up. There are great numbers of people who have moved to Central Florida in recent years. They don't know him. They don't know where Jones High is located and they don't know he rebuilt his alma mater. So Wallace must get out there and let them see him, touch him and talk to him. Once he opens up, a whole wealth of knowledge and community interest comes flowing out. People want to see the man, more so than the signs.
Unlike Victoria, Wallace has a wonderful and charming spouse. She has not been seen out front. President Obama understood the importance of a woman's appeal. Besides, there are 10 thousand more female voters than male voters in District 6. Mrs. Sharon Wallace is very attractive and intelligent. She is his trump card. She is his ace in the hold that must be put on the board. He can't hold anything back.
Just ask President Obama who has the highest poll ratings and he will tell you it is the first lady.
And, if Wallace wins, Mrs. Sharon Wallace could play a major role in his service to District 6. Just think of the causes she could champion. It is like getting two for the vote of one. And, unlike anything the Siplins were trying to do, the Wallaces can actually serve one District with the force of Derrick and the finesse of Sharon.
The race is on. They call it an election because the electorate has to decide. There are no guarantees that the pluses will propel and the minuses will hurt. Thus, both candidates will have to run with all their might. Victoria Siplin has financial, regional and cultural hurdles to overcome and Derrick Wallace has his race to run. She must clear each and every hurdle, but Wallace must not slip or drop the baton that is being handed to him by his fellow natives.