Orlando city Commissioner Sam Ings (District 6) went on the defensive Wednesday as he attempted to explain his own record of job creation, even as he called a press conference to expose Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s record of slashing jobs.
Ings, who scheduled the last minute press conference to tout President Barack Obama’s accomplishments for small businesses and associated jobs in the Orlando area, struggled to explain the nearly 15 percent joblessness in his mostly impoverished district.
Asked directly by West Orlando News Online to detail how Obama’s American Jobs Act had helped create jobs and reduce unemployment in the Washington Shores-Metrowest area, Ings was hard pressed to explain.
“Specifically, if we look at the President Barack Obama Parkway, that’s a new roadway system… that created job opportunities for at least 18 months,” said Ings, who is running again to represent District 6.
Ings disputed that the Parkway is a road to nowhere, adding that it creates a community now that has never been seen before and businesses have an opportunity “to move commerce along the Parkway which is helping to make a difference in their cost savings.” He explained that additional Federal funds to expand the Parkway would help provide more job opportunities.
West Orlando News Online also took the opportunity to ask Ings whether or not he believed the fence being built around the Amway Center for the NBA All-Star activities, which excludes a number of African-American businesses on west Church Street, is an affront.
“The fencing is all about security,” he said. “Options were given and the fence was the final answer.” He added that the NBA “was the one really taking care of security for its guests” and “more importantly, the integrity of the operation had to be protected.”
The press conference ended abruptly when Ings appeared to get annoyed about a question regarding his campaign expenditures. Asked why his campaign had spent about $3,000, to date, on Ezzie Thomas whose absentee ballot efforts for Buddy Dyer in 2005, led to Dyer’s indictment, Ings said it wasn’t a lot and that wasn’t the focus of the press conference.
“You have taken the focus away of why we are here,” a clearly frustrated Ings said to West Orlando News Online. “And we are here to highlight Associated Cost Engineers and their particular business and how the Obama Administration is helping their company.”
Pressed on how talking about President Obama would help his re-election chances, Ings affirmed he was running again, saying, “You are so right. I am glad you are aware of that, so you can continue to help get the word out.”
And on that note, Ings ended the press conference.
On April 3, Ings is expected to face off against Lawanna Gelzer, a community stalwart and candidate in the race for District 6.
According to Gelzer, the community has an opportunity “to vote for change and to elect a leader who is accountable and has vision and integrity.”
